Hi All

This is my first post here but from what I've seen I'm glad I found this forum. My wife and I are considering a move to Switzerland (Zurich in particular) next year.

The reasons our short list of possible destinations got down to Switzerland was that I could find a job where I can work in English (with the full intention of learning German while I'm there - aiming for Zurich at the moment), and mostly that I can bring my menagerie of pets with us without having to put them through quarantine.

I am particularly concerned about my 2 labradors - they will both be 3 years old next year so are already calming down a bit, and are indoor dogs of note - sleep in our bedroom etc. From what I've seen there is a good chance that renting an apartment (i.e. no garden) is the mostly likely outcome for us. Currently the dogs dont have too much space where we live (small garden) in Cape Town but I walk them every morning, and I hire someone to walk them during the day while we're at work.

Is this an approach that is generally followed by dog owners in switzerland? I know my dogs would be fine living in an apartment provided they got the necessary exercise. Are their services that will walk your dog while you are at work, and what does that kind of thing cost? I have found some places in Zurich that do "doggie day care" where they pick them up in the morning and return them when you're back from work. Is this kind of thing quite popular.

On a side note, is it (relatively) easy to find accommodation to rent that will allow dogs? My budget will be flexible when it comes to my pets, cos leaving them behind is not an option for us.