General information and completeness and timeliness of the data

General information

Tourists can check the interactive map above before setting off on a mountain hike to find out whether there are any livestock guard dogs on the mountain pastures. As a general rule, on the mountain pastures, the dogs guard their flocks throughout the summer grazing season, i.e. from mid-May at the earliest until the end of October at the latest.

Sheepdogs may be found on the outskirts of the grazing areas marked on the map, as their range is greater than that of the sheep; they may even occasionally cross the fences intended for the sheep. However, they are not as alert or wary in such situations as they are when you encounter them whilst they are in the middle of the flock.

To ensure you behave correctly when encountering livestock guard dogs, it is important to follow a few basic rules.

The completeness and timeliness of the data are not guaranteed.

In accordance with Article 10d(6) of the OChP, the cantons shall ensure that the areas where livestock guard dogs are used are appropriately signposted. They notify AGRIDEA (on behalf of the FOEN) of the planned areas of use for these dogs (primarily those located in summer pasture regions), and these are published on this map (areas shown in orange). As only the areas reported to AGRIDEA by the cantons can be published, any farmers who use dogs in certain areas without informing their canton are not shown on this map; the completeness and up-to-date nature of the data cannot therefore be guaranteed.

Alpine farmers, shepherds or dog owners can create sectors within the orange zones to provide more precise information on the dogs’ locations. These sectors, showing the dogs’ current positions, are represented by hatching on the map. Sectors can be updated either manually, via a programme, or through geolocation for farmers who fit their dogs with GPS collars. The updating and accuracy of these sectors are the responsibility of the farm manager or the dog owner.

 

The orange zones change little during the season, but in some cases herdsmen may bring their herd down from the mountain pastures during the season, or decide not to use their dogs, or conversely, decide during the season to incorporate dogs into their herd. For the hatched zones, this option is new, and currently very few people in Switzerland publish sectors of their mountain pastures. If no sectors of the mountain pasture are published, we will, by default, mark the entire mountain pasture as hatched throughout the summer grazing season.

Before setting off on a hike, it is advisable to check the route on the day itself to see where the mountain pastures with livestock guard dogs are located and which sectors are active.