Can you please tell me the most important things I have to do and requirements for this.
Thank you.
I have a female dog in my home country and I would like to bring her to Switzerland next year.
Please use the EF search function, it yields many results, such as
importing dog to CH
dog school
Sure EF user meloncollie (very knowledgeable re: all things dog related) will be here shortly.
Have a look here and perhaps you want to try this step by step guide . (you have to log in the breed, age and country of origin of your dog and the system tells you what you need to do to import your dog)
Make sure your dog is not one of the banned breeds.
Thank you for the information. Yes, I tried to seaerch but result was too many posts and I cannot read English very fast.
I just want to start with initial steps and then learn more.
Thank you.
Spiderman, please search for similar threads as the others have suggested.
Yes, research is time consuming, but think of it as good practice. Because as a dog owner in Switzerland there is much you need to learn, and a dog owner is responsible for learning all the laws that apply to him/her, and keeping abreast of the laws as they change.
To start out, you need to give us more information if we are to give you relevant information. At the very least:
What canton do you live in? Dog ownership is regulated at the federal, cantonal, and Gemeinde levels so this information needs to be given when you ask questions. (I have no idea where Inwil is, and we shouldn't have to pull teeth to find the information needed to answer your questions.)
What breed/mix and size (height and weight) is your dog? Depending on your canton of residence, this could make a difference in what you need to do.
Are you asking on import regulations, are you asking about the regulations you need to follow once here, or both?
We try to be a helpful bunch, really - but you first need to help us help you.
To add to MC's post, posting the age of your pet is important as well.
E.g.: "I have a 2-year-old female Irish Setter, will be moving from the UK to Lucerne next year, to stay here long term/for a couple of months. My dog has been vaccinated against a,b,c. in [insert month]."
Have you tried www.ch.ch , contains a wealth of information and is sponsered by the swiss government
Here is the information it leads you to:
Crossing the border with dogs, cats or ferrets
I bring dogs, cats or ferrets with me from: United Kingdom.
I live in Switzerland and want to bring dogs, cats or ferrets from a foreign country to Switzerland:
1 Dog(s), older than 7 months
Entering Switzerland:
Microchip (ISO 11784, readable by reader compliant with ISO 11785) or legible tattoo, provided the latter can be shown to have been applied before 3 July 2011. Identification must take place before the valid rabies vaccination. (IETPO, Art. 8).
Valid rabies vaccination (IETPO, Art. 11)
EU pet passport or EU-recognised passports of other European states (Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, Vatican City) if the animal originally comes from there. (IETPO, Art. 12).
Register your animal(s) with Swiss customs and be careful to keep the documents on the correct declaration and, where applicable, the payment of VAT.
It is forbidden to import dogs with docked ears or tails into Switzerland.
As a dog owner, you are required to register your animal(s) in your Swiss place of residence. Your veterinarian must additionally register the dog(s) in the Swiss dog database (ANIS) within 10 days.
Find out about the training requirements for dog owners in Switzerland.
More (in German) ...
This regulation applies solely to pets, such as dogs, cats and ferrets, which are kept out of interest in the animal or as a household companion. Pets accompany their owners or a person designated by the owners. (IETPO, Arts. 1 and 2).
After being taken over the border, pets must not be sold or handed over to new owners. They must already be in the care of their current owner in the country of origin. (IETPO, Art. 1)
If the animals are handed over to new owners after crossing the border, the regulations governing commercial imports of animals apply.
This site has some good general information wrt to federal law, true - but the OP needs to understand cantonal dog law as well, especially as control is the competency of the individual cantons. So until the OP gives us more info as per the above posts, we really cannot give a full and relevant summary of what he/she needs to know.
Thank you for so much information!
I will read this later and also will go to my Canton office and ask them directly. I have some time.
Spiderman, simply tell us what canton you live in, and what breed or mix (because some cantons have enacted BSL) and size (because some cantons regulate dogs by size) your dog is, and we can give you the information you need to get started. But without that information we can't give you the step-by-step list you want.
I live in Canton Luzern. The dog is a Great Dane, just over 2 years. Don't know the exact measurements, will ask my wife. Someone from HR will also be helping me on this.
Thank you.
Now that we know which canton and breed/size we can point you to the appropriate information.
The reason this information is necessary is that not only are there the 26 different cantonal laws, but also in some cantons requirements for some breeds/sizes supersede the federal. But this is not the case in Luzern. So...
First you will have to follow federal law, and then cantonal.
Importation is a federal issue; what you need to do to import your dog is covered in Carl's post - but an even more user friendly site is the BLV's interactive tool, conveniently available in English:
http://blv.bytix.com/plus/dbr/default.aspx?lang=en
One issue is that docked and cropped dogs are banned in Switzerland. Since Danes are among the breeds frequently docked or cropped, is yours? If so, there are two exceptions to the ban on importing docked or cropped dogs:
If a long-term docked/cropped family pet moves with the family to Switzerland. The underlined bit is critical. Once you are registered in Switzerland you cannot then later import a docked/cropped pet. So if your dog is docked/cropped in your case, assuming you are registered but your wife is not yet, the dog must move with her, on her first entrance to Switzerland with the intention to settle.
