Help & Guide

Help & Guide

Step-by-step answers to every DOGSY feature. Tap a question to open the answer.

You'll also find this guide right in the app: Settings → Help & Guide. Companies and advertisers find it in the business portal under “Help”.

For dog lovers

Dogsharing – a lasting sponsorship

With Dogsharing you become a Gotti or Götti for a dog and regularly share walks, care and responsibility with the owner – always free of charge.

How does a sponsorship work?

You find each other through the requests: owners look for a Gotti/Götti for their dog, dog lovers without a dog of their own look for a dog to share. You get to know each other, meet up and then regularly share walks and care – for example on fixed weekdays. A sponsorship is meant to last, not for a single one-off.

How do I find a sponsorship?

Open «Search» and then the requests. In the Dogsharing filters, pick the direction («Looking for a Gotti/Götti» or «Wants to become a Gotti/Götti») and, if you like, the weekdays that suit you. Reply to a matching request directly by message. You post your own request under «My requests» with the service «Dogsharing».

What does Dogsharing cost?

Nothing. Dogsharing is always free of charge – no money changes hands between owner and Gotti/Götti. DOGSY only makes the connection and keeps nothing.

What about insurance and liability?

As the owner you remain responsible for your dog and liable for damage it causes (Art. 56 CO, strict liability); the Gotti/Götti acts as a helper. Both of you should check your private liability insurance – it usually covers looking after someone else's dog. With longer or holiday care, ownership responsibilities may temporarily pass over; agree on such cases beforehand. DOGSY only provides the introduction and is not a party to any arrangement. This is general information and not legal advice.

Can under-18s take part?

Yes. Under 18 you can be a Gotti/Götti during the day – the owners decide. Overnight and holiday care are only possible from age 18.

Meeting for the first time?

Neutral ground, a loose leash, clear signs to stop: the guide walks through it step by step before two dogs who don't know each other meet.

Read the guide

Account & Registration

How do I sign up for DOGSY?

Open dogsy.ch and tap “Register for free”. Enter your first name, last name, email, password (at least 8 characters), country, phone number and date of birth. You will then receive a 6-digit code by email – enter it and you're in. DOGSY is and will remain free.

How do I log in?

On dogsy.ch, tap “Login DOGSY” and sign in with your email and password. Forgot your password? Tap “Forgot password?” – we'll send you a link to choose a new one.

From what age can I use DOGSY?

The minimum age depends on your country – in Switzerland it is 13. Everyone under 18 additionally confirms their parents' or guardians' consent during registration; the profile then shows a corresponding note.

How do I change my password?

Go to Settings → “Change password”, enter your current password and the new one twice (at least 8 characters), then tap “Save”.

How do I change my name?

Go to Settings → “Name”. There you set your first and last name and choose whether others see only your first name or your full name.

How do I log out?

Open Profile → “Settings” and tap “Log out” right at the bottom. A short confirmation follows, then you are logged out. Your profile stays in place – you can sign back in at any time.

Your Profile

How do I upload a profile photo?

Go to “My profile” and tap “Upload photo”. Move the crop area and zoom until it fits – that's exactly how your photo will appear everywhere on DOGSY.

What is the gallery?

In the gallery you show extra pictures, for example of you with dogs. Visitors to your profile can see them – you can remove pictures at any time.

Can I format my description?

Yes: **bold**, *italic*, and lines starting with - become a list. Use the “About me” field to tell people who you are and what connects you with dogs.

What are living situation and languages for?

Your living situation (e.g. house with garden) helps dog owners choose the right care. For languages, select all the ones you speak – so others know in which language they can write to you.

Why does DOGSY need my address?

For safety reasons you can only send messages once your address is on file. Only your postcode and town are visible publicly – never your exact address. Enter it under Settings → “Address & location”.

Who can see my profile?

Signed-in Dogsyaner see your name (as you chose to show it), photo, postcode/town, description, languages, dogs and services. Your email, phone and exact address are never shown publicly.

Dogs & Dog File

How do I create a dog profile?

Go to “My profile” → “My dogs” → “+ Add dog” and enter name, breed, sex, size and year of birth. You can add several dogs.

