I am temporarily moving to Geneva, I have a Belgian Sheepdog (Groenendael), and he is an outside dog. We are unable to keep him in the apartment with us, but would like a place to visit him on occasion while we stay in Geneva. Our planned stay in Geneva is 12-15 months. After which we would look to move him with us when we leave Switzerland. Ideally I would love to find him a farm to stay on while we are in Geneva. Does anyone have any input as to where we could put him for this length of time or any ideas??? I am desperate for any input/help.
Hi fellow netizens,
Welcome to the forum.
I have no idea, but imagine this is a tough find, though could be wrong.
It is a strange request, I think, as find it odd one who has a dog would find themselves in a position where they would have to offload dog for over a year despite wanting the dog.
Are you not able to find an apartment that can house the dog also? Would that not be an easier and preferable plan?
You say outside dog, excuse my ignorance, but why is it an outside dog? In this weather I wouldn't want to keep any dog outside, unless thats where they prefer to be. But I have never been around working dogs (if it is one?!?!) so apologies if thats weird to mention that.
Then, what are your expectations? i.e. you mention a farm would be ideal. Do you expect someone to take on the responsibility of your dog in terms of not only welfare but food and supplies, health, etc? Or, are you going to provide all these things. Payment? Are you planning to pay the person/people.
It would make more sense to me to a) find an apartment that takes dogs and b) arrange doggy daycare options. Alternatively, if an option, leave him with family/friends where you are from until you return.
Good luck
Sorry I don't have any long-term suggestions as such, but my girlfriend and I live in an apartment in Nyon (starting 3 Feb, still in Geneva at the mo) and would be happy to watch/spoil him for a weekend if the need ever arises (take him on a hike in the Jura, hang out in the park by the water, etc etc).
Dear JBZ86
Thanks for your comment, and yes it is an odd request, and to help clarify a couple points, it is a new job bringing me to Geneva, (was laid off last year) and I was not given an option on the apartment, and as it is a corporate apartment, the dog is not allowed.
I say outside dog in a meaning that he currently lives in a yard of approximately 2.5 acres and spends 90% of the time outside. I doubt he could easily adjust to being an apartment dog, with only one or two walks per day.
As for the expenses of taking care of him, I am more than willing to cover that.
I have looked into family and friends option, but unfortunately nothing has materialized. Like I said I would prefer to have the option to visit him on occasion. I know I am asking a lot, but would also consider giving him up to the right person or place, but its not my first choice.
Just for clarity, when I mentioned expenses above, it would also include payment for taking care of the dog....
Julius, are you looking for a foster home for that entire 12-15 months, or only for a few weeks/months while you search for suitable accomodation?
This is important because of the registration requirements. Anyone who takes primary charge of a dog for more than 3 months must be registered in ANIS as the owner or guardian (Halter) - and takes on legal responsibility/liability for the dog, along with the requirement to do the SKN courses, as well as meet the Geneva requirements for dog over 25kg.
A comprehensive contract detailing responsibilities and liabilies, costs, and expectations is strongly suggested when entering into a fostering agreement.
And just a heads-up: technically if you intend to import a dog but pass ownership/guardianship on to someone else, you fall under the commercial import rules.
See the BVet
http://bvet.bytix.com/plus/dbr/default.aspx?lang=en
Hope you find a solution - but do keep looking for suitable housing. Perhaps you would consider living in France, where you will find larger spaces suitable for your dog?
I would look over the border in France, a lot more land and maybe you could work out a deal with a farmer or a long term pension at a bording facility.
As for apt., even though corporate could you do a housing exchange with someone? that is done here, maybe giving someone better access to the city while you move out a bit to the countryside. I guess it would depend on corporate policies, etc.. but perhaps to look into.
I appreciate that you may not want to rock the boat, but did you ask your employer about alternative housing and did you explain that you had a dog?
In my experience, many HR personnel have company guidelines to follow and pets are, unfortunately for pet owners, not always treated as family members in relocation policies. This may mean having to pay for the cost of moving a pet and many pet owners accept this. But to have the type of housing provided to you which excludes pets seems rather unfair.
I have clients who have been relocated to Switzerland for short term assignments who have opted not to bring their pets. These clients were able to find suitable arrangements in their home country that were just not available here. You don't just need a dog sitter, or dog daycare which you could find. A foster home is a lot more complicated.
It might be worth asking for the value of the corporate housing and see if you can find your own accommodation where your dog is permitted.
One of the things that makes fostering complicated is that dog ownership is heavily regulated in Switzerland, and in Geneva in particular.
