I have a 16-month-old hound/shepherd mix, 25 kg, well-trained on the leash, who walks about 6 miles a day. Most of the time, this is not a problem for me.

Occasionally, however, I would like to have a dog walker as a back up for those times when I have to be gone for an afternoon or an evening. Typically, a half-hour to 45-minute walk is sufficient, and maybe feed him dinner. If I am gone for more than 4 hours, two short walks might be needed.

Any recommendations that anyone may have for a reliable walker would be appreciated. It can be someone professional, a local student, etc.

Another option would be dog day care, which may be a completely unknown concept here. Back in the US, I would occasionally drop my dog off for a day at a "day care" that catered to working families. Lots of socialization time for the dogs, and lots of interaction with their human caretakers. Anything like this in the area?

Also, I have no idea what to expect as far as reasonable costs for either option. I have checked previous forum threads, but most things seem to deal with kennels or dog sitters. Those threads that mention dog walking seem to be older (2010, in one case), so perhaps there is more current information somewhere?

Thank you.

how often/ when do you need a walker?

At this point, I don't need someone on any specific day, unless I sign up for a French class that I am looking into. Instead, I am looking to find someone that I can call a few days in advance when I know something is coming up. I may need a walker on Friday, April 13, but still need to confirm that.

This thread was more a way for me to find one or two reliable people that I would be able to contact as needed.

The Cabinet veterinaire Grin in Av. Tivoli in Lausanne offers a doggie daycare, but the prices are very high, starting at 50.-/day (8am-6pm).

well, it wouldn't be regular, necessarily, but i'm sure my son and i would take the doggie for a walk now and then when you need. we are off and around next week (not friday though, ) so if you want some time off, we'd be happy to take him out a bit...

The other option is to leave an ad in the various supermarkets on their billboard... "Dog Walkers" as in the US doesn't really exist here as far as I know.

Yikes! That IS expensive. But good to know the option is there, if I am ever in a bind. Thanks.

I will contact you via PM to set up a time when we can meet. Thanks.

Hi, Amaraya

I tried to contact you via PM, but your inbox is full, so I couldn't leave a message. Will you please contact me via PM? Thanks.

As you are adjusting to Swiss prices, add to the sticker shock list anything relating to dog care: sitters, walkers and carers will be more expensive than what you might be used to.

(Except, astonishingly, routine vet care which has IME been a surprising bargain.)

This is because commercial dog care is regulated under the TSCHV; depending on the carer's business model and the services you require the dog carer might need to have certain educational courses or cantonal registration, and carry liability insurance. The cost of becoming a commercial dog carer is high, so you can expect to see that reflected in the prices.

Another heads-up: if you anticipate traveling during the holidays - when most folks do - you might need to book your dog care well in advance. Many people book their summer holidays a year ahead! Hopefully it won't be so bad in your area, but many respected dog service providers are busy and booked well ahead.

Good luck, hope you find the care you need.

done!

Is this still available? I'm interested in walking your dog. Please reply.