You've just got a new dog — congratulations! And you're wondering whether you really need to do the practical course even though you've owned dogs before. The answer in almost every case is: yes. In Canton Zürich, the practical course is mandatory for the vast majority of new dog owners — regardless of how many dogs you've had in the past. This article explains exactly what the course covers, how it works, what the exemptions are, and how to plan your timeline so you don't end up under pressure.
For a full overview of all course and registration requirements, read our main article: Mandatory Dog Course Zürich.
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Who must complete the practical course?
The practical course is required for all new dog owners who:
- acquired a dog on or after 1 June 2025, or
- moved to Canton Zürich (any municipality) with a dog on or after 1 June 2025
This is the key difference from the theory course: for the theory course, your prior experience matters. For the practical course, it does not. Even if you've owned ten dogs before, a new dog acquired since 1 June 2025 means you must complete the practical course.
Exemptions from the practical course
There are clearly defined exemptions. You are exempt if:
- Your dog is over 10 years old at the time of acquisition or move into the canton
- Spouse or life partner takeover: The dog has lived in your shared household for at least 6 months
- You are a licensed dog trainer (per the Hundeverordnung)
- You have moved from another canton with an equivalent practical course (Veterinäramt confirmation required)
- You keep an assistance dog from an IV-recognised school or organisation
- Your dog is registered to a shelter in AMICUS (except dogs imported from abroad for placement)
- Police, military, border guard dogs, and federally recognised herd protection dogs
- Veterinäramt exemption granted on request for health reasons or for sick/behaviourally disturbed dogs
If you're unsure whether an exemption applies to your situation, contact the Veterinäramt or your municipality directly.
What does the practical course cover?
The content of the practical course is legally defined. It covers the following areas:
Bond and relationship
The course begins with building a solid human-dog relationship. You learn how to establish trust and how your dog experiences you as a secure base.
Reading body language
You learn to understand your dog's body language: recognising stress signals, assessing wellbeing, reading warning signs. This is one of the most valuable skills any dog owner can develop.
Basic training
Sit, down, recall, leash walking — the fundamentals that make everyday life significantly easier.
Safe handling in everyday situations
Encounters with other dogs and people, behaviour on and off the leash, city streets, parks, cycle paths. Exactly what you'll need in daily Zürich life.
Muzzle habituation
The course includes a dedicated unit on muzzle training — an important skill for vet visits, public transport, and situations where a muzzle is required or advisable.
How the course is structured
The practical course has a clearly defined minimum structure:
At least 6 lessons of 60 minutes each, with at least one week between lessons.
In practice, this means the course takes at least 6 weeks. This is set by law — you cannot compress all lessons into a single week.
What if learning goals aren't all achieved?
After each lesson, the trainer evaluates your progress using a Lernerfolgskontrolle — an official checklist of all learning objectives. If not all goals have been achieved after 6 lessons, additional lessons are mandatory — as many as needed until every goal is fully met.
The trainer may only issue the completion certificate when all learning goals have been completely achieved. There is no passing mark of 80% or similar — every single goal must be ticked off.
No exam — a learning goal checklist instead
Unlike the theory course, the practical course has no exam in the traditional sense. The Lernerfolgskontrolle is a systematic checklist that the trainer maintains continuously throughout the course. You are not assessed on a single day — progress is evaluated across all lessons.
From what age can my dog start?
The law sets a clear minimum age:
The practical course can begin at the earliest when your dog is 6 months old.
This is especially important for puppy owners: if you took home your puppy at 8 weeks, you can only start the course around 4 months later. Factor this into your booking.
Since the course takes at least 6 weeks (one lesson per week), book your place early — popular providers are often fully booked weeks in advance.
Deadlines: when do you need to be done?
The deadline is clear:
The practical course must be completed within 12 months of the date you acquired your dog or moved to Canton Zürich.
Example calculation
You took home your puppy on 15 March 2026 at 10 weeks old:
- Earliest course start: Mid-July 2026 (when the dog is 6 months old, around 18 July 2026)
- Completion deadline: 15 March 2027
- Key point: Since the course takes at least 6 weeks, you need to start by early February 2027 at the latest to meet the deadline
Don't leave it too late — good courses fill up quickly, and you don't want to be scrambling in the final weeks before your deadline.
What happens after the course?
The trainer:
- Issues you the completed Lernerfolgskontrolle
- Records the completion in AMICUS within 10 days
You then have official documentation that you have successfully completed the course.
Quick summary
- Mandatory for nearly all new dog owners since 1 June 2025
- Exemptions only for dogs over 10, licensed trainers, assistance dogs, and others
- At least 6 lessons of 60 minutes each, at least 1 week apart — no shortcut possible
- Earliest start: when your dog is 6 months old
- Deadline: 12 months after acquisition or moving into the canton
- Completion: Lernerfolgskontrolle (no exam) — all goals must be fully achieved
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Disclaimer: 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.
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