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) from 12 months and up to 72 hours of training. [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
Regular dog education courses are required for owners of potentially dangerous dogs (Art. 12). No general course found; 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
A dog that cannot be controlled by voice or gesture must be leashed and muzzled if needed (Art. 16). Short leash in public buildings, transport, school yards and playgrounds (Art. 17). Dogs must be under control in forest (Art. 12a). Communes may set bans and leash zones.[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.