Ascona

What we expect: careful and conscious house care and pet sitting.
Not suitable to bring along your own pet(s), nor any guest/friend we have not met personally beforehand into the house, sorry.
About our pet: Yumi is a 3 year old female street dog, adopted to Switzerland at 4 months old. By her looks, she may be a Red Setter-Belgian Shepherd mix. She is active outdoors and quiet & cuddly at home. Smart, shy, sensitive, obedient, she seeks to please, so if you set clear boundaries but stay gentle, she will love you. She needs a familiar routine, discipline and lots of cuddly fun/playfulness. Great if you have a car so you can get out into nature around the village. As a shepherd breed she is very attached to people she trusts, and she needs time to get used to new carers/ unusual situations. That is why we ask you to arrive 1-2 days before we leave, so we get to know you and she can get used to you and feel at ease.

General care: Feeding is 2x a day. 3 big / active walks a day at 30-40 mins + a short walk before bed. One special need that is written in the Swiss law: Yumi is a Belgian Shepherd (Malinois mix), so she is never, EVER allowed off leash outside — no where, no exceptions, at any time. She is not allowed to be approached by other dogs, not allowed in off leash dog parks, nor play with children she doesn’t know. Pet sitters are held 100% responsible for this. For Yumi herself, as she grew up happily attached to her 10meter extension leash, there’s no problem — she listens well, plays easily, did dog school, obeys gestures. She is scared of most dogs and can bark if she feels threatened / exposed so we always distract her with dog treats and keep walking past. She loves to learn tricks and do agility games instead of play with other dogs, except for her special Pomeranian spitz “boyfriend” lives in the neighbourhood; that is the only dog she loves & plays well with.

Inside our home, we require pet sitters to be tidy, quiet, to water our plants and be respectful of our neighbours. No parties, drugs, smoking or vaping inside or on our balcony. Quiet after 22:00PM. In our house book we have specific instructions and we’ll spend a day showing you the routine and details when we meet. Proof of your personal liability insurance is required in case of damages, before we accept your application.

We will probably only be traveling for 7-8 days in this period, depending on work. We will confirm these dates by March.

Welcome to Ascona, a beautiful delta village near Locarno on Lago Maggiore, Ticino, Switzerland. We live in a quiet flat with a loggia-balcony, mountain views, near the lake. Dog sitters enjoy a private bedroom + bathroom, living/dining room, big kitchen & laundry. Old town 10 mins walk, beaches/golf/parks 5 mins, bus stop 50m, Locarno 7min away. Ideal for mountain sports + flat delta walking/cycling. Guest parking space (if not occupied) + free 1 hour blue zone street parking. We look forward to meeting you.

Our home is relaxed and modern with a traveller's touch -- Moroccan carpets, Asian art and comfortable lounge style furnishing. We have a balcony with herb garden, sprouting trays in the kitchen and some tropical plants indoors. Views of mountains from every window. Building is quiet. 5G and high speed wifi. Free parking on site. Laundry room facilities are easy access downstairs, reserved flexibly.

Our home is a sunny haven of peace, overlooking a private garden with fountain and mountain views from all windows. House sitters (max 2 as a couple / duo) have access to 1 private guest room with double bed, 1 private shower/WC, a modern well equipped kitchen, sunny balcony, and spacious living / dining room where the dog sleeps. Enjoy a decorative fireplace (candles only), high speed wifi and free laundry. Smoking/vaping is strictly forbidden at home, on the balcony, in hallways, or by open doors/windows. Our dog sleeps only in her own bed, never on the sofa or bed due to other guest's allergies. Free guest parking or 1 hour street parking. Busstop 50m, beaches 5 min walk, village centre 10 mins walk, bakery/ shops on the corner. Locarno city centre, hospitals and train station 7 mins by car / bus. Easy connections to Milan / Zurich and all around Ticino. Enjoy forests, parks, mountains, lakes, golf courses, biking, winter sports, museums, festivals, open air markets in abundance. Mobility e-bikes parked near the flat.

Ticino is the Italian speaking region of Switzerland, renowned for its nature, culture and climate. From lakeside beaches with palm trees to glaciers with mountain goats: our home in the delta of Ascona, on the shores of the Lake Maggiore with the mountains around offer a mild alpine climate, exotic flora and panoramic views. Enjoy the dolce vita in the old borgo of Ascona, jump on a ferry boat to visit places around the lake, cycle up the hills or across wide valleys, enjoy shopping, culture and coffee in the many villages and Locarno's grand piazza in the area. Endless forests, parks, mountain hikes, water sports, winter sports, museums, festivals, open air markets and Ticino Swiss/Italian culture to enjoy. Mobility rental e-bikes parked nearby. Easy cycling as Ascona is on a flat delta.