Dogs in the car: securing your dog and your duties in Switzerland
What is required when you drive with a dog in Switzerland – securing your dog, police checks, and what you also need to know in hot weather.
Driving with a dog in Switzerland raises two main questions: what is required, and what is dangerous? In short: your dog must be secured in the car, and on warm days he should never be left alone in a parked car.
Securing your dog is required
A dog is not allowed to move around freely in the car. The Swiss traffic rules treat him like a load: he must be stowed and secured so that he does not endanger or get in the way of anyone – even if you have to brake hard. A firmly anchored travel crate, a dog guard in the boot or a safety harness attached to the seat belt all count as securing. A collar on the seat belt does not: when you brake, the whole force pulls on the neck. If your dog is not secured you risk a fine at a police check – and in an accident he becomes a danger to everyone in the car, including himself.