Hi EFers,

I need your advice.

I have two small Bichon Frise dogs and we recently moved to Zug. I took the rubbish out today and was apprehended by my neighbour. There are 5 apartment blocks on the hill where we live. He instructed me that my dogs are not allowed to do 'their business' on the grass. I told him that I don't allow them to but if they do, I pick it up right away. He then proceeded to tell me that they aren't even allowed to pee on the grass! I'm absolutely astounded. What can I do about this. I try and get them around to the park but sometimes they have a little pee on the bush just outside our apartment. Mind you, he doesn't even live in the same block as me. I'm terribly upset by this and not sure what I should do. Help!

Regards, Marie

Gosh Marie, that is so mean-minded! If I were you ..... I think I would have to just tell him that I have discussed this with my dogs, but being dogs, they seem to forget their instructions, and that maybe he has some suggestions about how to train a dog to hold it`s pee in till the correct area for pee-ing is reached?
Dogs crap, hence the Robi bags. There are as yet no bags for urine collection.
At the worst, maybe he could make a formal complaint via the Police, and the dogs could then be recommended to a dog-psychiatrist for correct training?
Or just tell him to .......ahem .....what`s that expression?

Call your agency and see if he is in fact correct. If he is can you carry them to the spot that they can pee and teach them that is the spot to go?

Tell him to call the police. otherwise to leave you the f alone. The only thing that works in CH is confrontation....

The other night I had a lady that calls the cops every night on my bar come in in her night gown and behind MY bar. I lit. pushed her out and told her to never show her face again. yesterday the cops came again as she phoned non stop...nothing was out of order so now she will get a fine for disturbing the police...

Tell him to piss-off, this is nonsense.

Tom

I feel your pain, I have nearly an Identical situation, and old man in an apartment a building over from mine, is guarding a piece of grass in the back of my complex that I was letting my dog go on, I also pick up the turds, he says it's private, I ask if it's his and he says no, I ask if he chases off the cats taking a shit there and he says no... then I say he can piss off, as I also pick up after the cats. My Swiss wife said to not let the dog go there anymore... I'm gonna ask the police lady that I paid 150 CHF a year to if she can come over and make a ruling on it. :-).

This exactly.

It often comes as a surprise to folks new to Switzerland, but dog ownership here is regulated to a degree unthinkable in other places. Many flats do indeed have regulations forbidding a dog to do use communal areas - and additionally, many private houses will have 'no piddling' signs along the border where their property meets the street/sidewalk.

So first find out exactly what the regs are.

If there is no such rule, you may allow your dog to use the area, but you do need to be a good neighbor and minimize damage - and of course, always pick up. Be aware that you might be charged extra gardening fees to re-seed the area if urine burns develop on the lawn.

But even if there isn't a rule against using the area, clearly your neighbor is going to be trouble. Do you really want to live in such a place? Think carefully, and keep your eyes open for a more dog-friendly housing solution.

If there is indeed a rule against your dog using the area, you have to respect that. In which case, do as JanerMacP suggests.

Dogs are afforded many freedoms here that they do not have in other countries - but at the same time they are expected to be trained to a very high standard. Much of a dog's 'natural' behavior has been legislated against, in a effort to compromise between those who love dogs and those who don't in this far-too-overcrowded society.

My sympathies to your poor pup. Hope you find an equitable solution.

We took this picture not long ago near our flat.

Wow, what a response. Thank you everyone. I've been in tears all afternoon as he really upset me. Both my dogs are males and of course the first bush they see, it's pee time! It's not a private garden area but quite a 'large grassed area' between each apartment block. There are no signs that Hunde are Verboten. I have emailed our managing agent and will await their response. Actually, whilst I was doing that, another dog came along the path and did two wees on our grass.

Still reeling over this but don't want any trouble with the neighbours. I might even go down to the cop shop tomorrow to make some further enquiries.

Once again, thank you!

Kindest regards, Marie
p.s. will provide an update to this ridiculous situation (in my opinion!).

Exactly! I wouldn't be complaining if it was sign marked.... :-)

Path from our front door...

