FAQ

(FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS)

This page contains answers to frequently asked questions on the following topics:

ABOUT HUNDHOCH2
ABOUT THE TRAINING (course rules, what to bring, ...).
ABOUT THE REQUIRED DOG TRAINING COURSES IN ZÜRICH
ABOUT BOOKING and PAYMENT

Simply click on the desired topic above and you will immediately find yourself in the right place in the FAQ!

FRAGEN ZU HUNDHOCH2

ABOUT HUNDHOCH2

WHY IS THE DOG SCHOOL CALLED "HUNDHOCH2"?

At HUNDHOCH2 we follow a positive training approach and work with the "Two Pillars of Dog Training".

We reinforce desired behavior so that the dog learns to display it more often.
And we reduce undesirable behavior. Or prevent it from the outset.

The name of the dog training school HUNDHOCH2 is essentially the result of a mathematical equation. If we were to turn the two-pillar training approach into a mathematical equation – like in school – it would look like this:

HUNDHOCH2 formula for the well-behaved dog

Reinforce desired behavior X reduce undesired behavior = HUNDHOCH2.

WHY DOES HUNDHOCH2 NOT ALLOW THE USE OF PUNISHMENT IN TRAINING?

Punishment is used in many dog training schools and by many owners. A training method that relies heavily on punishment is often chosen out of desperation or a lack of better training approaches.

We know how to teach dogs desirable behavior. HUNDHOCH2 training is based exclusively on learning theory. It avoids actively punishing the dog (such as jerking the leash, hissing, shouting, stamping your feet, or possibly hitting or alpha throws). At HUNDHOCH2, such punishments are NOT PERMITTED!

Punishments trigger negative emotions in dogs (fear, pain, anger, or frustration) and can lead to aggression. Punishments during puppyhood also inevitably lead to insecurity. When owners use direct punishments, dogs may also develop a fear of their humans.

Besides, punishments don't teach a dog how to behave in the desired way. The dog often doesn't know what it's being punished for. What's more, despite the punishment, it practices the undesirable behavior.

The only right way to train is and remains to establish and encourage desired behavior. And to reduce or prevent undesirable behaviors through training or management methods.

WHY SHOULD I USE FOOD REWARDS WHEN TRAINING WITH HUNDHOCH2?

Some dog trainers and dog schools reject the use of food rewards or reward dogs with toys instead.

Using toys as rewards can be very useful for service dogs. Playing can often lead to the dog becoming overexcited or agitated, which is not something we want in family dog training.

When it comes to family dogs, over 98% of all dogs will respond positively to food rewards, expressing joy –they are happy when they are rewarded with food (except when they are afraid at that moment, but that is another topic). They enjoy working when they are rewarded with a tasty snack for good performance. Dogs that are rewarded with food often make faster progress than dogs that are rewarded with play or attention.

Food is what is referred to as a primary reinforcer. Primary reinforcers are all the things a dog needs to be able to survive. Among these, food is the most important one. Other primary reinforcers are water, attention and recognition, as well as being able to connect with social beings.

Primary reinforcers are highly motivational. Food is a powerful motivator for 98% of all dogs. In fact, it is significantly more motivating than play.

Why make rewarding your dog more difficult than it needs to be? And why avoid using food rewards? This makes little sense when it comes to family dogs.

It is often said that one should work on the bond and relationship of human and dog first. Well, dogs attach themselves to people with strong leadership skills. These are people who show and take on leadership, are confident and friendly but also consistent. Food has no influence on the human-dog bonding/relationship.

ABOUT THE TRAINING

CAN I COME TO A TRIAL TRAINING SESSION?

Of course, with pleasure! Those interested in what HUNDHOCH2 has to offer are more than welcome to attend a regular training or group session – but please do so without your dog, and only after submitting a written request and receiving a confirmation from HUNDHOCH2.

WHAT DO I NEED TO BRING TO THE TRAINING SESSIONS?

