How to Verify Approved Dog Course Providers in Zurich

You've got a dog, you know about the mandatory training obligation — and now you just want to book a course. Hold on for a moment: not every provider that shows up when you search "dog course Zurich" is actually canton-approved. A course delivered by an unapproved provider doesn't count as fulfilling your legal obligation — and you'll have to start again from scratch.

Here's exactly how to identify an approved provider, where to find the official list, and what the difference means in practice.

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What Changed in 2025 and 2026?

The revised cantonal dog law (Hundegesetz) and dog ordinance (Hundeverordnung) have been in force in Canton Zurich since 1 June 2025. Since then, anyone keeping a dog in any Zurich municipality must complete the mandatory dog course — both a theory component and a practical training component.

What many dog owners don't realise: alongside the new owner obligations, the rules governing who may offer these courses were also completely overhauled. Dog trainers must now hold a Bewilligung (permit) issued by the Veterinäramt of Canton Zurich. Permits issued under the old framework are no longer valid — every trainer must have obtained or renewed their permit under the new regime.

The theoretical examination for trainers seeking new or renewed permits became available on 24 March 2026 at designated examination dates. This means the pool of fully certified trainers under the new system is actively growing as of publication. The official zh.ch list is a live document — check it at the time of booking, not weeks beforehand.

Good to know: The Veterinäramt of Canton Zurich is the sole authority issuing Bewilligungen to dog trainers. No industry association, external certification body, or foreign credential substitutes for this cantonal permit. All official sources are published in German at zh.ch.

Who Is Allowed to Offer Mandatory Dog Courses?

The rule is straightforward: only a person holding a valid Bewilligung from the Veterinäramt of Canton Zurich may deliver mandatory dog courses. No other accreditation, no industry body membership, and no foreign qualification replaces this cantonal permit.

To obtain a Bewilligung, trainers must:

Pass a theoretical examination administered by the Veterinäramt — covering dog husbandry, behaviour, cantonal law, and training methods
Pass a practical examination administered by the Veterinäramt — assessing their ability to deliver courses according to the canton's defined learning objectives

The learning objectives and course content for both theory and practical courses were published by the Veterinäramt in November 2024. Only Bewilligung-holders may deliver courses based on these objectives.

Holders of a valid Bewilligung are permitted to offer both the theory course and the practical course.

How Do I Check Whether a Provider Is Approved? (Checklist)

The most important point first: there is one official verification source — the "Liste der Ausbildenden mit Bewilligung" (list of trainers with a permit) published on the zh.ch Veterinäramt page.

Step by step:

Open zh.ch — Hunde (note: this page is in German only — official EN versions do not exist)
Scroll to the downloads section (anchor: #main_downloadlist)
Download the current "Liste der Ausbildenden mit Bewilligung"
Search for your provider's name or trainer's name
Not on the list? That course will not count as fulfilment of your legal obligation

Additional verification points:

The trainer is named on the current zh.ch download list
The Bewilligung was issued or renewed under the new framework (after 1 June 2025)
The course content follows the cantonal learning objectives (Veterinäramt, November 2024)
The provider can issue a written confirmation that your municipality and the Veterinäramt will accept

Watch out: A provider claiming to be canton-approved without appearing on the official zh.ch list does not meet the requirements. Always verify yourself — don't rely on a provider's marketing materials alone.

How Much Does an Approved Course Cost?

Costs vary by provider, format (online or in-person), and course type. For a detailed overview of typical price ranges in Canton Zurich, see the article How much does a dog course cost in Zurich?.

A few orientation points:

The theory course is available online or in-person — different providers offer it in different formats. Pricing depends on format and provider.
The practical course comprises a minimum of 6 lessons × 60 minutes, with at least one week between lessons. Additional lessons may be required if the learning objectives have not been met. This course always takes place in person.
If further lessons are required to meet learning goals, additional costs apply.

Important: Price alone says nothing about a provider's approved status. An expensive course can be non-qualifying; a budget course can be fully recognised. Approval is checked via the zh.ch list — not via price.

What Counts as Valid Course Proof?

For the theory course: you receive a written confirmation on completion. You must:

Complete the course within 2 months of acquiring your dog
Submit the confirmation to your municipality within 3 months of acquiring your dog

For the practical course: your trainer issues a written confirmation after all required lessons are completed. You must complete this within 12 months of acquiring your dog.

Good to know: In some cases — for example, if you completed the theory course before being registered in AMICUS — the trainer may not enter the confirmation automatically into the AMICUS system. Instead, you receive a written confirmation to submit directly to your municipality. See the AMICUS registration article for more detail.

A valid confirmation should generally include:

Name and contact details of the Bewilligung-holding trainer
Dates and content of the completed lessons
Confirmation that the cantonal learning objectives were met
Signature of the approved trainer

A confirmation from an unapproved provider will not be accepted by your municipality.

What Happens If I Attend a Non-Approved Course?

You lose time and money — and the obligation remains unfulfilled.

In practice:

Your municipality will not accept the confirmation
Your deadlines (2 months for theory, 12 months for practical) continue to run
You must repeat the course with an approved provider
Missing the deadlines risks a fine and measures by your municipality

There is no grace period or exception for courses completed with unapproved providers. The only way to fulfil the obligation is a course delivered by a person holding a valid Bewilligung from the Veterinäramt of Canton Zurich.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to take both theory and practical with the same provider?

No. You can complete the theory course and the practical training course with different approved trainers. Both must appear on the official zh.ch list.

Does the theory course apply to everyone?

No. The theory course is required only for first-time owners and anyone who has not kept a dog for at least six consecutive months in the past ten years. The practical course is mandatory for new dog owners in Canton Zurich as a general rule. Exemptions apply in certain cases — including dogs over 10 years old at acquisition, transfers from a spouse or life partner (dog in shared household for at least 6 months), licensed dog trainers, persons moving from another canton who have already completed an equivalent practical course (subject to Veterinäramt confirmation), assistance dogs from IV-recognized schools, and other specific cases.

I'm moving to Zurich from another canton — do I have to do everything again?

If you have already completed an equivalent practical course in another canton, you may be eligible for an exemption from the practical course. This must be confirmed by the Veterinäramt of Canton Zurich. Contact the Veterinäramt directly before booking a new course — do not assume the full obligation applies without checking.

Can I complete the theory course online?

Yes — provided the online provider holds a valid Bewilligung from the Veterinäramt of Canton Zurich and appears on the official list. The course format (online or in-person) does not affect the approval requirement. See the article online or in-person theory course for a comparison.

How often is the official provider list updated?

The Veterinäramt updates the list on an ongoing basis. Since new trainer examinations have been running since March 2026, new entries are being added regularly. Check the list immediately before booking — not months in advance.

How do I know if my trainer's permit is still valid?

If the name appears on the current list at zh.ch, the Bewilligung is valid. If it doesn't appear, it isn't — regardless of what the provider tells you.

Conclusion

Booking a dog course is easy — booking an approved dog course takes one extra step: checking the official Veterinäramt list on zh.ch. That step takes two minutes and can save you hundreds of francs and lost time in the worst case.

The Liste der Ausbildenden mit Bewilligung is your only reliable verification tool. No marketing promise, no association membership, and no foreign certificate replaces it.

Not sure yet which courses you need and by when? The quiz gives you your personal compliance plan.

This information is for guidance only and does not constitute legally binding advice. For binding information, please contact your municipality or the Veterinäramt of Canton Zürich.