Some questions about bringing a 'service provider' from the UK to Switzerland for short term work. I know this sounds pretty daft, but I'm considering bringing someone from the UK over to Switzerland to occasionally work as a dogsitter.

I have been unable to find a qualified dogsitter here in Switzerland. In the last 3 months, I've contacted pretty much everyone out there with on-line presence, advertised in the typical dog circles, and in a dog magazine - nada. The person I'm looking for does not seem to exist in Switzerland.

So... I have found someone in the UK who meets all my needs and who is willing to travel to Switzerland occasionally to work for me. I would sponsor her to do the Sachkundenachweis so that she is in compliance with the TschV. This person has her own dogsitting firm in the UK ; our relationship would be client/service provider, not employer/employee. We are talking about working max 20 days per year, usually for 3-5 day stints. Essentially, I'd be hiring an overseas firm to do a short term project.

First, is this even allowed, given that the job is more or less a domestic one?

If so, is a permit necessary, given that she is an EU citizen and would be working so few days? And if so, what kind?

She would bill me through her UK firm - what Swiss tax issues would I need to deal with?

She holds UK liability insurance for the business, and because this would be an in-home job she would be covered under my Privathaftpflict while the dogs are in her care, but are there other insurance issues I should consider?

What else to I need to consider to do this legally?

Right now this is mostly half-baked musing... but any advice would be greatly appreciated.


Mods - I'm not sure if this is the correct sub forum, appologies if I guessed wrong.

You've obviously got more money than sense, send some to Haiti if you really got problems spending it

Maybe you can get an aupair for your dog....

Have you thought of contacting your local dog's home? They are qualified and would be glad to receive your money.

whats so special about your dog that no one in already here can look after it?

For the right price I'll do it

Thanks for the comments, but believe me, I have searched exhaustively for someone qualified, willing and able to take on the care of special needs mutts, and have not found anyone in Switzerland.

So, the question at hand really is, is hiring an overseas service provider for a domestic service allowed? And if so, what do I need to do to make it legal?

Many thanks.

Have you read many of meloncolies posts? She has several dogs and takes in rescued dogs and dogs which need special care.

Some people may find this hard to understand as they are just dogs - but it's obvious to all who read meloncollies posts how much her dogs and what she does, mean to her. If she has looked for a suitable person in Switzerland and not found one then who are we/you to judge really?

Meloncollie, why would you need to make anything official? person from UK comes over looks after your dogs, you pay them? they don't need a permit surely? they're never going to be here long enough, just short visits. Obviously the insurance element is the issue should anything go wrong, but what would likely go wrong? a dog dies in their care? would you then sue them? If so then i suppose that is something you need to work out

Good luck

what special needs??

My wife work for a kennels here, and previously as a vets assistant in the uk, its hard to imagine any condition the kennels couldn't manage????

well great, maybe your wife might be a suitable candidate, great what this forum can do to bring people together just be asking a question

maybe. she'll be cheaper then bringing someone from the uk!! lol

From what I understand EU citizens can work in Switzerland for so many days without being eligible for tax and permits. I'll ask Hubby for the correct German so's I can Google it tonight.

Sorry to be so tardy replying...

As I mentioned in the first post, I do know this sounds daft - but desperate times spark desperate measures. As I've been unable to find the person I need in Switzerland, I started thinking about whether it would be feasible to bring someone in from elsewhere.

Not wanting to veer off the topic of how to do so, but to answer your questions...

Yes, I have dogs with medical conditions or who still carry some of the baggage of their past lives; a Tierheim is just not equipped to provide the level of care and individual attention they need. In-home care has worked well in the past and I would like to continue with that model.

The mutts are actually fairly easy to care for - but I need an experienced carer who understands their issues and who is willing to follow my regime. While the likelihood of an acute medical emergency arising during my absence is very small, I nonetheless have to have a carer who is prepared to handle emergencies if necessary. The job requires a bit more responsibility than many sitters are willing to take on.

The difficulty I have run across is that under the fairly new TschV dog care providers are required to have (or be in pursuit of) specific educational qualifications. Dog sitting or dog walking is not just a simple 'Nebenjob' anymore. Most of the sitters I've spoken to are unaware of the new law, or have no interest in complying with it - and I can not hire anyone who is working 'schwarz'. The few dog sitters I've found who hold the appropriate qualifications have not been willing to travel to my area.

(OT, but while I agree that people who take care of dogs should have training, I do think the TschV has set the bar unrealistically high - but that's a discussion for elsewhere.)

The insurance question is another compliance with the law issue - under dog control legislation in SZ (and most cantons) dog owners and 'those in charge of a dog' are required to hold liability insurance. In fact, the 27. Jan issue of K-Tipp has an interesting article on this - and I would urge every dog owner to read it. The article points out that if the person in charge of the dog does not meet the TschV educational requirements, one's insurer may decline coverage of any accidents that occur - leaving the owner in serious trouble should something go wrong.

I was surprised by another point in the article. Speaking to my insurance agent some months ago, I had been assured that a sitter working in my home would be covered under my Privathaftpflicht. But the K-Tipp article says this only applies if the carer works gratis; once payment is given the carer must have his/her own liability policy. I need to clarify that with my insurer - and if that really is the case, my idea of bringing the person from the UK here may not fly. I need to find out more about her insurance, and whether that would cover activities in CH, or if there is some kind of alternative policy available here.

My questions about permits are out of my ignorance. (I've lived here so long I guess I automatically assume that which is not verboten requires a permit. )

Of course, I would very much prefer to have a local sitter - but so far my efforts to find the right person have been fruitless. Hence my attempt at looking for options outside Switzerland.

(Should anyone know of a person who is experienced, qualified, set up to work legally, and is willing to put up with looney toon mutts - please let me know. )

In the meantime, I'll keep exploring other possibilities.

Vielen Dank, mitenand.

I know dog owners who have family members from elsewhere stay with their dogs while the owners are away. From what I know, the dog owner pays for the air ticket and all the expenses while the family member is here. They view it as a holiday and a change of scenery. As far as I know there is no salary involved. But that's family.

I hope you find a solution.