It is useful to bring the following items to every training session:

A few dog waste bags.
A well-fitting chest harness or collar.
- Puppies and young dogs must wear a chest harness.
A leash, approx. 2 meters long.
No extension leashes.
A treat pouch
“Jackpot” treats.
- Lickable paste, available at pet stores.
- Or small, soft, and high-quality treats, such as finely chopped sausage or cheese pieces.
Approximately three handfuls of regular soft treats, about the size of peas. Larger treats for large dogs.
A bowl and water, if necessary. Although water is provided at the training site.
A dry cloth for drying your dog if the weather is wet.
A blanket or mat for your dog to lie on during breaks in training if the weather is cold.
For wet/cold weather, a raincoat or thermal coat, if necessary, to protect sensitive dogs.
Clothing and shoes suitable for the conditions.

ARE THERE ANY GROUP OR COURSE RULES?

Yes, there are.

Here are the most important ones. Everything else can be found in the terms and conditions.

Participants must arrive at the training location at least 5 minutes before the start of training.
Participating dogs should not be fed for at least 2 hours before training.
On and around the training premises, it is strictly mandatory to pick up dog faeces, just as it is elsewhere in Zurich Canton.
Dogs must be kept on the leash when they arrive for training.
Towing leashes must only be used with a chest harness.
Please do not use extension leashes during training – risk of injury.
Out of consideration for other participants and their dogs, the following rules apply:
- Always keep a sufficient distance from other human-dog teams on the leash (at least 2 leashes' length).
- Dogs may only be let off the leash after consulting with HUNDHOCH2.
- There is to be no contact between dogs while they are on the leash unless prior agreement has been made.
- No dogs belonging to others may be stroked or fed without prior agreement.
The digging of holes is prohibited on the entire premises.
Mobile phones must be kept on silent mode and in your bag during training sessions.
There is a strict no smoking policy during training sessions.
Insurance is the responsibility of the participants.

CAN I BRING AN ACCOMPANYING PERSON?

Of course. Accompanying persons are welcome to attend courses or private lessons free of charge.

HUNDHOCH2 kindly asks for a brief advance notice so as not to disrupt the training sessions when too many accompanying persons turn up unannounced.

When children join their parents for training, they should be able to remain calm so as not to distract the dogs too much. Parents should also be able to concentrate on the dog and work with it.

I WOULD LIKE TO OR NEED TO CANCEL MY TRAINING AT SHORT NOTICE.

WHAT DO I NEED TO DO?

Individual group or private lessons must be canceled at least 24 hours in advance inwriting via email,WhatsApp message, or text message sent to the course instructor.

In all courses with a specified duration, there is no entitlement to a pro-rata refund for any missed lessons or absences.

In case of absence, private training sessions must be canceled at least 24 hours in advance in writing by email, WhatsApp message, or text message sent to the course instructor. If not, they will be charged.

I AM UNABLE TO ATTEND ALL THE LESSONS OF THE COURSE I HAVE BOOKED. IS IT POSSIBLE TO RETAKE THE MISSED TRAINING SESSIONS?

Unfortunately, missed course lessons cannot be retaken and there is no entitlement to a refund of the course fee.

Participants are, of course, free to find a replacement. This does not apply to compulsory courses, where the person registered with AMICUS must complete the course and handle the dog during training.

MY DOG IS UNWELL. CAN I STILL ATTEND TRAINING?

As a general rule, dogs that are unwell are not allowed to participate in training at HUNDHOCH2. This is because they should be able to recover in comfort and peace at home.

Furthermore, HUNDHOCH2 has to rule out the risk that other dogs or people could be infected and also become unwell. Among other things, this could happen in cases of diarrhea, a cough, or frequent scratching.

Dogs with elbow or hip dysplasia (ED, HD) may participate in training, provided this is agreed in advance. Training will then be adapted to meet the dog's needs.

Hundhoch2 recommends participating in training sessions without your sick dog to ensure that you don't miss out on anything. But only if your dog can stay safely at home on its own or be looked after by somebody else.