Area between the apartment blocks...

Refer him to the case of Arkyll vs Pressdram.

Aw, come on, Ma.
Not again.
All the other dogs will make fun of me.

Does dog pee stink like human pee pee?

Not easy, is it? But I can see both sides. If a dog pees on the communal lawn, it will either leave patches which are growing quicker and are much greener (especially with bitches), or if the weather is hot/dry, kill the grass outright (as in the back of the photo with the stone and sign). And replacing a lawn is very expensive.

The main problem is the smell, which can linger for a very long time- and will become worse and worse if there are many dogs around. Therefore people who live on the ground floor and perhaps first floor, won't be able to enjoy sitting outside without that awful and pungent smell.

The idea therefore, if you live in a flat, is that you will go and take the dog out and away from the lawn on a regular basis- before and after work and at lunch-time minimum - instead of leaving the dog to relieve itself on the lawn or the immediate vicinity of the flat.

I love dogs, and ours (that is very elderly) does pee and more in the garden, but it is our garden and our choice- and the only dog in a large area. Our grass if full of dark green patches and burnt out ones- thanks to her. I can however understand that other flat owners/occupiers who do NOT share our love of dogs, find it annoying, and perhaps in the long run, intolerable.

However, he had no right to shout at you or be unpleasant- it is just not on. In the long term, try to take your dog to a suitable area as often as you can to avoid confrontation. Or as Meloncollie advises, consider moving away to a location which is more suitable for dogs. Bonne chance - and a *hug* - hope you feel better soon.

Lana Del - no it smells much more pungent and lingers. And of course attracts all other dogs to the same area to scent mark, thus compounding the issue.

Sometimes I just get soooo pis@ed off with the attitude to dogs here. Perhaps I'm just in a bad mood today but it really gets me when dogs have to be instructed what not to do when it's a natural thing for them.

Yes, train the dog to be integrated into human civilization so we can live along side them without aggression or fear.

But trying to stop a dog peeing on grass where you live ...... Oh for the love of god. I can simply imagine you trying to run to the nearest safest bit of 'allowed' peeing territory. Simply ridiculous!

Sorry rant over.

If it's private property - garden or grassed area - it really will depend on the building or neighborhood regulations. Communal space is not necessarily public space - there doesn't need to be a 'Hunde verboten' sign if the communal areas are governed by some sort of Quartier regulation. So you are doing the right thing by asking.

If the management says that it's OK for your dog to use the area, keep a copy of that letter with you to show the neighbor next time he starts to complain.

There's a saying here that 'everything not explicited allowed is forbidden'. So in the absence of information it's often the safest thing to assume one can't do something, at least until clarification is sought. Wilkommen in der Schweiz.

If you know that other dogs are using the area, try to take a picture next time you see this. You might need evidence that it's not your dogs at fault should the neighbor or anyone else try to pin any damages on you. (Sad that we have to resort to such strategems, but...)

I would counsel against speaking to the police until you have clarification from the management, as going to the police could be seen as an escalation - and you don't want to set off a full-blown neighborhood war just yet. Also, if this is private (but communal) space the police will likely toss the ball back to the management anyway.

It's very difficult living in such close quarters when one has dogs, especially if neighbors don't like our furry friends. Unfortunately private houses are few and far between, and dog-friendly flats are becoming rare these days.

But the best thing you can do to soothe the troubled waters is to learn the local rules, and adhere to them. Don't give the dog-haters any ammunition.

And then you (and your furry friends) should go about your life, head held high, and enjoy your time here.

Wishing you and your doglets all the very best.

Dogs and neighbours, the old story, it's as old as civilisation and there's just too many friggin' people in this weird little country.

Next time just nod your head, say "yes yes" and walk on (and let your dog pee anyway).

I am not sure if I would like a dog peeing on my lawn or in front of my building. To get to the bottom of it all was you dog peeing like this



or like this?

After watching the first vid, click on the marmot! Brilliant - and listen to the meercats!

BTW other dogs will come and cover any pee to erase competition smell and cover with theirs- so yes, one dog pee brings many others in an open area.