The 5 best pet sitters in Zurich to trust with your beloved companions
As a dog owner, I know how important it is to find someone I can trust to take care of my pet while away. Whether for a weekend getaway or a one-week business trip, I need to be sure I’m leaving my fur baby in the right hands.
Finding those right hands was primarily hit or miss in the beginning. I’ve had some good and not-so-good experiences with pet sitters in Zurich. But after trial and error and careful research, I can confidently say I’ve found the best in the city.
I’m sure about my list, so I’m sharing it with you. These pet sitters are excellent; you’ll have peace of mind when you leave your fur babies with them.
| How much does it cost to hire a pet sitter in Zurich? It costs CHF 30 – CHF 50 per day to hire a pet sitter in Zurich. This charge includes basic care, like feeding and companionship. Overnight rates are more expensive, usually for CHF 50 – CHF 100 a night. |
1. CITYPET
Address: Widdergrasse 8, 8001
Contact Details: +41 78 895 30 00
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday: 9 AM – 6 PM
- Saturday to Sunday: Closed
With 13 years of experience and an Attestation of Competence certification, CITYPET has established a sterling reputation.
I liked their dog walking service because it’s tailored to every dog’s needs. They also accommodate walks for two dogs from different households, so each pup has company.
CITYPET is also known for their dog camping adventure, which runs from May to September. This camp takes your dog to Ticino (the southernmost canton of Switzerland), where they can enjoy scenic trails. There will be hiking, swimming, eating, and having fun for your pup.
They also offer a top-notch cat-sitting service, including extras like watering plants and receiving mail. A friend tried it out, and he highly approves of the extra attention to detail. Just make sure you inform CITYPET of your requests beforehand.
Unfortunately, these offerings are available only in selected areas. Among these are Zurich city centre, Enge, Wiedikon, and Oberstrass.
Helpful, kind, and reliable
“While living in Zurich for over 3 years, Dan and CityPet were beyond helpful, kind and reliable in taking care of our senior pup Wally. Dan is so professional, was always flexible in our schedule and needs, and such a good caregiver for walks and playtime for our dear dog. Now that we live back in the United States, we wish we had Dan nearby once again. Highly recommended. Thank you Dan!”
– Peter Hillman, Google Review
Excellent service and extremely fair pricing
“Great service and reliable! Offers the friendliest customer service ever. Dan does his job with a lot of heart and very conscientiously. I actually don’t like giving my German Shepherd into other people’s hands. At City Pet I know that I can rely 100% on my dog getting the best care. In addition, the prices for the services are extremely fair.”
– Denise W., Google Review
2. Pongo Hundesitter
Address: Triemlistrasse 94, 8047
Contact Details: +41 46 419 28 53
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Thursday: 7:30 AM – 6 PM
- Friday to Sunday: Closed
Pongo Hundesitter is a favourite of locals with small dogs because they cater specifically to small breeds. However, that also means they’re unavailable for larger breeds like Cane Corsos and German Shepherds.
A colleague who owns a Chihuahua highly recommends Pongo’s daycare for their attentive care. I went with her once and saw how gently every dog is cared for. All I needed to see was that the pups looked genuinely happy and full of energy.
Many dog owners also shared they regularly leave dogs here when they leave for weekend business trips or getaways. To me, that level of trust says a lot about Pongo Hundesitter’s attentiveness to the needs of each pup.
Aside from daily sitting service, I value their dog rehab service. This offering provides dogs with a caring environment to recover from an injury or illness. Nursing a sick or injured dog is challenging, and the staff helps in that time-consuming process.
But with all these benefits, you can expect that Pongo’s pricing is a bit high.
Truly the best service
“Lea is truly the BEST dog sitter! She has taken care of my pomeranian Newton as if he was her own! She really cares about the dogs that stay with her, you will never find this level of commitment and love elsewhere. Newton felt such at home with her, he was very happy. Unfortunately I am moving out of Zurich, but I recommend Pongo 100% if you have a small dog! Lea is very trustworthy, loving and caring, your dog will be very happy staying at her home.”
– Caroline Chretien, Google Review
Amazing, compassionate, and responsible care
“Our Pinia goes regularly to Pongo. She just loves it there!! We are so grateful for the amazing, compassionate and responsible care that Lea provides the dogs. Definitely the best dogsitter in town and most highly recommended.”
– Tal Friede, Google Review
3. Gus & Friends
Company logo here
Address: Limmattalstrasse 356, 8049
Contact Details: +41 78 680 70 40
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Sunday: 7:30 AM – 6:30 PM
“Gus” in Gus & Friends is actually a Dachshund-Chihuahua hybrid that has been with the team for six years and counting.
With Gus as inspiration, Gus & Friends provides just the right blend of nurture and play in their services. I love their daycare because it involves morning walks, nap time at midday, and lots of playtime. Groups are also kept small to ensure each dog gets enough attention.
