Dog Ownership Guide

Lucerne

All Dogs

since 01.01.2023

Min. Dog Age

months

Exam requiredYes

No breed ban—

Dog taxCHF 120

Lucerne introduced mandatory dog training on 1 January 2023: first-time owners and owners of imported dogs must obtain the National Dog Owner Brevet (NHB) within 18 months — a purely practical exam in 12 everyday situations, at the earliest when the dog is 12 months old. Preparation is free choice; only NHB-qualified specialists may conduct the exam. The canton of Lucerne also has its own rules on leash obligations, access bans and a reporting system for bite incidents.

HundeV LU (SRL 849) · § 4a in force since 1 January 2023

National Dog Owner Brevet (NHB) — practical exam within 18 months

With the revision of the dog ordinance (§ 4a HundeV, G 2022-068), the NHB has been mandatory since 1 January 2023 for first-time owners and owners of imported dogs. Unlike other cantons, Lucerne does not require a practical course, but a standardised exam: only the practical NHB exam must be passed — there is no cantonal theory exam. Preparation is left to the dog owners' free choice. The exam includes 12 exercises focused on everyday situations such as leash walking, recall, restaurant visits and encounters with other dogs. The NHB is a joint work of BLV, GST, STS and VKAS.

📋 Expressly also applies to imported dogs

Owners who import a dog from abroad must obtain the NHB — regardless of whether they have previously owned dogs, and regardless of breed or pedigree (§ 4a para. 1 HundeV). Exempt are dogs brought in as household goods, guide and service dogs, and dogs whose owners pass a recognised TKGS exam within 18 months (§ 4a para. 2 HundeV). Anyone who acquired a dog before 1 January 2023 is not subject to the NHB obligation.

Ownership & legal obligations

Obligations for dog owners in the canton of Lucerne

In addition to the federal regulations (AniPO, Art. 70–73, 77), the following cantonal obligations apply in the canton of Lucerne according to the HundeG (SRL 848) and HundeV (SRL 849):

Obligation	Deadline / Details
Microchip & AMICUS registration	Federal — chip and registration before handover; any change of owner to be reported within 10 days on AMICUS (§ 7c–7d HundeV LU)
Dog tax & municipal registration	Register the dog within 10 days at the municipality of residence and pay dog tax; report address changes within 10 days (§ 7d HundeV)
Mandatory dog training — NHB (first-time owners & imported dogs)	Within 18 months of taking on the dog; dog must be at least 12 months old at exam; only practical exam required (§ 4a HundeV LU)
Supervision & care	Dogs must be kept in a way that does not disturb or endanger anyone; in forests, at forest edges, on lake shores and at night, dogs may not be left unsupervised (§ 1, § 4 HundeV)
Leash obligation	In restaurants, shops, nature reserves, parks, public transport and busy streets; dogs in heat, biting or sick dogs must always be on a leash (§ 3 HundeV)
Leash obligation breeding season	1 April – 31 July: leash obligation in forest and within 50 m of the forest edge (§ 27 KJSV LU); exception: hunting, herd protection and service dogs on duty
Access prohibitions	Cemeteries, public baths, hospital grounds, children's playgrounds, school break areas, sports and recreational grounds (§ 2 HundeV)
Daily exercise & social contact (AniPO)	Walk daily at least 1× ~60 min. and 3× ~20 min. outside (guideline); at least 5 hours of daily social contact with people or other dogs (Art. 70–71 AniPO)
Reporting obligation for bite incidents	Vets, doctors, animal shelter managers, dog trainers, customs authorities and professionals working with dogs must report serious injuries or excessive aggressive behaviour (Art. 78 AniPO; § 7a para. 3 HundeV)

Tax exemptions

Exempt from dog tax: police and public service dogs, military dogs, trained protection, medical, disaster and avalanche rescue dogs (with SKG performance record and proof of deployment), tracking dogs (cantonal exam certificate) and guide dogs for the blind (§ 10 HundeV LU). Municipalities are responsible for collecting the tax and processing exemption applications (§ 8 HundeV).

