You have a dog that maybe looks a bit like a Pit Bull, and you're wondering whether it's even allowed in Canton Zurich? Or you're planning to take over a dog and want to make sure it isn't on the banned list? That's exactly what this guide is for. You'll learn which breeds are currently banned, what the Rottweiler situation really is now that the deadline has passed, and what you can actually do if your dog might be affected.
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Start quiz →Currently Banned Breeds (Rassetypenliste II, as of 2026)
Canton Zurich maintains the Rassetypenliste II, the official list of dog breeds whose breeding, acquisition, and import into the canton are prohibited. As of June 2026, these 14 breeds are on the list:
| Breed |
|---|
| American Bull Terrier |
| American Bully |
| American Bully XXL |
| American Pit Bull Terrier |
| American Pocket Bully |
| American Staffordshire Terrier |
| Bandog |
| Basicdog |
| Bull Terrier |
| Pit Bull Terrier |
| Rottweiler (banned since 1 January 2025) |
| Staffordshire Bull Terrier |
| Swiss Blue Bully |
| Swiss Champagner Bully |
Why This List Exists: What the Rassetypenliste II Means
The list is part of the cantonal dog law and is maintained by the Veterinäramt (the cantonal veterinary office). It covers breeds and types the canton considers higher-risk. For every dog on it, the same rules apply in Canton Zurich:
- Breeding is prohibited
- Acquiring (purchasing, taking over) is prohibited
- Moving into the canton with such a dog is prohibited
The list sits inside the wider set of rules around dog ownership. If you want the full picture of the cantonal obligations, read our piece on the Canton Zurich dog law 2025.
Special Case: Rottweiler, and What Applies Now the Deadline Has Passed
The Rottweiler is the most recent and most debated entry on the list. It was added on 1 January 2025. The canton's reasoning: Rottweilers are very powerful and have a strong bite, which means they can cause especially severe injuries.
A transition period applied to Rottweilers already kept in the canton. Existing owners could apply for a holding permit (Haltebewilligung) until 30 June 2025, tied to a mandatory temperament assessment (Wesensbeurteilung).
What Is Actually Happening Now
Unlike many laws, this one didn't stay on paper. Since the deadline passed, the Veterinäramt has been running temperament assessments (Wesensbeurteilungen, also called Führbarkeitstests) on the registered Rottweilers whose owners want to keep them legally.
A few numbers from the reporting put it in context. Treat them as a snapshot, not a live, perpetually-current tally:
- At the time of reporting, 306 Rottweilers still lived in the canton, down from 348. Some dogs died, some were surrendered, and some moved to cantons without a ban.
- Apart from very young and very old dogs, all of them have to undergo the assessment. Around 260 Rottweilers had been registered for it as of July 2025 (SRF).
One thing matters for tone if you're affected yourself: the possible outcomes are graduated. Based on the assessment, the Veterinäramt can first impose conditions, such as a muzzle or leash requirement, mandatory training, or a reassessment. Euthanasia is legally possible, but in the words of cantonal vet Lukas Perler it is "truly the very last option" ("wirklich die allerletzte Option"). In the normal case, this is about conditions and training, not the worst-case scenario.
Enforcement Is Real
The canton isn't just writing rules, it's enforcing them. After the deadline, according to consistent reporting (NZZ, Tages-Anzeiger, Blick), the Veterinäramt opened proceedings against nine Rottweiler owners who had not submitted an application despite reminders and ultimatums. Five then applied, four did not.
For those four, the confiscation (Beschlagnahmung) of the Rottweilers was ordered. Two dogs had already been seized and placed in a shelter (one since rehomed), one case was still in proceedings at the time of reporting, and in the fourth the owner and dog were of unknown whereabouts.
The takeaway: anyone keeping a listed dog without a valid permit risks more than a letter. The most concrete consequence is that the dog can be taken away.
Mixed Breeds and Appearance: The 10 Percent Rule and Phänotypisierung
The ban doesn't apply only to purebred dogs. Mixed breeds are covered too if they carry at least ten percent of a banned breed's bloodline. That's a real hurdle, because ancestry documentation isn't always complete.
When a dog's appearance points to a banned breed and there is no sufficient proof of ancestry, the Veterinäramt assesses the dog based on its phenotype, meaning its physical appearance and build. This process is called Phänotypisierung.
In practice: even without documented ancestry, a dog can be classified as a prohibited type if it visually resembles a banned breed. That classification is made by the Veterinäramt alone, and by no one else.
What to Do If Your Dog Might Be Affected
If you're not sure whether your dog, or a dog you're considering, is covered by the ban, take it step by step:
- Check the official list: zh.ch, Verbotene Hunderassen
- Get proof of ancestry: a pedigree or DNA test can help rule out a banned breed.
- Contact the Veterinäramt directly: they give binding information and are the only authority whose decision counts.
- Hold off on acquisition until the breed status is confirmed.
No blog post, including this one, can replace an official breed classification by the Veterinäramt. If you're a responsible owner and you're unsure, calling the Veterinäramt is the calmest route to clarity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is my dog banned if it looks like a Pit Bull?
Possibly. If you can't document your dog's ancestry, the Veterinäramt can classify it based on appearance alone (Phänotypisierung). This isn't a self-diagnosis, only the Veterinäramt decides bindingly.
Can I move to Canton Zurich with a Rottweiler?
No. Moving in with a Rottweiler has been prohibited since 1 January 2025, as have new acquisition and breeding.
What happens to Rottweilers that lived here before 2025?
They could be kept only if a holding permit with a temperament assessment was applied for by 30 June 2025. That deadline has passed. Without a valid permit, keeping the dog is now illegal, and the canton is actively enforcing this. Confiscations have already happened.
What is a temperament or handling assessment (Wesensbeurteilung)?
A behavioural assessment. It checks, among other things, obedience, leash handling, and reactions to the environment such as other dogs and joggers. Media reports (NZZ, Tages-Anzeiger) describe around two dozen test situations including bite inhibition, but that is not an official protocol published by the canton. The result determines possible conditions or, as an absolute last resort, removal of the dog.
Are mixed breeds affected too?
Yes. Mixes carrying at least ten percent of a banned breed's bloodline are also prohibited, and appearance can trigger a phenotype assessment.
What are the consequences of keeping a banned dog without a permit?
Administrative measures up to and including confiscation of the dog. We can't quote a fixed fine for a breed violation, because there's no reliable source for one. Contact the Veterinäramt about your situation.
Is the list exhaustive?
No. The canton explicitly marks the Rassetypenliste II as not exhaustive. Mixed breeds and phenotype-classified dogs can also be affected.
If Your Dog Isn't Banned
Dogs not subject to a ban must be registered with the municipality and in AMICUS within 10 days of acquisition. Liability insurance with minimum CHF 1,000,000 coverage is also mandatory. See our guide to registering your dog with the municipality for the full process.
First-time owners, or those who haven't had a dog in over ten years, also need to complete a mandatory dog course. Our guide to mandatory dog courses in Zurich covers everything. And if you want to know which everyday rules of conduct apply, the dog code of conduct for Zurich will help.
This information is for guidance only and does not constitute legally binding advice. Breed classification is made by the Veterinäramt alone. For binding information, please contact your municipality or the Veterinäramt of Canton Zurich.
