Can my dog run off-lead in the forest?

Whether your dog can go off-lead in the forest cannot be answered with a simple yes or no in Switzerland. In principle, people are allowed to enter forests. The Bundesamt für Umwelt refers to Art. 699 ZGB (Swiss Civil Code) in this regard. At the same time, the BAFU explicitly states that cantonal forest laws regulate further aspects, such as lead requirements for dogs. Source: Bundesamt für Umwelt BAFU

The right to enter forests freely therefore does not amount to a general right to let your dog run off-lead everywhere.

Dogs off-lead in the forest: Why the canton decides

The differences between cantons are considerable. In Kanton Zürich, for example, a lead requirement applies from 1 April to 31 July in forests and within 50 metres of the forest edge. Source: Kanton Zürich

In Kanton Luzern, a lead requirement also applies during the same period in forests and less than 50 metres from the forest edge. Source: Kanton Luzern

In Jura, the rules are structured differently. There, it is prohibited to allow dogs to roam or to search for or chase wildlife. In forests, dogs must be under control at all times. Otherwise, they must be kept on a lead (Art. 40 Jagdverordnung, RSJU 922.111; Jagdverordnung: Hunting Ordinance). Source: Kanton Jura

Schaffhausen requires dogs to be kept at heel in forests and their immediate vicinity. During the breeding and nesting season, they must be kept on a lead in these areas (Art. 10 Abs. 2 und Art. 12 Abs. 1 lit. f Hundegesetz, Dog Act). Source: Kanton Schaffhausen

Obwalden, meanwhile, points out that year-round lead requirements apply in nature conservation zones. Additional rules apply in wildlife protection zones, and a lead requirement applies in and along all forests, except in Gemeinde Alpnach. Source: Kanton Obwalden

You can find the rules for all cantons under Lead requirements in Switzerland: Rules by canton. The seasonal differences are also summarised under Breeding and nesting season: When your dog must be on a lead.

Federal protected areas also have their own rules

In addition to cantonal regulations, there are protected areas with restrictions governed by federal law.

In federal game reserves, dogs must be kept on a lead. The Bundesamt für Umwelt explicitly identifies the lead requirement as a protective measure. Source: Bundesamt für Umwelt BAFU

The BAFU also identifies the lead requirement for dogs as a protective measure in waterbird and migratory bird reserves of national or international importance. Source: Bundesamt für Umwelt BAFU

A walk in the forest can therefore involve several levels of regulation. When visiting unfamiliar areas, check not only the canton but also whether you are entering a protected area.

Why off-lead exercise in the forest is challenging

Even where no explicit lead requirement applies, the decision to let your dog off-lead should not depend solely on whether there happens to be a prohibition sign.

Wildlife can remain hidden from your dog for a long time. A scent or sudden movement may be enough to make a dog with a strong hunting instinct leave the path. If you can only react after your dog has started running, your recall command may come too late.

In connection with its seasonal lead requirement, Kanton Aargau explains that wildlife needs particular protection during breeding and the rearing of young, explicitly mentioning ground-nesting birds. Source: Kanton Aargau

The two Basel cantons point out that young hares and birds can quickly trigger a dog's play or hunting instinct and that such encounters can sometimes be fatal for wildlife. Source: Kanton Basel-Stadt

When your dog must stay on a lead regardless of training

If a lead requirement applies at a particular location, your dog must remain on a lead. Reliable recall does not create an exemption from a statutory lead requirement. In Kanton Zürich, for example, exemptions apply only to hunting, rescue and service dogs, as well as securely fenced areas. Source: Kanton Zürich

The same applies in the federal game reserves and waterbird and migratory bird reserves mentioned above.

Even without an explicit requirement, you should avoid letting your dog off-lead if you cannot reliably control it in the current situation. This may be the case if:

• your dog has just spotted wildlife
• you can no longer read its body language in time
• its recall is not yet reliable when distracted by wildlife
• you cannot see the surrounding area clearly
• an encounter with people, dogs or livestock would be difficult to control
• you are unfamiliar with an area and its rules

If your dog has a strong hunting instinct, you can find additional strategies under Dogs with a hunting instinct: How off-lead exercise becomes possible.

Staying on the path also helps your training

A sensible principle is not to let your dog simply roam through dense undergrowth, young woodland and sensitive areas. In cantons with seasonal protection rules, authorities sometimes explicitly recommend staying on forest paths during sensitive periods. Kanton Aargau asks forest visitors to remain on forest paths during its seasonal lead requirement. Source: Kanton Aargau

This also benefits your training. A dog that follows paths and regularly checks in with you is easier to control than a dog that independently searches the forest.

Therefore, practise more than just the recall command itself. Reward your dog for voluntarily looking back at you, changing direction and staying close to you. You can find a step-by-step approach to building recall under Training your dog's recall: How to make coming back rewarding.

A long training lead as an interim solution

If off-lead exercise would be legally permitted but your dog's recall is not yet reliable enough, a long training lead can be a useful training aid. It allows your dog a greater range of movement without becoming completely uncontrollable.

Whether a long training lead counts as a lead is regulated by the canton. In Kanton Zürich, no specific lead length is prescribed. If a regulation requires a particular form of control, such as keeping your dog at heel, a long training lead is not a substitute for this. If in doubt, the responsible cantonal or municipal authority is the appropriate point of contact. Source: Kanton Zürich

You can find a detailed comparison under Long training lead or dog field: Which is suitable when?.

Securely fenced off-lead areas as an alternative

A dog does not need to run freely in the forest every day to enjoy freedom of movement. Particularly for dogs with a strong hunting instinct, recall training that is not yet complete or during seasonal lead requirements, a designated fenced area can be a useful addition.

There, you can practise recall, orientation and playing together without deliberately choosing off-lead exercise in a wildlife habitat. According to the information sheet from Kanton Zürich, the seasonal lead requirement does not apply in securely fenced areas from which dogs cannot escape, located in forests or at the forest edge, such as dog training facilities. Source: Kanton Zürich

Nevertheless, you should check the fencing before letting your dog off-lead. You can find guidance under What fence height does my dog need?.

If you are looking for a fenced area exclusively for you and your dog, you can use dogoasis.ch/suche to filter by fence height, among other criteria, and choose an environment that suits your dog. Whether an area has a double gate is stated on its page.

Last updated: September 2026