I’d also argue that Elena, the head staff, is among the best dog caregivers in the city—and she has certifications to back it up. She’s a Kynologie Schweiz-certified specialist in the care of pets and dog training. She has trained under renowned zoologist Dr. Udo Ganslosser.
My only gripe is it can be hard to book a schedule with Gus & Friends since they take in only five dogs at a time.
The premium pricing may also be an issue for some on tighter budgets.
Handy dropoff locations
“Our puppy Lola has been going to Gus & Friends for daycare twice a week since October 2024 and we couldn’t be happier. Elena does such a wonderful job taking care of her and our puppy is always so excited to see her and spend the day with her. We find the two drop off locations really handy and also love seeing updates on Instagram of Lola’s daily adventures. What I really appreciated is that before we started regular daycare, we took our puppy for two trial days to see how she would find it and also how well she would fit in with the rest of the group on that day; luckily the fit was good and it’s always so nice to see all the dogs playing together and getting on so well!”
– Chelsey, Google Review
Excellent service
“Excellent dog care service. My dog was very happy during her stay, she got a lot of walks and played with other dog friends. The owner Elena is also a very easy going and lovely person. She shared pictures and the status of my dog each day during my dog’s stay. I highly recommend her services!”
– Es Wang, Google Review
4. Fit Dogs (Doggie Day Care by Annalisa)
Address: Kirchweg 129, 8102
Contact Details: +41 78 831 61 61
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Sunday: 24 hours
Fit Dogs (Doggie Day Care by Annalisa) isn’t your regular daycare. It’s more like a dog school meets dog training with lots and lots of care.
It’s excellent that it offers the basics, like dog feeding and walking. But I love that this sitter emphasises exercise, play, and socialisation. This emphasis on socialising with other dogs through pack formation training ensures positive behaviours are learned while having fun.
Fit Dog’s puppy adventure is approved by Veterinäramt (veterinary office). I’ve been told that it’s the best training for puppies because it covers common issues that young dogs commonly face. Among these are chewing and name recall.
Some owners have even told me that the classes here for adult dogs are just as comprehensive and practical.
But because Fit Dog provides comprehensive services, you can anticipate paying a premium for them. Expect difficulty securing slots because this daycare takes in only six dogs at a time to ensure everyone gets adequate attention and proper care.
Passionate and incredibly knowledgeable
“I recently had the pleasure of working with Annalisa for help with our new puppy. From the moment we started our puppy training sessions, it was clear that she was not only passionate about dogs but also incredibly knowledgeable. Her approach was practical, effective, and tailored to our puppy’s unique needs. I am very pleased with the results: a happy, well-mannered puppy. I highly recommend working with her!”
– Shayne Kropp, Google Review
Very informed staff
“I have been sending my dog to Fit Dogs for weekly daycare for over 5 years. Annalisa is a very caring individual and takes great pride in her work of showing the dogs a good time. I also completed the mandatory dog training course for the canton of Zurich with Annalisa. She was very informed and knowledgeable about dog training and she provided many helpful tips and learnings that I can apply to my dog for her to be better behaved and trained, and for us to have a good bond. I’d highly recommend Fit Dogs for daycare and mandatory courses!”
– Yash Ghogre, Google Review
5. Local CatSitter Zurich
Address: Stockerstrasse 34, 8002
Contact Details: +41 76 596 27 09
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Sunday: 6 AM – 10 PM
Local CatSitter Zurich has quite a sterling reputation among my cat-loving friends. Founder and owner Jameela Van Eijck, known locally as “The Cat Lady,” leads the service.
She leads a team of cat sitters that includes family members and carefully selected feline lovers. After observing them, I could tell they were experts at handling cats. It’s like seeing experts who know how to show care and affection to cats while keeping them well-behaved.
It’s also lovely that Jameela’s catsitting service partners with a Zurich cat grooming company called CatinStyle in case your cats need professional grooming and skin care. She also partners with Das Körbchen, a popular dog care service for small dog breeds.
A major problem with Local CatSitter Zurich is you must book 8 to 10 weeks in advance to secure a slot. That’s too long, and you won’t be able to book on short notice.
Outstanding, punctual, and flexible
“Jameela is outstanding! I could not recommend her more. Over the past year she looked after my 2 cats on several occasions and her care, punctuality, communication and flexibility are absolutely top. She allowed me to be able to go on work, travel and vacations being totally relaxed about my cats and knowing they were in the best hands possible.”
– Alessandra Polara, Google Review
Expert, trustworthy, and organised
“You just need to see Jameela interact with your cat and you know she is everything she claims to be: a cat lover, a cat expert and someone who can be trusted. Jameela does not only look after my cat when I am away, she also gives great tips on behavior and care. For example, Jameela gave me a cat feeder so that I could see how my cat got on with it and it worked great! In terms of service, Jameela is very well organized and makes sure that the process for booking and exchange of keys is hassle free. Great service and great care!”
– Sophie Mortamet, Google Review