Nine years after the obligation was scrapped throughout Switzerland, all Zurich dog owners will have to attend, from June 1st, a training course called Hundegesetz in German.
The requirement, introduced in 2008 throughout the country, made it it compulsory for everyone who had a new dog to attend four hours of practical classes on obedience training, in addition to an hour-long theory course especially for new owners.
However, since in the next eight years, the number of dog bites and attacks in general had not decreased, the law was repealed on federal level from January 1st, 2017.
On cantonal level, certain cantons require owners of breeds deemed dangerous, like the American Pitbull Terrier, to attend 72 hours of obedience training classes with their dogs over a two-year period.
It is, however up to individual cantons to decide what breeds they consider dangerous.
READ ALSO: Which dog breeds are restricted (or banned) in Switzerland?
The scrapping of the federal law, however, does not prevent cantons from introducing dog training requirements on their own territories, which is what Zurich is doing.
The most obvious goal is “to promote safe interaction between humans and dogs in the densely populated canton of Zurich,” local government said in a press release.
“The mandatory training strengthens the population’s sense of security. Dog training courses have a preventative effect and promote both safety and animal welfare.”
What changes will there be from June 1st?
Firstly, there will be a compulsory theory course for any current owner; one who has never owned a dog before; or hasn’t owned one for more than 10 years.
“This course covers the basics of dog ownership, responsibility, and appropriate care, and concludes with an exam,” Zurich authorities said.
The course lasts an average of two hours and must be completed no earlier than one year before and no later than two months after owning a dog or moving to the canton.
Secondly, practical training.
The course will be reduced from the current 14 to six lessons
“It is intended to enable owners to provide basic dog training and to guide the dog safely, even in challenging everyday situations.”
It can begin as early as six months of age (dog’s not owner’s) and must be completed within one year of owning the dog. To successfully complete the practical training, the specified learning objectives must be met. If this is not the case, additional lessons will be required.
As for dog trainers, they must pass a theoretical and practical exam to obtain approval from the cantonal veterinary office, thus ensuring “a consistently high standard of quality.”
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Will any dog / owner be exempted from the new requirement?
No.
The new rule extends to all breeds, regardless of size.
That is an important point because until now, only owners of “large and bulky” dogs were required to attend a course, not owners of Chihuahuas, Dachshunds, and other small breeds.
So from June 1st, the size won’t matter.