What belongs in the dog file?

Vaccination record and documents (image or PDF) plus notes on health & special needs – such as allergies, medication or fears. Only you and people you explicitly share it with can see the file.

How do I share the dog file – and revoke access?

In the dog file, tap “Share dog file” and pick a chat partner, for example your sitter. With “Revoke sharing” you end access at any time.

I don't have a dog – can I still join?

Absolutely! Even without your own dog you are a full Dogsyaner – for example as a dog walker, sitter or helper in emergencies.

Family

What does “One family, one profile” mean?

All family members share one DOGSY profile including its history. Each person has their own login with their own password, and in chats others can see who from the family wrote.

How do I invite family members?

Open Settings → “Family members” and invite by email. The person creates their own login and then acts under the family profile. Only owners can invite and remove members.

How do I switch between profiles?

If you belong to several profiles, the item “Switch profile” appears in Settings – that's where you pick the active profile.

Services

How do I offer services?

In “My profile”, under services, choose what you offer – free or paid –, set your price and define your service radius. DOGSY takes 0% commission: everything stays between you.

Which services exist?

Dog walking, joint walks, care at your place or at the carer's home, holiday care with overnight stays, dog taxi, short visits (feeding & checking in), a temporary emergency home and errands for the dog.

What is the dog taxi?

Rides for the dog, for example to the vet, groomer or carer. The dog must be secured in the vehicle – with a transport box, divider grille or safety harness. In your profile you state which dog sizes fit in your vehicle.

How do I find help nearby?

Open the “Search” area – the first tab is where you look for Dogsyaner. Pick the services you need and enter a town or address – DOGSY shows matching Dogsyaner in your area, on the map if you like. Tip: only pick filters you really need – the more filters, the fewer matches.

How is payment handled?

Directly between you – cash, Twint or however you agree. DOGSY keeps nothing. Keep in mind: paid earnings may be subject to tax and social insurance (see the “Shelters & Taxes” section).

Requests

How do I post a request?

Open “Search” → “Requests” tab and tap “+ Request” at the top. There you create a new request: service, period, your dog and the compensation (paid or voluntary), plus a short description – then tap “Publish”.

Who sees my request?

Signed-in Dogsyaner in your area – matching providers are notified automatically and get in touch with you in the chat.

How do I reply to a request?

Tap “Reply & chat” on the request – a chat opens with an automatic greeting in the other person's language.

What do I do once I've found help?

Your own requests live behind the “+ Request” button under “Search” → “Requests”. Tap “Found – deactivate” on your request there – if needed, you can reactivate it again later at any time.

Messages & Calls

How do I start a chat?

Tap “Message” on a profile or in the search results. For safety reasons you need an address on file first (Settings → “Address & location”). 1:1 chats can only be read by the two of you.

Can I send pictures and voice messages?

Yes. In the chat, tap the paperclip to attach a picture (max. 10 MB) or the microphone to record a voice message.

How do audio and video calls work?

Tap the phone or camera icon at the top of the chat. Calls run directly between you (peer-to-peer). Under Settings → “Notifications” you can turn calls off completely at any time.

How do I block or report someone?

Open the menu (⋮) in the chat and choose “Block contact” – you won't be able to message each other anymore, and your own message field in that chat disappears too. The person is not informed. You can unblock in the chat or under Settings → “Blocked contacts”. For serious incidents, also contact the DOGSY team.

How do I search the chat history?

Tap the magnifier icon in the chat and enter your search term – DOGSY shows all matches in the history.

Will I be notified about new messages?

Yes, if you enable push notifications (Settings → “Notifications”). The sender and the message text appear in the push as long as “Push preview” is on; turn it off and you'll only see that a new message has arrived.

My pack

What is “My pack”?

Your pack are Dogsyaner you can message directly – even without a shared service. You'll find it in Messages, in the third tab “Pack”.

How do I add someone to my pack?

Open “My pack” and tap “Create key”. You choose how long the key is valid (1, 7 or 30 days) and by how many people it can be redeemed. Then you pass it on – as a link or as a QR code to scan. Whoever redeems it lands in your pack, and you can message each other straight away.

