Import Dog - Customs

Family, Education, Health and Pets
1
Hello,

I am moving to Zurich, with my 2 Cane Corsos at the end of the month.

I will come by Car from Greece.

My question is regarding the Customs at St. Gallen.

What are the procedures for importing dogs (I found info only for the airport). Are they gonna check the microchip and the dogs while in car?

I have checked already and Cane Corso is not in banned list for Zurich. How about St. Gallen?

Sorry If you have already answered those questions.

It's gonna be a long trip and I don't want to have any issues at the borders which will stress me or my dogs.

Thank you.

2
When I did this several years back by car, I was waved through the border (Geneva) initially and had to get the border guards attention to let me park to declare my dog (from France). Once there, I explained that I had purchased it in France, was bringing it to Switzerland and handed in all my papers (puppy passport, purchase agreement, rabies vaccination confirmation etc.) to the guard.

They came outside with this loop-like device that they put over the dog's head and scanned the micro-chip. I went inside and spoke with one guard who was confused about the procedure then I was assigned another guy. Basically they didn't want to deal with the hassle of calculating the import tax and stamped some documents for me and said just go home.

That was that.

3
I was importing my dog two months ago.

We arrived by car on Lustenau-Au border. It was late in the evening (22:00). I told the guard, that we have a dog to declare. He sent me inside for importation.

Lady behind counter asked me for the pet passport, looked like she doesn't know what to do. Then gave me the stamp and let us go with dog.

I don't know if this is normal procedure, microchip scanning and other things took place at Vet later.

4

If your dogs are docked then yes, you must talk to Customs asap to let them know you’re importing docked dogs into Switzerland since generally they are banned. They can only be imported as part of your household effects and must be listed on form 18.44.

https://www.ezv.admin.ch/ezv/en/home…on-office.html

https://www.ezv.admin.ch/ezv/en/home…-effects-.html

https://www.ezv.admin.ch/ezv/en/home…-and-pets.html

Use this to make sure you know what needs to be done before and after you arrive.

http://blv.bytix.com/plus/dbr/default.aspx?lang=en

There’s a Q&A for importing docked dogs here:

https://www.blv.admin.ch/blv/en/home…frettchen.html

https://www.eda.admin.ch/missions/mi…nual-pets.html

St. Gallen has no ban on dog breeds, but do make sure you check both the cantonal and your gemeinde dog ownership rules so you know when dogs can be on or off lead, etc. However, if you do think of moving to another canton check with the cantonal veterinary office before making any firm committments as Cane Corsos are banned in Geneva canton I believe and may be in others. There was a case a few years ago where a couple moved with their 3 dogs to Vaud canton, only to find that one was on the canton’s banned breeds list. Last heard the dog had been moved out of the canton and into kennel accommodation while they tried to sort things out.

5
I had a quick look and it seems that they are not on list II (banned) for ZH but they also seem to have a "catch all list" for big dogs that might be a problem. Given that you have two of them, I would suggest that they will pay particular attention to your case.

You really need to research "importing a dog" on EF. There is lots and lots of information. You need to formalise things quickly or you will have trouble - guaranteed. Remember CH is not part of the EU. There are different regulations here - some at the Federal level (importing a dog - docked tail etc.) and the Cantonal level - what type of dogs they allow, restrictions (training classes etc.) that they may/may not impose. The cantonal vet. is "god" in these matters. If he/she does not like you or your dogs, you are in trouble.

You have some work to do. Suggest you start today because there will be lots of forms to fill in, emails to write before you arrive at the CH border. I hope you have at least their EU passports already.

6
German Wikipedia says:

Not sure, how up-to-date this is.

7
Yesin Zürich the Cane Corso falls into the List1 dogs, all dogs larger than 15kg or 45 cm. List 1 dogs, which by the way are about 75% of all dogs in the canton, must take specific courses - Puppy Development (Welpenförderung) Junghund (adolescent) and Adult (Erwachsene) at the appropriate age. If one moves into the canton after one of these stages you may be required to take additional hours at the next level. The ZH Veterinaramt have an interactive tool to help you determine what classes you must take.

See here:

https://codex-hund.ch/hundehalter/kurse-guide

You can read more about the ZH regulations for List 1 dogs here:

https://veta.zh.ch/internet/gesundhe...usbildung.html

Now - I know that some owners in Zürich are scofflaws and refuse to do the course. Some get away with it. But you, a foreigner with two Cane Corsos, will likely not. In fact, it’s likely that you might find you have something of a target painted on your back, as you have dogs of breeds that many people are afraid of. Please, for your dogs’ sake, don’t listen to the scofflaws - do the courses if required. And if not required, do them anyway. Seriously - taking the List1 courses will be a good introduction to dog ownership in Zürich.

Here is a list of the trainers certified to do the List 1 courses, sorted by PLZ:

https://veta.zh.ch/internet/gesundhe...Ort_171001.pdf

Do make sorting out ZH classes a priority on your ‘to do’ list as you settle in.

And if you end up in another canton, even if there are no mandatory courses, please join a Hundeschule, take something like a Familienhund class. I cannot stress enough how important it is for newcomers to Switzerland with dogs of 'exceptional' breeds to learn, and of course follow, Swiss dog etiquette. Joining a good training class or dog club is the easiest way to do that.

FYI for the OP and anyone else reading this thread, the best place to look for current dog regulations is the Tier Im Recht Foundation website:

https://www.tierimrecht.org/de/recht/hunderecht/

Click on each canton for a summary of that canton’s regulations. At the top of each cantonal page there is also a link to the actual text of the relevant laws.

Dog law is something of a moving target, it is important that all dog owners periodically check to see if there have been changes that affect you, both in your canton of residence and in the cantons you visit.

8
Thank you all for all the info.

My dogs do not have docked tails/ears.

The passports are ready and I have already arranged for the required trainings.

I have contacted a vet at Zurich and he told me that he will do everything with regards to the registration and It costs 45Chf each.

What I do not know is the procedures at the Customs/Borders.