I recently did some copywriting work for a company in Switzerland and during the usual non-business chit chat, I was fascinated to learn about the country’s dog laws .

Switzerland is made up of 26 different cantons, and each one has the ability to manage its own affairs.

In some cantons, like Zurich, dog training is actually mandatory —which got me thinking…

Should something similar be implemented here?

And how would it work?

Almost every day I see:

Dogs with no recall

Over-socialised dogs trying to engage with every dog they meet

Poor etiquette—like off-lead dogs rushing up to on-lead dogs

Owners accidentally rewarding problem behaviour

Lack of vigilance and supervision

People who have no idea how to communicate with their dog

And the root cause? Shockingly low levels of owner knowledge.

If we took the same approach to driving , it would be like buying a car without any idea how to drive it, taking it out for a spin, then wrapping it around a tree .

Maybe we’d get lessons afterwards, or try muddling through at a snail’s pace —hoping nobody notices our lack of skills. Not great for our own safety or the safety of others.

Taking a look at what’s mandated in Zurich, I think it’s brilliant :

An online theory course + exam (covering behaviour, training, handling)

Four puppy socialisation sessions (optional but recommended)

Six group practical training sessions

It’s not much to ask, and could go a long way towards alleviating the daily chaos in our public spaces .

Here’s the link if you want to see more:

https://www.swissdogschool.ch/neues-hundegesetz?lang=en

Do you think better education for owners would make walks and parks safer and less stressful—for both dogs and people?