By how many people should a key be redeemable?

One person is recommended: the key expires as soon as somebody has connected – a screenshot taken later is then no use to anyone. Only choose several people if you are deliberately passing the key around in a group. In the note on the key you write down who you gave it to; only you can see it.

Can I withdraw a key?

Yes. Under “My keys” you see your open keys with their expiry date and how often they have already been redeemed. If you tap “Revoke”, the link and the QR code stop working – connections already made remain.

How do I end a connection again?

Tap “Remove from pack” on that person. The connection ends for both of you, your previous conversation remains, and you can reconnect later at any time. Anyone you have blocked cannot connect with you in the first place. You open your pack in Messages, in the tab “Pack” – everything else about chats, blocking and reporting is under “Messages & Calls”.

Ratings

How do I rate a Dogsyaner?

Open the profile and give 1–5 paws. You can only rate after having had chat contact – that keeps ratings genuine.

Can I change my rating?

Yes – simply give 1–5 paws again; your previous rating is replaced.

Can I rate places too?

Yes, in the guide under “Discover”: open a place and give 1–5 paws – that helps other Dogsyaner.

What can I do about an unfair rating?

Contact the DOGSY team – we'll look into the case and remove ratings that break the rules.

DOGSYgram

What is DOGSYgram?

DOGSY's community feed with pictures and short videos from the dog world – your start page in the app. Instead of likes, we have paws.

How do I post a picture or video?

In the feed, tap “+ Post”, choose a picture or video (max. 60 seconds), adjust the crop, write a caption and submit the post. After a short review by the DOGSY team it appears in the feed.

What are the rules on DOGSYgram?

No advertising – neither in the picture or video nor as a link in the caption. Posts are reviewed before publication; abuse leads to your profile being blocked. Companies can advertise officially via DOGSY Business.

How do I give a paw?

Double-tap the picture or video – or tap the paw icon. The paw is our like.

How do I save or share posts?

The star icon saves a post (collected under DOGSYgram → “Favourites”), the share icon sends it to others.

How do I report an inappropriate post?

Tap “Report” on the post – the DOGSY team will review it.

Where do I manage my posts?

Under DOGSYgram → “My posts” you see each post's status (in review, approved or rejected) and can delete posts permanently.

Walks

What are walks good for?

You record your walk: the route on the map, distance, duration and pace. If you like, you link the walk to one of your dogs. Your routes are private – only you can see them, as long as you don't share one yourself.

How do I record a walk?

Open Daily → “Walks” and tap “Start a walk”. Pick the dog (or “No dog”) and tap “Start”. Along the way you can use “Pause” and “Resume”, and at the end you tap “Finish & save”. Your device has to allow location access for this.

Why does the recording stop when I put my phone away?

Keep the screen on during the walk – true background tracking with the phone in your pocket is coming with the app. Very short walks can't be saved either: take a few steps and it'll work.

Where do I see my walks and my streak?

Under Daily → “Walks” at “My walks”. The summary above it shows distance, duration, pace and count – for today, this week, this month or this year. “Your streak” counts the days in a row you've been out walking. You can rename every walk.

What is the walk leaderboard?

A voluntary comparison – you only take part once you tap “Take part”. Other participants then see your display name, your home town and country as well as the distance, duration and number of your walks – never your route and never your exact location. Only people who take part can see the leaderboard, and you can opt out at any time.

Can I share a walk with someone?

Yes, but only from inside a chat. With “Share walk live” the other person sees your current position on the map while you're out – not the route you have walked. It ends automatically as soon as you finish the walk, after 2 hours at the latest. With “Send a saved walk” you send one saved walk to a single person, and you can revoke that at any time. There is deliberately no open link to pass around. More about chats is under “Messages & Calls”; “Walks” is a sub-item of the “Daily” area and can be switched off and back on under Settings → “Areas”.

Discover & Guide

What do I find under Discover?

Four tabs: the guide (companies, day-trip spots, food & hotels), events from the dog world, the knowledge library with articles all about dogs, and “Animal emergency” with emergency addresses. Poison bait warnings and missing-dog reports are not here but under “Daily”.

