A license, following a test, is already required for guard dogs for security reasons, a measure in place in many countries. The new license is for the average street pooch, which many still find intimidating.
In the 2004 survey, 34 percent of those questioned said they felt "personally in danger" in the presence of dogs, and 92 percent said dogs should always be kept on a leash and wear a muzzle.
Thousands of parents have also signed a petition to force the city to find a solution to the five to 10 tons of dog excrement produced daily. Vienna's Mayor Michael Haeupl has promised personally to look into the matter.
Twenty veterinary examiners have been accredited to carry out testing for the new dog license, which was set up in January.
According to the Vienna-based non-profit organization Animals as Therapy, at least 15 people are know to have passed the test but no official figures have been released yet.
Elisabeth Karsai, a medical student associated with Animals as Therapy who took the driving test with her two-year-old poodle, told AFP that she "felt like a pioneer and wanted to ensure that more people pass this license."
Another candidate, veterinary doctor Irene Thenmaier, said, "I am here to learn how to understand my dog," a two-year-old half-breed named Dina.
