Salzburg tightens training rules for first-time dog owners

First-time dog owners in Salzburg will have to attend a four-hour theory course in person from 15 November, and Austria is introducing a standard requirement to prove basic dog-handling training. ORF reported the changes.

Regardless of the dog’s breed, owners must obtain a certificate of competence, involving four hours of theory and two practical hours, such as sessions with a dog trainer. In Salzburg, people getting a dog for the first time have had to complete the theory course since 1 July, but until now they could do so online.

The course focuses on preparing owners to care for and handle their dogs responsibly, says dog trainer Susanne Russegger, from Pfarrwerfen in the Pongau region. Practical training covers animal-welfare-compliant handling and everyday situations, including letting a dog’s microchip be scanned if it goes missing and helping it pass other dogs, cyclists and joggers without reacting aggressively.

First-time dog owner Maria Diegruber, from St. Martin am Tennengebirge in the Pongau, said she welcomed the training, adding that it could help people decide whether dog ownership was right for them.

The in-person theory course is to be completed before buying a dog. It covers choosing a suitable dog, its needs and the costs of ownership, said veterinarian and course leader Gabi Fidler, from Werfen. The state of Salzburg plans to step up checks on compliance from July.