How do I use the map and filters in the guide?

Switch between list and map, filter by town and sort by distance, rating or newest. For distance sorting, share your location or enter a town.

How do I rate a place?

Open the entry in the guide and give 1–5 paws – your rating flows into the average.

Can I suggest an entry myself?

Yes – tap “+ Register entry” in the guide. The entry is free and is reviewed by the DOGSY team before publication.

What are poison bait warnings?

You find them under Daily → “Poison bait”: Dogsyaner report poison bait found in the area there, and with “Report poison bait” you can warn others yourself. Which area you get warned about is set under Settings → “Warnings near you”. If you suspect poisoning, contact a vet or animal emergency service immediately.

Where do I find help in an animal emergency?

Under Explore → “Animal emergency” – there you'll find emergency services near you, many with 24h service.

Good Deeds & Donations

How do I donate via DOGSY?

Open Daily → “Good deeds”, pick a project and an amount and pay by Twint or card – securely via Stripe. 100% of your donation goes to the dogs and organisations; DOGSY keeps nothing.

Can I donate anonymously?

Yes – when donating, choose whether your name appears anonymously, with first name only or with first and last name.

Where do I see my donations?

Under Daily → “Good deeds” in the “My donations” tab – with the impact of your donation and your donation receipt as a PDF, individually or as an annual receipt.

How do I submit a donation request?

You need support for a dog in need or are collecting for a project? Tap “Submit donation request” and describe your case with receipts – the DOGSY team reviews the request and publishes it.

Can I support DOGSY itself?

Yes, with a voluntary donation under Daily → “Good deeds” → “Support DOGSY”. It funds only the operation and further development – DOGSY stays free for everyone, without commission and without selling data.

Shelters & Taxes

Where do I find animal shelters?

Under Daily → “Good deeds” in the “Shelters & animal welfare” tab – a directory filtered by your area. You can contact shelters directly by message.

I can no longer keep my dog – what now?

Please never abandon your dog and never hand it over rashly. Contact a shelter from the directory early – they will advise you on a responsible handover. You can also look for a new home via a request.

Do I have to pay tax on earnings from paid help?

In most countries, yes – side income also belongs in your tax return. The “Taxes & social insurance” page (linked in your profile as soon as you offer paid services) names the competent authority in your country.

Does this also apply to voluntary, unpaid help?

No – helping without payment generates no income. Small expense reimbursements are usually unproblematic; regular payments, however, quickly count as income.

Verification

What does verification give me?

Your profile receives the “✓ Verified” badge. That builds trust: you find help faster – and get found faster.

How do I get verified?

Open Settings → “Verification” and upload your ID card or passport (1–2 files, e.g. front and back) plus a current selfie. The DOGSY team checks the details.

What happens to my ID and the selfie?

Only DOGSY admins see them. After the check, ID and selfie are irrevocably deleted – only the result is stored.

Settings & App

How do I change the language?

Open Settings → “Language” and choose from 44 languages. Your choice applies everywhere on DOGSY – including emails.

What are areas?

You can hide and show DOGSYgram and Discover as well as the Daily sub-items “Good deeds” and “Walks” under Settings → “Areas” – the navigation becomes leaner. The core areas Search, Messages, Daily and Profile are always active.

How do I allow or block calls?

Under Settings → “Notifications” you'll find the “Allow calls” switch. When it's off, nobody can call you and the call buttons disappear from your chats.

How do I enable push notifications?

Open Settings → “Notifications” and turn the switch on; then allow notifications in your browser. On iPhone and iPad you first need to add DOGSY to your home screen.

How do I install DOGSY as an app on my phone?

Download the DOGSY app: from the App Store for iPhone/iPad, or Google Play for Android (dogsy.ch/ios or dogsy.ch/android). The web version in your browser stays fully usable alongside it.

How do I change my address?

Under Settings → “Address & location” you manage your town and exact address and set your service radius. Only your postcode and town are visible publicly.

What is in the “Daily” area?

