It would be great if all cats where on leashes - then my dog would have 100% reliable recall (she enjoys giving chase if she finds one that will run)!

Well, I did not mean to sound arrogant or rude about dogs being on leashes ..... Like most everyone here has stated, if the dog is well-trained to re-call by its owner there is no problem. I agree that dogs need to be able to have some free running.

I live in a rural village, surrounded by big forests - and the reason for the dogs to be on leashes is to protect the young buck who roam the forests. Often a small bucks carcass is found - having been mauled to death by dogs ....... out of sight an sound of the dog owner obviously?

We (my family) have 3 cats. I love the old one who adopted us - he is a semi-cripple who found us. He cannot climb trees, so the birds in the garden have always been safe from attack.

Now my grandkids nagged and were given two young cats. Terrible creatures! Although well fed, they kill any bird they can catch! They kill and eat butterflies, moths, grasshoppers, etc. I can no longer put out food for the birds - it`s too dangerous for them!

For those who talk about putting cats on leashes - well, then properties with cats would also need to have fences/walls at least 12m high around the garden, with sheer unclimable sides!

Personally I feel its very cruel for people living in high apartments to have cats, because I watch one pussy cat who sits on their roof balcony railing, and sits and stares down at the grass and trees - never able to partake of ANY nature!

Hi all

As a dog owner who is currently considering a move to Zurich I am somewhat alarmed by the tone and the restrictions that have come to light in this thread, and would seriously reconsider moving if I cannot let my labrador off leash.

I thought I had seen it all when I was told in Spain that our dog had to wear a muzzle, when the only aggression you'll get from him is that he may try to lick you to death

Given that our dog is recall trained, where would we be able to let him off leash? I'm surprised that they are not allowed in forests. In the UK we often go out with our mountain bikes, and our dog runs alongside. Sometimes ahead, sometimes behind, but always with us. Is this not allowed in Switzerland?

The good news is that Labradors don't have to be mandatorily muzzled!

It is allowed and encouraged to let your dog off leash, but there are limits on where and when, which you can find out more. Search the forum for "SKN". When you arrive in Switzerland you have to take a course within 1 year. You can use this link to help you find one convenient to you. http://www.skn-kurse.ch/K_Liste1.php?sArt=P .

You can also search for "off leash" which should also give you some results for areas in and around Zurich where you can take your dog.

Right beside our gemeindehaus is a fenced area specifically for dogs to play off leash. Usually you will find big signs where this is allowed. I often see dogs of all sizes w/o leash around "wanderwegs" too.

Hi Upac

Don't take too seriously the anti dog extremists on this forum. There are plenty of places to let your hound off the lead, including forests. Once you have done a few investigative walks with your dog in your new location you will see that there are many people walking their dogs off lead and you will know the right time and place for it too. My lab gets plenty of opportunities to run free and socialise with other free and peace loving hounds.

Completely agree with below. We go to many locations north of the city where we live out on the Wanderwegs. No issues at all.

I'm moving to Baden

Should, should, should. The reality is that not all will do so, and the unfortunate consequence in a worst case scenario is that someone is injured/killed. In milder cases, a person is scared but otherwise unhurt.

Ultimately, I guess that some people place the rights of humans to safety above those of animals to freedom. And others don't agree. Unfortunately, I don't see a solution that will ever please both sides.

Not so quick. The recent vote in Kanton Aargau was also in favour of banning the "dangerous dog breeds."

But hey, we still have several dog agility parks, where dogs can have a great time.

There are reasons for keeping dogs on a lead in the forest. The forest is not the natural habitat for a dog, but it is for other animals. Responsible dog owners respect the rights of animals who live in the forest, and that does not make us anti dog extremists.

Let your dog off leash in the forest and it could be shot. It happened to the dog of someone I know.

Central Europe is not the natural habitat for monkeys, yet here we all are .

The Alps has wolves, and given how dogs are a direct descendant of the wolf, I'd say it's more their natural habitat than yours or mine

And how does having a dog off lead translate to a lack of respect for the rights of forest dwelling animals?

And does that respect not apply to the gun totting humans you allude to that shoot animals in the forest?

too-many-holes-to-pick-in-your-argument

Upacs, please dont get the wrong idea - there are many many places in Switzerland - especially in Zurich where dogs are allowed to run free and have a fantastic time.

