cover photo by Claudio Schwarz on Unsplash
Switzerland has no single national leash law. Each of the 26 cantons sets its own rules, and municipalities can add more on top. The one rule that holds almost everywhere: leash your dog in the forest from roughly April through July.
TL;DR
There are two types of rules: public-order leashing (busy roads, public transport, playgrounds) and wildlife-season leashing in forests during spring breeding. Leash in forests April through July and you're covered in most cantons. Outside that window, dogs are often allowed off-leash in forests as long as they're under control.
One federal rule applies everywhere regardless of season: if your dog chases wildlife, you're looking at a fine of up to 20,000 CHF under the federal Hunting Act. Gamekeepers will always try to identify and capture the dog first. Shooting is a last resort and only happens when the dog is actively chasing wildlife and capture isn't possible.
All 26 cantons at a glance
Aargau Apr 1 â Jul 31
Includes up to 50m beyond forest edge. Permit required for elevated-risk breeds.
Appenzell AR/ Appenzell AI â No general rule
Leash on school grounds, sports grounds, public transport. Extra leash rules in hunting reserves and the summer-grazing area during the alpine season; follow onsite signs.
No breed list.
Basel-Landschaft Apr 1 â Jul 31
Year-round leash in wildlife rest areas. Permit required for ~8 breeds.
Basel-Stadt Apr 1 â Jul 31
All dogs on short leash 22:00â06:00. Permit required for ~8 breeds. Fine ~100 CHF for breaches.
Bern No general rule
Grand Conseil rejected a forest leash in 2023. Dogs must be under control. City of Bern has stricter park rules. No breed list.
Fribourg Apr 1 â Jul 15
General permit requirement for breeds abolished Jan 2024. Dogs now assessed on controllability.
Geneva Apr 1 â Jul 15
Year-round leash in certain bird reserves near the RhĂŽne. ~26 off-leash dog parks in the city. ~12â15 breeds banned.
Glarus Year-round
Year-round leash in forest and at forest edge, with exceptions for working dogs. Permit required for dangerous breeds including Rottweiler and Dobermann.
GraubĂŒnden Communal rules
No general cantonal forest season. Rules set by each commune. No breed list.
Jura No general rule
Dogs must be under owner's control in forest.
Luzern Apr 1 â Jul 31
Includes 50m beyond forest edge. Leash in restaurants, shops, nature reserves. No breed list.
NeuchĂątel Apr 15 â Jun 30
No breed list.
Nidwalden Dec 15 â Apr 30
Leash required in designated wildlife sanctuaries (Wildruhegebiete) from Dec 15 to Apr 30. Dogs banned on cemeteries, playgrounds, beaches. No breed list.
Obwalden Dec 1 â Apr 30
Dec 1 until Jul 15 in specific zones. Year-round leash in nature-protection zones. No breed list.
Schaffhausen Apr 15 â Jun 30
Permit required for ~14 breeds. Pit Bull Terrier effectively banned.
Schwyz Year-round
Leash on all public ground, all year. Strictest canton in Switzerland. On-the-spot fines since 2009. No breed list.
Solothurn Apr 1 â Jul 31
Listed breeds require FCI pedigree for permit. Non-FCI mixes of listed breeds banned from new acquisition.
St. Gallen Communal
Many communes set Apr 1 â Jul 31 but confirm locally. No breed list.
Thurgau Apr 1 â Jul 31
This regulation does not apply to hunting dogs, livestock guardian dogs, or police and rescue service dogs on duty or during training. Permit required for ~14 breeds.
Ticino Reserves only
No seasonal forest rule. Place-based leash (+ muzzle where indicated) in populated areas and on public transport; year-round leash inside hunting reserves (bandite); stricter in federal reserves. Longest breed permit list in Switzerland (~30 breeds).
Uri Apr 1 â Jul 31
Working dogs exempted.
Rules mainly at communal level. Leash in certain cantonal protection zones. No breed list.
Valais Signposted areas
No general forest season. Year-round leash in certain reserves (Aletsch, Derborence). ~12 breeds banned. Revised law in consultation late 2025.
Vaud Apr 1 â Jul 15
Applies to adjacent meadows and wooded pastures too. Fines up to 20,000 CHF for breaches. Permit required for Rottweiler, AmStaff, Pit Bull.
Zug Communal rules
Over half of communes have their own dog regulations. Confirm locally. No breed list.
ZĂŒrich Apr 1 â Jul 31
Includes 50m beyond forest edge. City of ZĂŒrich has ~72 individually regulated green spaces. Rottweilers banned from acquisition since Jan 2025.
Breed restrictions?
13 of 26 cantons have breed lists. Some ban certain breeds outright, others require a permit. The lists changed significantly in 2024 and 2026, so if you own a breed that might be affected, verify directly with the destination cantonal veterinary office before travelling. Don't rely on what was true a year ago.
Final thoughts
The short version: leash in forests April through July, check your specific canton for everything else, and don't let your dog chase wildlife. The rules are a patchwork, but once you know your canton you can usually figure out the rest from signage.