“Daily” bundles everything that comes up around the dog day to day: “Good deeds” (donations & shelters), “Walks” (record your walks), “Health” (appointments, vaccinations, emergency network), “Poison bait” (warnings in your area) and “Missing” (missing-dog reports). The area itself is always visible; only “Good deeds” and “Walks” can be hidden under Settings → “Areas”.

Where do I find the terms, privacy policy and imprint?

Right at the bottom of the settings, in the “Legal” section. The installed app version is shown underneath – handy when you want to report something to the DOGSY team.

How do I update DOGSY?

Keep DOGSY up to date – an update is a newer version of the app. Only then do you have the latest features, and fixed problems actually reach you. Android: Open the Google Play Store and search for DOGSY. Or tap your profile picture at the top right → “Manage apps & device”; if DOGSY shows “Update”, tap it. The most convenient way is automatic: open DOGSY in the Play Store, tap the menu (⋮) at the top right and switch on “Enable auto update”. iPhone and iPad: Open the App Store and tap your profile picture at the top right. Scroll to the list of updates and tap “Update” next to DOGSY. To have it happen by itself: Settings → “App Store” → switch on “App Updates”. Small improvements are delivered by DOGSY on its own as soon as you open the app – you don't have to do anything for that. Just close the app completely now and then and open it again. The website and DOGSY in your browser are always up to date automatically. If something ever looks odd, simply reload the page. Safety: Only download DOGSY from the official Google Play Store (Android) or App Store (iPhone/iPad) – never from any other source. Apps from other websites can contain harmful software.

For companies & advertisers

Account & access

How do I sign in with the Business Login?

Open business.dogsy.ch and enter your company email and password. The Business Login is deliberately separate from the DOGSY app and the admin area – your advertising account only works here in the portal.

How do I register my company as an advertiser?

On the sign-in page, click “Register now” and enter your company name, country, contact person, address, company email and password. After confirming your email (6-digit code or link), your advertising account is created – the DOGSY team reviews and approves every company manually.

Why do I see a notice that my account is under review?

New advertising accounts are reviewed manually by the DOGSY team. You can already use the portal in full and prepare campaigns – but ads only run once your account has been approved and, in addition, each individual campaign has been approved.

How do I change my password?

Open the “Company” menu item and go to “Change password”. Enter your current password and the new password twice (at least 8 characters), then click “Save”.

How do I sign out?

Click “Sign out” at the bottom of the sidebar (top right on mobile). This ends the session on this device – your data and campaigns are of course kept.

Company profile

What is the company profile?

Your public presence on DOGSY: with a slogan, “About us”, logo, photos and videos you introduce your company to the whole Dogsyaner community. You will find it in the menu under “Company profile”.

How do I upload a logo, photos and videos?

In the company profile, click “Upload logo” in the “Logo” section; for the gallery, add your files under “Photos & videos”. Allowed are images as JPG/PNG/WebP up to 8 MB and videos as MP4/WebM up to 40 MB.

What are the slogan and “About us” for?

The slogan is your short tagline; “About us” describes what your company stands for and what you offer dog owners. Both texts appear on your public profile – keep them concrete and written from the community's point of view.

How do I choose my industry?

In the company profile, pick the matching category under “Industry”, e.g. dog school, vet or grooming salon. If your industry is missing, submit your own via “Suggest a new industry” – the DOGSY team will review it.

How do DOGSY users find my company?

Through your public company profile, through your approved locations in the DOGSY guide (“Companies”) and through your ads. The industry you choose helps people find you in the right category.

Locations & branches

What are locations on DOGSY?

Free public entries in the DOGSY guide (“Companies”): your shops, practices or branches with category, map, contact details and opening hours – visible to the whole Dogsyaner community.

How do I create a location?

Open “Locations” and click “Add location”. Only name and town are required; category, description, phone, website and opening hours make the entry much more attractive.

Can I manage several locations or branches?

Yes, you can create as many locations as you like – ideal for chains. Each location has its own entry that you can edit or delete at any time; deleting requires a confirmation and cannot be undone.

When does my location become publicly visible?

