Switzerland doesn't have one national leash law the way Italy does. Dog leash and muzzle rules are set canton by canton — Switzerland has 26 of them — and sometimes further refined at the municipal level, so the same walk can have different rules a few kilometres apart. The one constant is federal: owners must always control their dog well enough that it doesn't endanger or seriously bother anyone.

Do Swiss cantons have forest leash rules in spring?

Many cantons require a leash in and around forests during the spring wildlife breeding season, to protect nesting birds and young animals — but the exact dates vary a lot more than a single window: some cantons (e.g. Fribourg, Geneva, St. Gallen) run roughly 1 April–15 July, others (e.g. Aargau, Lucerne, Zurich) run 1 April–31 July, Appenzell Innerrhoden extends to 31 August, a couple of cantons use a different spring window (15 April–30 June), a couple only restrict leashing in winter quiet zones, Ticino and Glarus require a forest leash year-round, and roughly a third of cantons have no such forest leash rule at all. Check local signage — it's usually posted clearly at trailheads.

Are some dog breeds restricted in Swiss cantons?

A handful of cantons — including Zurich and Fribourg — also restrict or ban certain breeds classified as potentially dangerous, sometimes requiring a permit, a training course, or a muzzle in public for listed breeds. If you're travelling with a breed that shows up on any of these lists, check the specific canton you're visiting before you go, since the rules genuinely aren't the same country-wide.