You're clearly upset. And it seems to me that a part of that may perhaps lie in the differences in "dog culture" in different countries. Some aspects of those differences place more onus on the dog-owner to ensure the safety of the dog.
Some of the people who have responded to you on this thread are passionate dog owners and dog lovers. They've had to find their ways of adjusting to the way things work here in Switzerland. Melloncollie, in particular, dearly loves her dogs! That is, indeed, why she tirelessly advocates for the rights of dogs and their owners, explaining over and over again how things are different here from where she (and many others) have come from, and that the best thing to do to keep one's dog happy and safe is to understand and adhere to the local regulations.
In some other countries, dogs are just an ordinary, common part of everyday life. Many people grew up with one or more dogs as important family members, or walked the neighbour's dog, or met dogs when out running, cycling, or even in restaurants or at church or a sports club. Those whose lives are usually populated with dogs learn how to deal with them, how not to provoke them, how to greet them properly, etc., and such people are not generally afraid of dogs.
In Switzerland, on the other hand, especially in urban areas, the vast majority of the population live in apartments, not houses. Most apartment landlords do not permit dogs. It follows from this alone that most people in Switzerland grow up without any, or much, contact with dogs, at all. This means that such people can, inadvertently, simply through lack of experience, potentially negatively influence the behaviour of any dogs the do encounter while outdoors.
Another cultural difference is the regard for nature. In some countries spaces in nature are regarded as economic opportunities, or else as a given right for pedestrians and sportspeople of all kinds, who necessarily have priority use.
In Switzerland, by contrast, nature is generally seen as something that ought be preserved for future generations. Within this cultural reasoning, it follows that everything else has priority over any user's use, if necessary to preserve the natural environment. That means, for example, that the forester can block off a section of the woods if he decides that he must attend to the needs of the trees there, etc. And the leash laws are such an example.
Of course, what I'm saying are rather oversimplified generalisations. Yet I've found it helpful for myself, whenever I encounter a rule or law with which I disagree, to at least acknowledge that it might have been born out of a background that, though perhaps foreign to me, does, indeed, have a certain valid line of reasoning within the local cultural history.
I hope you quickly find all the areas in which you are allowed to let your dog off the leash, and that you and your dog find ways to enjoy your walks thoroughly, feeling happy (after all, your feeling better will influence how your dog feels, too) and having fun playing, even when the dog is on a [perhaps long, retractable] leash.
They’re not banned from being off leash and all you need to do is go to other places to do that.
I’m not sure what you are finding so difficult to understand about that.
Dogs are certainly not welcome right now. Not because they are likely to catch anything, but because their presence will simply disturb the wildlife as they are going about their daily life.
If you are not sure where you can take your dog for a run off-leash that complies with the local regulations, I suggest asking your local vet or just ask around a few other local dog owners - also our local pet shop owner is super friendly and helpful.... join a dog club, find someone who has a large backyard where your dogs can play together.
The presence and scent of dogs will also scare animals away .... so the main purpose of having dogs on leash in forested areas from my point of view is to keep them to the paths, not crashing through the wild areas and nosing around the native wildlife....
Others have taken the time to post alternatives for where your dog can be off leash. Why not spend time looking into these options rather than carrying on here?
For folks who have dogs who need a good run:
I just stumbled on this, the Schweizer Windhund Rennverein.
https://www.swrv.ch
They have a training track in Rifferswil, now open to dogs of all breeds.
A group of like minded folks, whose dogs have similar needs. Maybe contact the club and see if this might be something for you and your dog.
There is what looks to be a Plausch/Open day coming up, 13-14 May:
https://www.swrv.ch/news-start/tag-d…g-14-mai-2023/
Looks interesting - and fun! As previously mentioned, clubs are often a way to go if you can’t find what you need on your own.
By the way, these flyers are front and center on the Rennverein website, showing that folks whose dogs are breeds in need serious off lead running also promote safety and respect for wildlife and other people:
https://swrv.ch/data/documents/Plaka…nenpflicht.pdf
https://swrv.ch/data/documents/Leine…_Kanton_ZH.jpg
ETA:
Before anyone comments, commercial dog racing is forbidden in Switzerland. Anyone involved in animal welfare knows why. The racing clubs - and further googling brings up several more here - are hobby groups. Many people involved have rescued Windhunde from the horrors these lovely dogs face in other countries.