Whilst its a rule that dogs must be leashed in certain areas, alot of dog owners dont - even in the city centre. However, as dog owners, at the risk of climbing too high on my soap box - we must exercise caution, and be constantly alert. Common sense dictates that whilst your dog is very good with recall, but if there is a sign saying that dogs MUST be leashed in that certain area, simply by doing so, you are keeping the peace and harmony with the non-dog owners and also protecting your dog from harm.

I think this is the least of your worries. Finding appropriate dog-friendly housing, figuring out what to do with your dog while you go to work if no one else is home, finding a good kennel or reliable dog sitter, these are real issues.

Us "monkeys" (well for those who prefer to believe they are descended from monkeys - me, well, I`m made in the image of God but that`s another story) ..us monkeys migrated to the North to get away from the hoards of others of our kind, and in search of food.

And we brought along our "camp cleaning" hounds, but now we got so many hounds that we now have to have regulations to control the anhialation of the natural Fauna.

Switzerland STILL has it`s forests, and the natural forest dwellers, well a few at least. Not as many as before, but some. And so, there are people who work in the forests, and their instructions are to shoot dogs not on leashes. Simply because a dog not on a leash means it is scavenging.

It may be simply enjoying its little bit of leash freedom, but the gun-toter is not aware of it`s intentions, having seen baby deer mauled to death, he shoots. But doggy on leash has owner on other end and is safe from being shot.

So, if there is a sign saying "Leash on dog" then keep the leash on dog.
Same as other signs - you obey them - or suffer the consequences.
Life can be simple, and enjoyable, if you read the signs, and obey them.
Gone are the days of doing your own thing. It`s a saga of overcrowding that now requires law and order.

Dogs may be descendents of wolves, but over thousands of years, barely have any resemblance to their ancestors. Anyway, there are hardly many wolves roaming the countryside anymore. Just like there are only odd solitary bears. But there are still deer.

Now shoot me down.

Shoot you down? you are actually giving some reasonable explanations

Although the shooting of dogs does seem a little extreme

Also, please don't assume I would flaunt the rules and let my dog off lead when there are signs clearly stating this is not allowed. Weirdly (for some), one of the things that attracts me about Switzerland are the rules and that a majority of people actually observe them

I'm simply worried that, should we move to Zurich, my dog would have to be constantly on lead and not allowed to run freely anywhere. If this were the case, our plans to move to Zurich would go out of the window in an instant.

Dogs come in all shapes and sizes, there's much more variety than in the wolf population. And some dogs are nearly indistinguishable from wolves to the untrained eye, at least in physical appearances. So I'm not sure that they "barely have any resemblance to their ancestors". Have a look at a picture of an Alaskan Malamute and you'll see what I mean

Those are also real issues, and we are taking care of all of them, just like we are trying to ensure the welfare of our dog.

While it may sound odd to some, our dog is one more family member, and all our family members must have all their needs taken care of, including ability to exercise

Ja ja, I know there are still some who look just like wolves

Anyway, don`t worry about it. There realy are, like most here have said, lots of places to freely run your dog/s. It`s just that where there are signs it means something.

Like last year, someone had their little dog attacked by a Swan while walking along a path next to the Rhein, doggy off leash went to investigate something interesting - (mommy Swan on eggs?) because it was breeding season and Swans are very protective and can get quite vicious at those times.

Fair play to the Swan I'd say, and shame on that dog owner

Regarding leads on those forests where one must put them on their dogs, presumably there is some restriction on the length of the leash?

Is there a resource where I could see where dogs are and are not allowed to be off lead? particularly for the Zurich area

Well, dog owner was unaware how large and how vicious Papa Swan can be ...... and also ignorant or unaware that water birds require water-banks to breed, in peace?

Oh leash can be as long as you like, but should probably not exceed half a km as it could become entangled in forest trees and by the time you find your dog again it could be dark and you could both be lost, and there is rumours of a big brown bear that roams between Italy and here at certain times of the year, and sometimes a wolf has been seen too.

So, maybe one of those normal extending leads would be ok. No need for choke chains or half metre leather strips.

Anyway, you say you have a Labrador? They are renowned for their gentle mouths, arent they? I love Labradors. I once had a cross British Bulldog/Labrador. Wonderful animal. He allowed a toddler to hang onto his tongue and just smiled indulgently.