#LifeInCzechia As you probably noticed by now, Czechia is a dog-loving nation. There are pooches everywhere. In the park, on the tram, at work, even in cafés and some cinemas. That being said, having a dog is not all fun and games (or is it sploots and scritches?). There are some rules and obligations connected to being a dog owner in Czechia you need to be aware of. Keep reading to find out what you need to know!

Dog fees have to be paid every year.

 

1. Find a dog-friendly apartment

Czechia is a very dog-friendly nation. So much so that we even created some of our own breeds! There’s the Bohemian wire-haired pointing griffon and the Czechoslovakian wolfdog just to name two. However, there is one group of people here that unfortunately isn’t very benevolent to dog owners. Landlords. 

Technically, it is against the law in the Czech Republic to evict tenants because they get a pet or even to put it in the lease as a condition. Yet, landlords can still evict you or decide to not extend your lease for a seemingly different reason. This is why it’s always better to find a home owned by a landlord who allows pets. So when you’re looking for an apartment, make sure to double-check and ask! Hiding a pet in the apartment without permission from the landlord is not worth it!!!

Another common option is to agree on a pet-deposit, which you’d pay to the landlord along with the regular deposit in case your dog destroys something in the apartment.

 

2. Walking your dog? Follow the rules.

The Czech Republic is very benevolent to dogs in public spaces. You can bring your dog to most cafés, cinemas, and workplaces. However, you need to keep some dog ownership rules in mind.

If you get a puppy, for example, it needs to have all of its vaccinations before it turns 6 months old and then you should re-vaccinate regularly. You also have to get your pooch chipped if it’s older than 6 months.

Dogs aren’t allowed in kids’ playgrounds and sandboxes. They also cannot run around without a leash in parks unless you’re in a special dog-friendly section of the park (you’ll see a sign in most parks).

It is also imperative that you pick up after your dog immediately after it’s pooped. Some parks will have poopy bags next to the bins if you forget your own home.

 

 

3. Register and pay dog fees

You also need to pay yearly dog fees for any pooch you have. And yes, that also includes foreigners, just like the waste fees. To be more accurate, as long as you’re staying in Czechia for over 90 days and have a dog, you need to register it and then start paying.

Dog fees differ city from city and municipality from municipality, so the best course of action is to take a trip to your local municipality office and ask them. While you there, you can already get your pup registered and get everything over with. If you live in Brno, you can find more information on Brno Expat Center’s website. If you live in Prague and want more information, try looking here.

Want to learn more about Czechia’s relationship with pets and animals? Read our article about pet adoption.

Article sources: Brno Expat Center
Photo source: Nataliya Vaitkevich, pexels.com