Dogs in Canton of Vaud, Switzerland: rules, tax and travel
Vaud requires liability insurance for every dog and a report to the commune and database within two weeks of getting a dog. A cantonal dog tax exists but its amount was not confirmed.
The canton's dog police law sets the frame; communes can set where dogs are banned or must be leashed.
The national rules for Switzerland apply here too. National rules
Breed rules
| Where | Rule | Breeds and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Vaud | Permit required | American Staffordshire Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier, Rottweiler, dogs with at least one parent of these breeds RLPolC art. 2 and 9-11: 'chiens potentiellement dangereux' need a cantonal keeping authorisation (adult, insurance, clean record), a behaviour test (TCOM) once the dog is 12 months old, and 72 hours of dog education courses over at most two years, starting within 45 days of the test (may be shortened after a good test). [1] |
Registration and microchip
Report acquisition, transfer, address change or death to the database and the commune within two weeks (Art. 9, LPolC 133.75).[2]
Dog tax and licence
Owners of potentially dangerous dogs need a cantonal authorisation, one condition being regular dog education courses from acquisition (Art. 12); the regulation sets 72 hours of courses over at most two years, which the service may shorten after a good behaviour test. There is no general course for all owners; the service can order courses as a measure (Art. 26).[2]
Insurance
Every dog owner must have liability insurance (Art. 15).[2]
Leash and muzzle
Every keeper must be able to control the dog at all times, otherwise the dog must be on a leash and, if needed, muzzled (Art. 16). Communes may name public places where dogs are banned or must be on a leash, and potentially dangerous dogs must wear a muzzle or dental guard at public events (Art. 17).[2]
Not confirmed yet: Dog tax. We only show what an official or named source states.
Laws change: this is general information, not legal advice. The authority linked on each line has the final word.