The second exception is for a medically necessary amputation; in order to import a docked or cropped dog in this case medical proof needs to be furnished.
There is paperwork to be filled out to import under these exceptions. If your Dane is docked/cropped, the appropriate forms can be found on the BLV website.
Now you have crossed the border you need to:
Register with ANIS, the federal database of all dogs and owners within Switzerland, within 10 days of arrival. You will need a vet to do the registration, so make an appointment ASAP.
Register with your Gemeinde. The form of registration varies from place to place, so contact Einwohnerkontrolle in the first instance. You might need to pay the annual dog tax at this time, or a bill might be sent later.
As you will not have had a dog registered in your name in ANIS, the next question is whether or not you fall under the 'First time owner' requirements to take the federal SKN Theory course. For foreigners who move to Switzerland with a dog in tow, this is decided on an individual basis. You need to contact the Luzern Veterinäramt for a ruling. They can be contacted here:
https://veterinaerdienst.lu.ch
If you are not excused from the federal SKN Theory course you will need to take it as soon as possible. I always recommend newcomers to Switzerland take the Theory course even when excused, as there is so much one needs to know here - and much of that might be quite different from what you have experienced as a dog owner back home.
In any case you must take the federal SKN Practical course within 12 months of arrival. The database of certified SKN trainers can be found here, simply contact one in your area and get registered for the course.
http://blv.bytix.com/plus/trainer/
Do you speak German well enough to take the course? If not, post a thread here asking for English speaking trainers in your region.
Now - those are the federal issues in a nutshell.
The next set of regulations is at the cantonal level. For Luzern, see the summary from Tier Im Recht, here:
http://www.tierimrecht.org/de/tiersc...cht/luzern.php
A rough translation of the essentials:
- A dog owner must ensure that your dog does not pose a danger to the public. A dog owner must ensure that your dog does not sully streets, paths, sidewalks, park areas, other people's gardens, or agricultural fields. (In other words - you are required to pick up after your dog, and you should not allow him to urinate or mark in these areas.)
- Dog owners or those who take charge of a dog for more than 3 months must register with ANIS within 10 days.
- Annual tax is due on dogs over 6 months of age. If a dog reaches 6 months after the 30. of June, the tax for that year will be half. Working farm dogs will pay a reduced rate. Working guard dogs protecting buildings in isolated areas also pay half rates.
- Dogs are generally banned in cemeteries, bathing areas, hospital grounds, children's play areas, and in 'rest areas' by school grounds, playgrounds, and sports fields.
- In publicly accessible areas, such as businesses and shops, in conservation areas, in parks, on public transportation, and on heavily trafficked streets dogs must be kept on lead.
- Dogs in estrus, dogs who have bitten, dogs who are ill with transmitable diseases must be kept on lead in open spaces and when in areas whereone might come into contact with another person.
- Between 1. April to 31. Juli dogs are required to be kept on lead in forests and along forested areas.
- Dogs may not be left unattended in forests and along forest areas, on lake front areas, along wooded banks and hedeges, as well as during the night time.
- Dogs left unsupervised can be seized by the police.
- Dogs who go after wild animals or who pose a danger to wild animals, who cannot be captured, may be shot by persons authorized to do so.
- Luzern does not impost a breed ban or restriction.
- In individual cases the cantonal Veterinäramt can order measures taken, such as requiring a muzzling, requiring additional education, placing the dog/owner under further observation, requiring liability insurance to be taken out, or taking the dog away from the owner to be rehomed.
- Dogs who pose a danger to people or other animals may be ordered killed if other less drastic measures such as veterinary or behavioral treatment is unsuccessful, or if the owner does not follow measures ordered.
The actual text of the law is linked at the top of the page. If you need the German translated, just let us know.
Also be aware that you must follow cantonal regs in any canton you visit. It's a good idea to peruse the Tier Im Recht website when you plan to take your dog on an outing in another canton, just to be sure that you don't put a paw wrong.
For instance Danes are on the restricted list in TI. As you don't live there you shouldn't have problems, but you should be aware of TI rules when visiting.
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Most of this boils down to common sense. But it is important that you understand dog law and follow it at all times.
All the best as you and your four footed friend settle into Switzerland.
By the way, unless your HR person is him/herself a dog owner in Luzern, don't necessarily count on getting reliable information. We have seen all too often that relocation folks who are not dog owners themselves are unaware of even federal regs, let alone cantonal and local. Sadly, in one case a dog owner was only pointed to the federal law and told there would be no problem - and then moved into a BSL canton with a banned breed. The dog was seized.
I cannot stress how important it is to get full and correct information. When in doubt, the ultimate source is always the BLV for federal questions ( http://www.blv.admin.ch/kontakt/index.html?lang=de ) and the cantonal Veterinaramt for cantonal regulations. Your Gemeinde Animalkontrolle (or Einwohnerkontrolle if your Gemeinde does not have an animal control officer) is the place to go for questions about local regs.
ETA 2:
The SKN course requirement applies to the owner of record, that is, the person in whose name the dog is registered in ANIS. So think about that before you register. Most families register the dog in the name of the primary carer, and that person does the SKN courses. If you register the dog in both your names then both of you will be required to do the SKN course(s).