Aside from the federal requirements mentioned earlier, a Belgian falls into Geneva's large dog category, meaning that the dog and owner/guardian have to stand the TMC, the Test de Maîtrise et de Comportement.
http://www.sgv.name/site/index.php/Infos_chiens_Genève
Here is the test:
http://ge.ch/dares/SilverpeasWebFile...chment/Images/
How would your dog do on this test with a new guardian, someone with whom he had perhaps not fully bonded? What would your Plan B be, should your dog not pass? You need to think this through.
This law applies only to GE - dog control varies by canton. Keep cantonal law in mind when looking for a fosterer. For your dog's sake.
Also, as you mention that you will be paying the fosterer - be aware of how expensive dog care is. For short term care, to give you an example, I pay per day a good 10 times what my colleagues in London pay.
But I cannot stress strongly enough - please look for options that will allow you to keep your dog with you.
This is excellent advice! Start negotiating.
Another possibility, since you mention 'we'. Have you and your partner considered living apart for this short time, so that your dog could remain at home? My husband and I have done this several times when an assignment took him places where the dogs could not go.
Hoping for a good solution for your dog.
Still thinking about this poor dog...
While it would be far better for you to keep your dog with the family, and I strongly encourage you to do so, if after exhausting all other alternatives the only thing left is foster care, put together a full dossier describing your dog's behavior, training, strengths and weaknesses, daily needs, etc.
Then post an ad in the jobs offered or pet trading post in the Market Place section. You will get more response in the jobs offered section, but unfortunately a fair number of the people responding will not be qualified, not have the required course work, perhaps have the wrong motivation. There is less traffic in the pet trading post section, but your chances of finding someone who is loves dogs, has the requisite skill and qualifications, and appropriate accomodation will likely be better.
Off the top of my head, these are some of the things I would include in a dossier when rehoming a dog, in order to find the right sort of person:
Is your dog male or female?
Neutered/spayed or entire?
Can your dog live with children? If so, from what age?
Can your dog live with other dogs? If so, what sex, age, personality type?
Can your dog live with cats?
Can your dog live with other animals/birds/livestock?
Does your dog need someone at home all/most of the day?
Can your dog be left alone in a house - and if so, for how long?
Does your dog need a fenced-in area?
Can your dog go off-lead, and in what circumstances?
How is your dog when meeting unknown dogs?
How would you describe your dog's activity needs when outside?
How would you describe your dog's activity levels when inside the house?
Can your dog live in a canton where he/she would be required to be leashed when in public - which might be all of the time when off private property?
Exactly what training has your dog undergone? Does he/she have any coursework certificates?
What sort of training methods have you been following?
Does your dog have any health problems? If so what?
Any special dietary needs?
What sort of grooming is required?
Is your dog up to date on vaccines?
Does your dog have any behavioral quirks/problems? If so, what - and how have you been addressing these?
And very important in Switzerland: does your dog bark at all? (Barking is not acceptable here, and must be taken into account when looking for suitable accomodation.)
And of course, you should describe your dog's good points in detail.
Be sure to interview any potential foster carefully, visit his/her property yourself - and insist on a trial visit of a day or two. Plan for several trial visits if needed. You must make sure that the fit between the foster family and your dog is a good one.
Belgians are a special breed - their sensitivity combined with their intelligence and typical 'Schaferhund' characteristics mean that they do need someone with an understanding of the breed. You might consider advertising with the breed club, both here and in your home country. In Switzerland, the club is here:
I think, but do not konw for certain, that the club would only consider helping if your dog if FCI pedigreed.
I would also urge you to consider looking for a foster in your home country. Are you from the UK? If so, have you looked into Belgian breed rescues? Or have you looked into Belgian breed rescues in Germany? Both countries have better established rescue groups and are more... shall we say... large dog friendly. While I understand you are looking for a foster home, not to rehome completely, a rescue might be able to help out nonetheless. If you were to pay for your dog's upkeep while in foster, and if you donated the fee you plan on paying a private fosterer to the rescue's work fund... you could be doing some good. Just a thought.
In Germany:
I have fostered dogs in the past, as a rescue volunteer. I felt I had to stop when the whole anti-dog hysteria blew up - but from my experience I cannot stress strongly enough how very important it is to have a detailed contract drawn up. This is critical when you are entering into a foster agreement with a private person.
Address all contingencies you can think of, no matter how remote. Most especially, what will you do if the fosterer decides that he/she cannot continue? You must have a Plan B in place if you yourself are unable to retake your dog at a moment's notice.
Again, wishing you and your dog all the best.
Thanks all for your input. I do like the idea of Runningdeers' and finding a place in France. Would anyone have any input on where I could start looking or how to locate possible place just across the border?
I am not an expert on French bording facilities and the like, but if you google search using "pension canine pays de gex" a number of places come up. Perhaps one of the frontalier pet owners on the EF can give you some better guidance.
Here is the link to the club in France.
Perhaps someone can help.