MY DOG IS IN HER HEAT. CAN I STILL ATTEND THE TRAINING?

Female dogs in heat are not necessarily excluded from training. On the contrary, there may be a benefit in having males learn how to interact appropriately with female dogs in heat. However, female dogs in heat may only participate after prior consultation with the course instructor. HUNDHOCH2 accepts no responsibility for the female dog.

It is possible to participate in the training without the female dog so that the lesson content is not missed. But only if she can stay at home alone or be looked after by someone else.

I HAVE TWO DOGS. CAN I BRING BOTH OF THEM TO THE TRAINING SESSION?

No. Dog owners can only bring one dog to a course. Two people from the same household can, of course, attend with two dogs; in this case, they just need to book two spots. In one-on-one lessons, it is possible to train with more than one dog.

DOES THE TRAINING TAKE PLACE NO MATTER WHAT THE WEATHER IS LIKE?

Yes, it does. Training will only be cancelled in the case of heavy hail, violent storms, thunderstorms or heavy snowfall. If this happens, HUNDHOCH2 will give you advance notice if it's possible.

To ensure that people and dogs do no get wet or freeze, please make sure you wear weather-appropriate clothing and shoes and equip your dog accordingly.

WHEN CAN MY PUPPY START JOINING PUPPY CLASSES?

Puppies can join puppy classes from 8 weeks of age until they are 20 weeks old.

It makes sense to allow your puppy a period of adjustment of a few days to a week to get used to the environment before starting puppy training at HUNDHOCH 2. Especially if your puppy tends to be insecure or fearful.

WHY DO SOME TRAINING SESSIONS TAKE PLACE NOT ONLY AT THE TRAINING GROUND, BUT ALSO AT OTHER LOCATIONS?

Training at the training site has the great advantage of being in a safe and relatively low-stimulus environment. Dog owners learn how to train their dogs most effectively without them being overly distracted by environmental stimuli.

It still makes sense to practice outside, particularly with advanced teams. This is because dogs learn in a very context-specific way. Training exclusively on the training site means that they cannot necessarily apply what they have learned in everyday life. It is also important for dogs to “generalise” what they have learned, i.e. to remember it in all possible locations and situations.

That's why it's also important for dog owners to practise with their dogs on a day-to-day basis.

ABOUT REQUIRED DOG TRAINING COURSES IN ZURICH

WHICH REQUIRED COURSE DO I HAVE TO ENROLL IN WITH MY DOG?

You can find a wealth of information related to dog ownership on the website of the Veterinary Department of Zurich. Among other things, it includes information about required courses.

Please contact your local municipality if in doubt. In Meilen, this would be the «Hundewesen» department, sicherheit@meilen.ch..

WHICH REQUIRED COURSES DOES HUNDHOCH2 OFFER?

From June 1, 2025, HUNDHOCH2 course offerings comply with the revised requirements of the Zurich dog law.

WHEN ARE THE NEXT COURSES TAKING PLACE?

Details of all upcoming courses can be found on the HUNDHOCH2 website. Simply go to BOOKING and select the course you want. Send your booking request straight away – places are limited.

OUR DOG IS OURS TOGETHER. WHO HAS TO ATTEND THE MANDATORY DOG TRAINING COURSE?

The mandatory courses must be completed in full by the person who is registered as the owner in the Amicus dog database. This person must “lead” and train the dog during the course.

The person registered as the owner in the Amicus dog database is required to complete the required courses in its entirety. An accompanying person is more than welcome to attend course sessions.

WHEN WILL I RECEIVE THE CONFIRMATION FOR THE MANDATORY COURSE?

HUNDHOCH2 will send confirmation of completion of the obligatory course by email as soon as the registered owner has successfully completed the required number of lessons and met the learning objectives specified in the "Hundeverordnung" of the canton of Zurich.

I MISSED SOME OF THE MANDATORY COURSE LESSONS. WHEN CAN I TAKE THEM TO GET MY COURSE CERTIFICATE?

