Ticino introduces mandatory course for first-time dog owners from today

As of today, 1 September, anyone in Ticino who wants to get a dog for the first time must first attend a mandatory theory course. The rule also applies to those who haven't owned a dog for at least ten years. It covers any acquisition of an animal, whether by purchase, adoption or import, regardless of breed, size or origin.

The change stems from the canton's new dog law, whose implementing regulation took effect on 1 September. The course must be completed before bringing the animal home, so anyone planning to get a dog needs to plan ahead.

Only registration in the national Amicus database counts as proof of previous dog ownership. Certificates issued in other cantons or abroad are not recognised, nor are courses taken outside Ticino.

How the course works

The course is entirely theoretical and lasts six hours in total, split into two three-hour sessions. Each group has a maximum of ten participants. The cost is 120 francs.

Classes cover the owner's responsibilities, animal welfare, dog behaviour and communication, criteria for choosing an animal suited to one's lifestyle, daily commitments and costs, cantonal regulations, and the prevention of behavioural problems.

Those interested must check the list of available courses on the cantonal veterinary office's website and register through the online platform. A certificate is issued at the end, which is required to register the dog in the Amicus database with one's home municipality.

Anyone who gets a dog without having taken the course has six months to comply. After that deadline, they risk a fixed fine of 150 francs.

Deputy cantonal veterinarian Chiara Menegatti explained that the aim of the measure is for the choice to get a dog to be made «in maniera consapevole e adeguata» (in a conscious and appropriate way). Menegatti clarified that the purpose is not to discourage people from having a pet, but to inform them: «il nostro obiettivo è informare» (our goal is to inform).