Many of the provisions in the proposed law are common sense - and things most responsible dog owners already follow. The provision to promote dog safety/handling education among the public is very positive.

But I am concerned that the notion that dogs are inherently good or bad, and that a 'good' dog must be able to tolerate any stressful situation is widepread here; I have seen a tendency here in Switzerland to expect more of dogs than we do of humans. I fear many dogs will be unnessarily condemned under this law.

I would welcome a test of my abilities as a dog owner - whether I am able to correctly assess my dog, to train him, to provide an happy life for him that does not infringe on the rights or safely of others. But I worry that the practical test mentioned in the draft would be a test of the dog along the lines of the Wesenstest (character test) used widely in Germany as was suggested in the press last spring.

A few Swiss trainers - who seem to have the politicians' ear, if the newspapers can be believed - advocate a test which puts a dog in a variety of stressful situations and judges his/her reaction. A dog showing aggression when put under stress - even fear aggression - fails the test.

I have some experience rehabilitating dogs who been badly abused. Many come out of their shells, and could sail through such a test. Some could not - this does not mean that these dogs are dangerous. It simply means that an owner must understand the dog's special needs, and structure his environment accordingly.

(And yes, there are many numpty owners out there who can't or won't recognize this, and should not be in charge of such a dog. But most dogs deserve a chance to live peacefully in the right environment.)

My first collie is a perfect example. Thanks to horrific abuse in his early years he was very fear aggressive. I worked with him for nine years to overcome his past, and when handled correctly, he became a wonderful pet. Even so, to the day he died there were many stresses he simply could not handle - my job was to make sure that he was never put in those situations.

My sweet old boy would not have been able to pass a Wesenstest, and might have been order euthanized under this law. As would several of the foster dogs I've taken on since then. (All of whom have found good, responsible homes...) I can only hope that we'll see some common sense in the application of this law. Test the owner, test the handling, not just the dog's 'character'.

During the heat of the anti dog hysteria last winter and spring many dog were dumped; pressure from neighbors and landlords was a reason often given. Shelters are full to bursting; the homeless situation here is critical. I fear it's only going to get worse.

---edited for spelling