Rottweiler Ban Decided in the Canton of Zurich
The cantonal government has decided to ban the acquisition of new Rottweilers as of January 1, 2025. The decision was made to protect the public following two recent, tragic biting incidents involving Rottweilers, in which children in particular were seriously injured.
Following the incident at the end of October in Adlikon, in which a Rottweiler injured several people, including two children, another incident involving the same breed occurred in Winterthur at the beginning of December.
A five-year-old child sustained serious head injuries and had to undergo surgery and be hospitalised.
Rottweiler Added to Breed Type List II
Since 2009, the cantonal dog ordinance of Zurich has listed under § 5 dog breeds on Breed Type List II whose breeding, acquisition, and importation are prohibited. Rottweilers, whose powerful build and strong bite can cause particularly serious injuries, represent an elevated risk potential compared to other dog breeds overall. For these reasons, the Rottweiler will be added to Breed Type List II as of January 1, 2025, according to the government press release of 19 December 2024.
Permit Requirement for Current Rottweiler Owners
There are currently around 350 Rottweilers registered in the Canton of Zurich, representing approximately 0.5 percent of the dog population. Current owners of these Rottweilers have the option of applying for a keeping permit. To do so, a corresponding application must be submitted to the Veterinary Office to submit. Mixed breeds with more than 10 percent Rottweiler blood are also subject to the permit requirement. To protect the public, Rottweilers undergo a temperament assessment as part of the permit process in order to evaluate their potential risk. In addition, owners are reviewed for their suitability in accordance with § 25 of the Dog Ordinance. If all requirements are met, already registered Rottweilers may continue to be kept. Further information for Rottweiler owners can be found on the website of the Veterinary Office.
President of the Executive Council Natalie Rickli: “Dog owners bear a great responsibility, and most of them fulfil it well. The Rottweiler ban serves as a preventive measure following serious incidents, particularly involving children. Additional security will be provided by the Veterinary Office’s review of current Rottweiler owners.”
