Dogsharing: sharing a dog
More time with a dog. More room to breathe for their owner.
In dogsharing, dog owners and dog lovers from the same neighbourhood share time with a dog — no payment, no agency.
For iPhone and Android
What is dogsharing?
Dogsharing means several people share the time spent with one dog. The dog goes on living with their owner — but gains regular extra people for walks, day care or overnight stays. Nobody pays anybody, because both sides get something out of it.
And what it is not
Not dog sitting
Dog sitting is a paid service by the hour, with whoever is available that day. Dogsharing is a relationship: the same people, the same dog, no invoice.
Not fostering
The dog does not give up their home. Sometimes people come to them, sometimes they spend a few hours or a weekend with the other person — and then they go back home.
Not an agency
Nobody assigns you to anybody. You choose who you want to meet, and you go at your own pace.
Two sides, one walk
Dogsharing only works if both sides get something out of it. Pick the one you are — the section below adapts.
For dog owners
You are not giving your dog away. You are gaining people who know them — and who are there when the day runs long.
- Relief on the days when work, an appointment or a trip does not fit around a dog.
- The same familiar faces every time, instead of a boarding kennel full of strangers.
- You get to know each other first, walk together, and only then do you hand over the lead.
For iPhone and Android
For dog lovers
Flat too small, job too full, travelling too often — and still, something is missing. Dogsharing is the way in between.
- Time with a dog, without the responsibility around the clock.
- As much or as little as fits your week — one walk or a whole weekend.
- A dog from your own neighbourhood you actually get to know, not a series of one-off jobs.
For iPhone and Android
From a profile to a standing arrangement
You organise dogsharing through the Patzo app. Four steps, at your own pace.
Create a profile
Say who you are, how much time you have and what you have in mind. Dog owners also add a profile for their dog.
Look around your area
You see dogs and people nearby. If you are both interested, you have a match.
Meet
Message each other, meet up, take the first walk together. No obligation — and nobody heads out alone with the dog on day one.
Plan care
Once there is trust, you schedule fixed times in the app: the Wednesday walk, the office day, the week away.
Profiles, matching, chat and care planning are free.
Why dogsharing works
Three things set it apart from everything else that calls itself dog care.
From the neighbourhood
You live in the same area. That is the difference between a well-meant idea and a walk that still happens on a wet Tuesday evening.
Without payment
No hourly rate, no booking, no tip. People take part because they want time with a dog — a steadier basis than money.
Trust first
You decide when a chat becomes a walk, and when a walk becomes care. Nobody pushes you into the next step.
And the dog?
They get the most out of it: more exercise, more play, more attention — and when things get tight at home, a familiar face instead of unfamiliar surroundings.
Dogsharing in your city
What keeping a dog costs, where they are allowed off the lead, and which rules apply — looked up and sourced. These pages are in German.
Common questions about dogsharing
What exactly is dogsharing?
In dogsharing, several people voluntarily share the time spent with one dog. The dog goes on living with their owner and gains regular extra people — for walks, day care or overnight stays. No money changes hands.
Can I borrow a dog for a few hours?
"Borrow" is not quite it — a dog is not an object, and nobody hands one to a stranger. What does exist is a lasting connection to one particular dog in your neighbourhood, where you spend regular time with them. It starts with a walk together and grows from there.
What does dogsharing cost?
Nothing changes hands between you — no hourly rate, no expenses. The Patzo app you find each other through is free in its core functions: profile, matching, chat and care planning. There is an optional paid membership with advanced filters and no daily limit.
I do not have a dog of my own. Can I take part?
Yes — that is one of the two main roles. As a dog lover you get to know dogs near you and take on as much time as fits your life. Many people join for exactly this reason: a flat, a job or travel rules out a dog of their own.
I do not speak German. Does that work?
It often does, especially in Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, Cologne and Frankfurt, where plenty of people are happy to arrange things in English. You write to each other first, so you can sort out the language before you ever meet. The app itself is available in English.
How do I know I can trust the person looking after my dog?
Because you do not have to decide straight away. You message first, then walk together, then they take over short stretches on their own. You take each step when you are ready. Profile confirmations from people who know someone show you how well established they are in the community.
Is dogsharing the same as dog godparenthood?
No. Dogsharing is the thing itself: shared time with a dog who lives near you. A dog godparenthood is what it can grow into, once those first walks turn into a fixed role in the life of that dog. The German word, "Hundepatenschaft", is also widely used for donation sponsorships of shelter dogs, where you never meet the dog at all.
Does dogsharing work in Austria and Switzerland too?
Yes. The Patzo app shows you people and dogs nearby regardless of the country — there are active users in Germany, Austria and German-speaking Switzerland. You will see how many are near you right after signing up.
See who is already taking part near you
You organise dogsharing through the Patzo app. Sign up, look around your area, decide.
Get Patzo for freeFor iPhone and Android. No subscription needed.