Dog attacks are a serious cause for concern, and globally, several countries have introduced breed-specific legislation in an attempt to protect people and other animals from vicious attacks. Most pet dogs are like family; they bring joy and companionship to our lives. Some dog breeds known for their ability to protect property and people, and these breeds are bred for their power and aggressiveness.

Breed-specific legislation aims to control the number of dog attacks by banning or restricting the import and ownership of dog breeds that are aggressive and dangerous by nature. If you are planning international travel with your pet, the first step is to check if your dog is permitted to enter the country.

Germany has breed-specific legislation that prohibits the import of several aggressive dog breeds. If you are travelling to Germany with your pet, here are the banned breeds that are not permitted for import into the country.

Prohibited dog breeds in Germany

German pet import regulations prohibit the entry of certain dangerous in the country. Under the Dog Transfer and Import Restrictions Act in Germany, these breeds and cross-breeds are not allowed for import. The banned breeds are:

• American Staffordshire Terrier
• Bull Terrier
• Pit Bull Terrier
• Staffordshire Bull Terrier

These dog breeds and their cross-breeds are not allowed to be imported or transferred from a different country into Germany.

State-wise banned breeds in Germany

Individual states in Germany have dangerous dog laws where dog breeds deemed dangerous are not allowed to reside in the state. Before moving to Germany with your pet, it is important to check whether the state of residence has a ban on the breed.

The import ban in the individual states is not absolute; there are several exceptions to the ban, and local authorities can issue pet parents an official authorisation to keep the dog.

In Germany, five states have additional breed-specific restrictions:

Baden-Württemberg

In the state of Baden-Württemberg, the following breeds and their cross-breeds are classified as dangerous breeds:

• Bordeaux Dogge
• Bull Mastiff
• Dogo Argentino
• Fila Brasileiro
• Mastiff
• Neapolitan Mastiff
• Spanish Mastiff
• Tosa Inu

Bavaria

In Bavaria, the following dog breeds and their crosses are considered dangerous breeds:

• Bandog
• Tosa Inu

Additionally, these dog breeds are presumed dangerous except when there is evidence to the contrary:

• Alano
• American Bulldog
• Bullmastiff
• Cane Corso
• Dogo Argentino
• Dogue de Bordeaux
• Fila Brasileiro
• Mastiff
• Neapolitan Mastiff
• Perro de Presa Canario
• Perro de Presa Mallorquin
• Rottweiler
• Spanish Mastiff

Brandenburg

• Tosa Inu

Breeds with fighting characteristics that are presumed dangerous, unless there is evidence to the contrary:

• Alano
• Bullmastiff
• Cane Corso
• Dobermann
• Dogo Argentino
• Dogue de Bordeaux
• Fila Brasileiro
• Mastiff
• Spanish Mastiff
• Neapolitan Mastiff
• Rottweiler
• Perro de Presa Canario
• Perro de Presa Mallorquin

Hamburg

Dangerous breeds with presumed fighting characteristics, unless there is evidence to the contrary:

• Bull Mastiff
• Dogo Argentino
• Dogue de Bordeaux
• Fila Brasileiro
• Kangal Dog
• Caucasian Shepherd Dog
• Mastiff
• Spanish Mastiff
• Neapolitan Mastiff
• Rottweiler
• Tosa Inu

Hesse

• American Bulldog
• Dogo Argentino
• Kangal Dog (Karabash)
• Caucasian Shepherd Dog
• Rottweiler

Exceptions to the import ban

Germany has a few exceptions to the dangerous dog ban, and you can bring your pet into the country if they satisfy these conditions. The pet import ban in Germany is exempt for the following dogs:

• Dangerous dogs that are visiting the country and will not stay on for more than four weeks.
• Dogs that are on the dangerous list but are being brought back or re-imported to Germany.
• Dogs that are employed as guard dogs, support dogs for the physically challenged and guide dogs for the visually challenged, and rescue dogs can enter the country despite the ban.

Your dog will need extensive documentation such as a pedigree certificate, a character test certificate, and other certificates from authorised public officers to support your claims. If you import a working dog, your dog must have documentation describing the nature of work.

Pet import to Germany? Petraveller can help

International pet travel to Germany can be a time-consuming and stressful process, especially for pet parents who do not understand the rules of pet travel. If you are travelling to Germany with your pet cat or dog, an accredited pet travel agency can help iron out the process and make it a stress-free pet travel experience for you and your pet.

Reach out to the team of experts at Petraveller for more information on international pet travel with aggressive dog breeds and a free pet travel quote.