March 28, 2006 — Viennese dog owners can now get a "driver's license for dogs" under a new initiative by city officials who think man's best friend can do with a bit of brushing up on canine conduct.

Though voluntary, this new license, which takes about two hours to obtain and costs a modest 25 euros ($30), has both written and practical "driving" tests to assess the owner's competence.

For the written part of the exam, candidates must answer multiple choice questions that check whether they know their responsibilities concerning their pet's health and behavior.

"When your dog wags its tail, does it mean it is happy, excited or bored?" is a typical question

The practical part simulates a spin — in this case a "walk" — through town, testing the owner in a variety of predicaments such as putting a muzzle on the dog in the tram or underground or picking up droppings.

"The Viennese are real dog lovers," said the capital's environment councilor Ulli Sima who initiated the license project.

"But they believe strict measures are necessary so that peaceful cohabitation between man and dog is possible in this city."

Those happy owners who pass their "license" — or Hundefuehrerschein — will be exempt from the annual dog tax of 43.60 euros ($53) and will receive a few goodies for their pets, from vouchers for a new leash to bags for their pet's droppings.

The initiative was triggered by a survey of 500 Viennese residents in September 2004 in which a surprising 85 percent backed the idea of instituting a "driver's license for dogs."

Vienna officially counts about 47,000 canines — meaning those subject to a city dog tax — but estimates say there could be up to 150,000 hounds for a population of 1.7 million humans.

"This is not about pure obedience, but rather about social tolerance of the dog-owner team in the city," said Sima's deputy Karl Woegerer.

This Viennese initiative "is unique in this form, although licenses exist in several German states," he said.

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.

According to Animals as Therapy director Gabi Glaser, the point of the Vienna driver's test is to know the basic rules of how to lead a dog and to make life with canines as pleasant as possible in a city.

"Dogs' social tolerance and ability to deal with a big city will be improved and in this way people's safety needs will also be satisfied," Sima was quoted as saying on the city's Web site.

Dogs are proving to be less stressed than their owners during the testing, notably with a bit of bribing — in the form of doggie treats — as they're put through the paces, including claw and ear inspections.

For their two-legged owners not yet up to the challenge, the city of Vienna provides information and schedules for dog training schools to help them overcome their hesitation.