⚠️ Measures for failing the NHB

Anyone who does not pass the NHB or an equivalent exam within 18 months must report this to the veterinary service. The veterinary service will then examine the ordering of measures according to § 7a para. 2 HundeV — ranging from course obligation and muzzle requirement to a keeping ban or, in extreme cases, euthanasia of the dog (§ 4a para. 3, § 7a HundeV).

12 exercises · Purely practical · Dog at least 12 months old

The NHB exam exercises — what is tested

The NHB exam comprises 12 everyday exercises. It is conducted by an NHB specialist (or NHB association expert). Preparatory courses are voluntary and the choice of course is left to the dog owners — NHB courses are the recommended preparation. The exam can be taken at the earliest when the dog is 12 months old.

1
Exiting vehicle & leaving confined spaces
Dog exits the car calmly or leaves a confined space without pushing or running away (NHB exercise 1).
2
Muzzle & paw care
Dog calmly accepts having a muzzle put on and a paw bandaged — key everyday skills for vet visits and emergencies (NHB exercise 2).
3
Leash walking, sit, wait & stay
Calm leash walking, stopping on command, sit and stay — the basis for safe handling in public (NHB exercise 3).
4
Play: cooperation, self-control & calming down
Dog plays cooperatively with the owner, shows self-control (no overexcitement) and calms down after the play phase (NHB exercise 4).
5
Recall, encounters with pedestrians, restaurant visit & road crossing
Recall when meeting joggers/cyclists (Ex5), passing a pedestrian with pushchair (Ex7), recall under distraction (Ex8), restaurant visit (Ex9), meeting unknown dogs (Ex10), crossing the road (Ex11) and overall impression of the human-dog relationship (Ex12).

📌 Only the practical exam is mandatory

In the canton of Lucerne, only the practical NHB exam needs to be passed — no theory exam is required. Preparation is free choice; NHB courses are recommended. Exams can only be conducted by NHB specialists or NHB association experts. Exam dates and specialists: nhb-bpc.dog

FAQ

What is the NHB and what is tested?+

The National Dog Owner Brevet (NHB) is a nationally standardised practical exam in 12 everyday situations: exiting the car, applying a muzzle, leash walking, playing, recall, grooming, pedestrians, restaurant visit, meeting dogs, crossing the road and more. There is no theory exam.

I have previously owned a dog. Do I still need to obtain the NHB?+

No — anyone who can prove they have previously owned a dog is exempt from the NHB obligation. The ordinance revision came into force on 1 January 2023; dogs acquired before this date are also exempt.

I imported a dog from abroad. Do I need to obtain the NHB?+

Yes — owners of imported dogs must obtain the NHB, even if they have previously owned dogs. The only exceptions are relocation goods, guide/service dogs and TKGS exam holders (§ 4a HundeV LU).

Which courses must I attend for the NHB?+

No specific courses are required — only passing the practical exam counts. Preparation is free choice; NHB courses with recognised specialists are most suitable. Information and exam providers at nhb-bpc.dog.

From what age of the dog can the NHB exam be taken?+

The dog must be at least 12 months old at the exam. However, the 18-month deadline runs from the date of taking on the dog — with puppies, you may have less than 18 months of effective preparation time.

What happens if I fail the NHB or miss the deadline?+

The Lucerne Veterinary Service examines the ordering of measures according to § 7a para. 2 HundeV. These can range from a course obligation and muzzle requirement to a keeping ban. In extreme cases, euthanasia of the dog can be ordered.

Does the NHB obligation also apply when moving to Lucerne from another canton?+

No — anyone moving from another canton to Lucerne with a dog as a first-time owner is not subject to the NHB obligation (no cantonal obligation for intra-cantonal moves).

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