Every location is reviewed by the DOGSY team and appears in the DOGSY guide once approved. You can see the status directly on the entry: “Awaiting approval” or “Active” – for active entries you can view the public page.

Creating campaigns

How do I create a new campaign?

Open “My campaigns” and click “+ New campaign”. Enter a title, ad text and target URL (https://…), choose placement, audience, bid, budget and duration – then click “Submit for review”.

Where does a click on my ad lead?

You set this in the campaign form under “Ad destination”. You can choose “External link” (any web address, e.g. your own website), “Company profile” (your company profile on DOGSY) or “Specific location” (one of your locations on DOGSY, picked from a list). For both DOGSY destinations the form shows under “Links to …” where the ad leads. You will find the choice in “My campaigns” under “+ New campaign”, right below the ad text – if you do not have a location yet, create it first under “Locations”.

Which placements are available?

“Native”: your ad appears as a discreet sponsored card in search results, in the requests and in the DOGSY guide, plus a discreet line above the chat in messages – always clearly marked “Sponsored”. “DOGSYgram feed”: your ad runs in the app's video feed – videos are possible there too.

Can I use an image or a video?

Native ads use an image. In the DOGSYgram feed you can choose between image and video – videos may be at most 20 seconds long. The preview shows your ad exactly as it will look in the app.

Which audience can I choose?

“All DOGSY users” reaches the whole community; “Dog owners only” limits delivery to users with their own dog. Choose “Dog owners only” if your offer requires owning a dog.

How do I control countries and languages?

Under “Target countries” you define in which countries your ad appears; under “Target languages” you choose the app languages of the users who should see it. At least one country and one language are required.

Can I limit my campaign to a radius?

Yes. In addition to the target countries, choose under “Radius” either “Whole country” (everywhere in the selected countries) or “Address + radius”. With “Address + radius” you enter an address and set the radius in kilometres (1 to 500 km). This reaches accounts with a stored address inside that radius – anyone without an address does not see your ad and costs you nothing. In “My campaigns” a note such as “25 km around Bern” then appears on the campaign card. You will find the setting in the campaign form directly below the target countries.

What does CPC mean – and how do I set my bid?

CPC means you pay per click on your ad. You always pay exactly your bid; higher bids are shown more often. Typical market rates are CHF 0.40–1.00 per click.

How do budget and duration work?

You choose “Daily budget” (maximum spend per day) or “Total budget” (maximum spend over the whole duration) – always in CHF. For the duration, pick “Ongoing” (runs until you pause) or “Fixed dates” with a start and end date. The forecast in the form shows the expected spend.

Managing campaigns

Who reviews my campaign and how do I see the status?

The DOGSY team reviews every campaign manually before it goes live. Until approval it shows “Under review”, then the status changes to “Active”. You can see the current status at any time in “My campaigns”.

How do I pause and resume a campaign?

In “My campaigns”, click “Pause” on an active campaign – delivery stops immediately and no further costs arise. Click “Resume” to continue the campaign.

How do I withdraw a submitted campaign?

As long as a campaign has the status “Under review”, you can withdraw it: click “Withdraw” and confirm with a second click on the same button – only then is the campaign permanently deleted. This two-step confirmation protects against accidental deletion.

Why can't I delete a running campaign?

Once a campaign has been approved, its impressions, clicks and costs are part of your billing history – so it is kept. Pause the campaign instead: no further costs arise and your figures remain traceable.

How do I see what my ad looks like in the app?

Click “Preview” on a campaign. You will see your ad exactly as the Dogsyaner community sees it in the app – including the “Sponsored” label.

Statistics

Where do I find my statistics?

In the “Statistics” menu item. At the top you see the totals across all campaigns, below that a table with the figures for each individual campaign.

What do impressions, clicks and CTR mean?

Impressions count how often your ad was shown; clicks count how often someone tapped on it. The CTR (click-through rate) is the share of clicks in impressions – a good indicator of how well your ad resonates.

Where do I see how much I have spent?

The “Spent” column shows the costs per campaign, the tile at the top the total – always in CHF. You will find the same amounts in your billing.

Why don't I see any figures yet?

