Is There an Off-Leash Dog Park In Oerlikon?

Family, Education, Health and Pets
1
We just moved to Oerlikon and are hoping to find a place to let our dogs run off leash in the area. Does anyone know of an area like this here?

2
There are no dog parks in Switzerland - at least like the kind we enjoyed in the US, where an enclosed space is explicitly designed for dogs.

Instead, you may allow your dog to run off-lead in most areas - but your dog must be under control/in sight at all times. Voice control is control.

Be aware that you are sharing the area with others who wish to enjoy open spaces: hikers, cyclists, horse riders, etc., as well as other dog walkers. CH and ZH are generally dog friendly, but be courteous to others - and remember that your dog's right to run off lead is secondary to other people's right to enjoy the outdoors without being bothered.

The general etiquette is that one shouldn't allow a dog to approach a person/other dog without asking permission first. If another dog is on lead this is a signal that the owner does not want interaction - so one should re-leash or recall one's dog until that person passes by.

Dogs are generally forbidden from swimming areas, from cemeteries, from play grounds and schools. The Gemeinde may also require dogs to be kept on lead in other areas - watch for signs.

In the forests, dogs should be on lead/under control in the spring when wildlife are rearing their young, and in the fall during hunting season for obvious safety reasons. Dogs are almost always required to be on lead in nature conservation areas.

If your dog is one of the restricted breeds the above doesn't necessarily apply - you'd need to follow the muzzling/leash laws as per your permit.

(I assume this is not the case, though, as you have just moved here and those 8 breeds have been banned since the start of the year.)

A summary of dog control laws in ZH can be found here:

http://www.tierimrecht.org/de/tiersc...ht/zuerich.php

And the brochure detailing the new ZH Hundegesetz can be found linked to post #8 in this thread:

Dog licence renewal in Kanton Zürich; Aaaarrgghhh

But as mentioned above, Switzerland is generally still a dog friendly country. Yes, common sense and courtesy are expected from owners - and most dogs lead very nice lives here.

Hope you and your pooches enjoy your time here.

3
In Volketswil, 12min train from oerlikon, there is a large park. It is not a dog park but there are more dogs than humans very often. There is ample space for them to run and swim... most of the dog owners I meet there are happy to let their dogs off leash to play with mine and it is so nice to see then happily ree...being just dogs. There are no signs that dogs have to be on the leash or that they cant swim. I guess that as long as they ar not aggressive and you clean after them, it is fine if they play free.

4
Update: We found a huge park in Leutschenback (Fernsehstudio Tram stop) that is for people only and dogs on leash... but adjacent and to the south is a large area where dogs are allowed.... its an unused/overgrown parking lot (sounds bad but its a good place to run). Problem solved.

5
Hi A2Z, what about the direction of Rumlang / Katzensee. I always see a lot of people walking their dogs (off- leash) there and it is close to Oerlikon.

6
There's a large field uphill from Irschel park (tram stop Milchbuck) in the direction of Zuriberg which seems to be off-leash. At the moment the grass is taller than our little dog though! Irschel park itself is definitely on-leash, although this rule seems to be obeyed mostly in the breach.

7
@englishtim - Do you know if this park has a tick problem? We live pretty close and might bring our Lab up there.

thnx

8
I'm not aware of one, and our dog has never picked up ticks from there (in the last 4 months), but I'd never say never.

One problem with Irschel park, though, is that it can get quite marshy if it rains.

9
In the Oerliker Park there is a play ground for children and next to it a kind of fountain, when children often play with and in water. Twice I saw people who let and even encourage their dogs to walk into the water.

Does it mean they break the law?

That;s the picture of the fountain:

10
As I neither know that park nor live in ZH...

Are there signs posted forbidding dogs, or requiring dogs to be on lead in that area?

Very broadly speaking, in KT ZH dogs are allowed wherever they are not forbidden. Even in areas falling under a general ban (cemeteries, Badis) you will usually see a 'no dogs' sign. If there isn't a sign, it is often a safe assumption that they are allowed - especially in mixed-use areas.

If you have questions, best to go to the source - contact the park authority/Gemeinde and ask if dogs are allowed, or not.

11
There are signs prohibiting dogs near the actual playground to the right of the picture, I would argue that technically, the fountain is not part of the playground as it is 30 meters away. Across the street is a grassy picnic area with signs requiring that dogs be leashed.

12
Thanks for answers!

I'll check it with local authorities.