If a dog owner fails to complete the required number of lessons for the obligatory course because of too many absences, he or she cannot retake them free of charge, rather they must be taken as private lessons by arrangement. The prices for private lessons will then apply.

ABOUT BOOKING AND PAYMENT

HOW DO I BOOK OFFERS?

Please follow these steps to make YOUR BOOKING:

Choose your desired training service on the “Book Online”page.
Click the orange button in the box of your desired service.
This will redirect you to a subpage – the reservation calendar page.
- If you are interested in one-on-one lessons, you can select a date that suits you and submit a request.
- For group courses, you can select a spot in an upcoming course and submit a request.
  - Should the course already be fully booked, you are welcome to join the waiting list.
  - To do this, contact HUNDHOCH2 – refer to the menu page “WAITING LIST”and indicate which offer interests you.
  - To register for group puppy classes, select a start date that suits you and submit your request. The course is continuous, but you can join at any time as long as there is a spot available.
- For private courses, please select a suitable start date and submit your request.
  - All other dates can either be arranged directly with the course instructor or booked via the booking tool.
Once you have selected the course/date, kindly enter your details and those of your dog (name, breed, chip number, special facts, and so on).
Please note that you are required to register in accordance with the HUNDHOCH2 Terms and Conditions.
Are you looking to book a private course or a group puppy course?
- A button with payment options will appear at the end of the booking form process.
- Please select “Pay for this session” and not “Purchase price plan.”
- Then you don't have to create an account, but can “shop” as a guest.
- That's the payment process set up by the website provider, and HUNDHOCH2 can't change it.
- Afterward, you can choose to pay by invoice or TWINT.
Hit “Submit” – et voilà. HUNDHOCH2 will receive and review your booking request.
After reviewing the request, HUNDHOCH2 will send you a booking confirmation (provided that all the necessary information has been provided and HUNDHOCH2 has no objections to the booking).
Once HUNDHOCH2 has confirmed your booking request, the booking is considered binding and payment is due.
HUNDHOCH2 will send you an automated email with the invoice for your booking. You can then pay either by bank transfer or TWINT.

WHY ARE COURSE REGISTRATIONS BINDING?

To ensure a very high quality of training, HUNDHOCH2 offers its customers either private lessons or classes in small groups of no more than 4 to 5 teams of humans and dogs.

With registration and confirmation by HUNDHOCH2, a private lesson or a spot in a group course is definitively reserved and cannot be taken by another team. That's why registration is binding after confirmation.

SOME COURSES FILL UP FAST. IS THERE A WAITING LIST?

Yes, we do have waiting lists.

Once a course is no longer available for booking, anyone interested is kindly asked to contact HUNDHOCH2 via the waiting list form and request to be added to the waiting list. HUNDHOCH2 will need some information, such as the dog owner's contact details, the desired course, and information about the dog (name, age).

If a spot becomes available or a new course is offered, HUNDHOCH2 will contact those interested in the order of the waiting list and invite them to sign up.

To complete the booking, the owner must submit an “official” booking request via the website (see menu bar “Booking”), which must be confirmed by HUNDHOCH2.

HOW CAN I PAY FOR HUNDHOCH2 SERVICES?

Please note that HUNDHOCH2 kindly requests payment for all services in advance, either via TWINT or bank transfer.

Individual one-on-one training sessions are an exception to this rule. They can also be paid for via TWINT at the start of the training session.

PAYMENT FOR PRIVATE COURSES

If you would like to book a one-to-one course (puppy, young dog, or training course) or a group puppy course, please fill in all the details on the “BOOKING FORM” page.

A button with payment options will appear.
Please select “Pay for this session” and not “Buy price plan.”
This means you do not have to log in, but can make your purchase as a guest.
This is a payment process specified by the website provider, which HUNDHOCH2 has no control over.
Afterwards, you can choose to pay by invoice or TWINT.

FAQ