Figures only appear once a campaign has been approved and is being delivered. Check in “My campaigns” whether your campaign is still “Under review” or paused.

Billing & balance

How does billing work?

Your campaigns run on a credit system: costs arise per click (CPC) and are continuously deducted from your balance. You can see your current balance in the sidebar and on the “Billing” page.

How do I top up my balance?

Open the “Billing” page and, under “Top up balance”, choose an amount or enter your own (minimum CHF 20). Payment is made online by credit card or TWINT – securely via Stripe. The balance is credited immediately after payment.

Where do I find my invoices?

On the “Billing” page under “Invoices” – with number, date, amount and status; every invoice can be downloaded as a PDF. An invoice is created for each top-up of your balance and is already paid once the payment goes through. What your campaigns have used up from the balance is shown below under “Advertising spend (daily records)” – per campaign and day.

Is VAT shown on my invoices?

No. DOGSY is currently not liable for VAT and therefore does not charge any VAT – for companies at home and abroad alike. Every invoice therefore shows 0 %, and the invoice amount is exactly the balance you topped up. No input tax arises that you could reclaim.

In which currency am I billed?

Always in CHF – bids, budgets, balance and invoices. In the campaign form you see an approximate conversion for your target countries as guidance (indicative rate).

App partner

What is the app partner programme?

Each month there is exactly one exclusive app partner: your logo appears discreetly with “Presented by …” at app launch and in the menu of the whole Dogsyaner community. The slot is awarded by auction.

How do I place a bid?

Open “App partner” – there you see the next twelve months, each with its own bidding deadline. Enter your maximum bid for the month you want: at least CHF 100, in whole francs. Your bid is legally binding and cannot be withdrawn. Until the deadline you can raise your maximum at any time; you can only lower it while it has not itself become the bid and it does not fall below your current bid.

Who wins the auction and what do I pay?

The highest maximum bid wins the respective month. You only pay if you win – if you don't, your bid costs nothing. You will be notified after the auction ends.

Where do I see my previous bids?

On the “App partner” page under “My bids” – with month and maximum bid. There you can also increase your current bid if needed.

Where do I see who bid how much?

On the “App partner” page you can expand “Show bid history” for every month. The history is open to all companies: every movement – bid placed, raised, lowered or removed by the DOGSY team – is shown with company, amount and time, including for other companies. The only exception: the current maximum bid of the leading company is listed as “hidden” while it is in the lead; once it is outbid or lowers its maximum, the earlier amounts become visible. You will find the history on the month card below the other bidders.

Will I be notified if someone outbids me?

Yes. As soon as your maximum bid is no longer the highest, you receive an immediate alert – in the portal under “Notifications” (the bell in the sidebar), plus as a push message and by e-mail. It names the month and the country and takes you straight to the right auction; recipients are all members with the “Advertising & campaigns” permission. Until bidding closes you can raise your maximum bid at any time: open “App partner”, choose the month and click “Raise bid” – the bid history openly shows how much the other companies have bid; only the current leader's maximum stays hidden.

Team & permissions

How do I invite a team member?

Open «Team» and enter the email address under «Invite team member». Select the areas this person may access and click «Invite». If they do not have a business account yet, the invitation is stored and becomes active as soon as they sign in with exactly that email address. Only the owner and members with the «Manage team» permission see the «Team» menu item.

Which permissions can I grant?

Six areas, each granted separately: «Company profile & locations», «Advertising & campaigns», «Billing & credit», «Inbox», «Warnings» and «Manage team». A member only sees the menu items they have permission for. «Warnings» only appears at all if your company has been cleared for official warnings by the DOGSY team.

What can the owner do that a team member cannot?

The owner always has every permission. Their permissions cannot be changed and they cannot be removed from the team. For everyone else, only the granted permissions decide.

Can I make someone responsible for a single location only?

Yes. Under «Responsible for» choose «Whole company» or «Only these locations». A restricted member sees the conversations of the selected locations only – neither those of the other locations nor those of head office. Advertising, billing, team and warnings always apply to the whole company; restricted members have no access to them.

How do I change permissions or remove someone?

