NHB Theory Course and Optional Exam

The NHB Theory Course is a 4 hour In-Person PowerPoint Presentation with Optional Written Exam (35 Multiple Choice Questions - 80% score required to pass.)

This course is already required in some cantons of Switzerland for all new dog owners or for people importing dogs from abroad.
In Basel-Stadt and Baselland it is required for people owning or wishing to buy or adopt a restricted breed dog.

Everyone who takes the Theory Course will receive a Course Certificate and be listed in a national database of certified dog owners.

Everyone who takes and passes the Theory Exam will also receive an NHB Theory Exam Certificate and be listed in a national database of certified dog owners who have taken and passed the theory esam..

The topics covered are:

• Choosing and Buying a Dog (Choosing a breeder, Import regulations and restrictions)
  
• Life Phases of the Dog (Birth, Neonatal, Puppy, Puberty,  Senior)
  
• Everyday Living with a Dog (Living accomodations, Children and Dogs)
  
• Breed Information (Breed types, characteristics, is this the right breed for me?)
  
• Dog Behavior and Body Language
  
• How Dogs Learn 
  
• Code of Conduct for Dog Owners in Public
• Health Information (Vital signs, Vaccinations, Parasites, etc)
  
• Law and legislation: buying a dog, importing dogs, dog trade, animal protection, and cantonal dog laws.

Cost of the 4-hour Theory Course (including optional exam): CHF 90.00 per person

What do you already know? (Topics covered in the Theory Course and Exam)

A small checklist:

• What should I consider when getting a dog?
• Which dog suits me? - Breed-specific characteristics
• How much time do I need for a dog?
• What does a dog cost? (Purchase, equipment, medical, travel / boarding etc.)
  
• Do I know the basic needs of a dog?
• What should I do in case of behavioral problems?
• Do I know the breed-specific characteristics?
• How do dogs learn? (What is a Marker Signal and how do I train it?)
  
• Do I know the body language of the dog? (4 F's of a dog's coping strategy)
  
• Do I know about the health -related aspects of the dog?
  
• What is the code of conduct in public? (Leash laws, other dogs, public places...)
  
• Do I know the legal aspects of dog ownership?