In the team list click «Edit permissions», tick the boxes and save. «Remove» blocks access immediately and asks for confirmation first. The owner is excluded from both.

Inbox

Who can write to me – and can I write first?

Users write to your company profile or to one of your locations; the conversation appears under «Messages». A company cannot start a conversation itself – you can only reply once a user has written. The owner and members with the «Inbox» permission see this area.

What do «Head office» and the location badge mean?

Every conversation belongs to a channel: «Head office» (your company profile) or a specific location. The badge sits on every row, and from two channels onwards you can filter by it. That way head office does not answer a question meant for a branch.

Can I hand a conversation over to a location?

Yes, via «Forward to location». The conversation is not copied, it changes responsibility: it is the same thread, from now on with the selected location. Important: the location's team can read the previous thread, and the user is visibly informed about this in the conversation.

How do I switch the chat off?

Under «Settings» in the «Chat function» section, separately for head office and each location. Switching off only prevents NEW conversations – ongoing ones stay readable and answerable, nobody is cut off mid-conversation. Add a phone number or website to the location, otherwise a user is left without any way to reach you.

How often will I be notified by email?

You set that under «Settings» in the «Email notification for new messages» section: with every message, at most every 6 hours, at most daily, at most every 3 days or at most weekly. In the portal you always see new messages immediately – the setting only throttles the emails.

Warnings

What are warnings?

Official warnings for your area – blue-green algae in a lake, for example. They appear immediately for all DOGSY users nearby. The area is meant for official bodies (such as municipalities) that register as a company.

Why can't I see the «Warnings» menu item?

There are two barriers and both must be open. First, your company has to be cleared for official warnings by the DOGSY team; the default is «off». Second, the person needs the «Warnings» permission, which is granted in the team and always applies to the whole company. Without the clearance the menu item does not appear at all – if you open the page directly, it shows the way to help and contact.

How do I issue a warning?

Click «Create warning» and choose the type of warning. Pick the place from the suggestion list – only a picked place brings coordinates with it, and without coordinates there is no radius. An exact spot and a description are optional; for area-based types you enter the affected area in kilometres. Warnings are only possible within the radius of your registered company address.

How long is a warning valid, and how do I withdraw it?

You set an end date under «Valid until»; the default depends on the type of warning. Keep it as short as possible – you can always extend it. Expired warnings are listed under «Earlier warnings». You can withdraw a running warning at any time via «Withdraw»; a reason is optional. Every issue and every withdrawal is logged.

Deactivating your profile

What does «deactivate profile» mean?

Your company profile and all your locations disappear from the guide, the map, search and the public company profile. Nothing is deleted: your data is kept, existing conversations too, and you can restore visibility at any time.

What happens to my advertising?

It pauses as well. Running campaigns are no longer served, and promoted locations no longer cost you any clicks. After reactivating, everything continues unchanged – same budget, same credit.

How do I deactivate my profile – and why a code?

Open «Company profile», then the «Profile visibility» section, and click «Deactivate profile». When the dialog opens, a six-digit code is sent automatically to your login email; only that code completes the deactivation. The step makes your company publicly invisible – hence the extra confirmation. You need the «Company profile & locations» permission.

Can I hide individual locations as well?

Yes. The same switch sits on the location's own page under «Location visibility». It only affects that one entry; your other locations and your company profile stay visible.

How do I undo it?

Via «Reactivate profile» or «Reactivate location». A short confirmation is enough and no code is needed – returning to normal visibility is the uncritical direction.

Support & contact

How do I reach the DOGSY team?

Write to business@dogsy.ch – the team helps with all questions about your advertising account, campaigns, balance and invoices. For general questions about DOGSY, you can reach us at info@dogsy.ch.

In which languages can I use the portal?

The business portal is available in 28 languages. You can switch the language at any time via the language selector in the sidebar (in the header on mobile) – billing is always in CHF regardless.

How do I keep my company data up to date?

Under “Company” you maintain company name, country, VAT number, contact person, address and phone. Complete and up-to-date details matter because they feed into the review of your campaigns and appear exactly like this on your invoices.