Dogs in Germany: Rules for Import, Registration, Tax and Care

Germany is generally a comfortable place to live with a dog: pets are often welcome in cafés, trains, and many public spaces. At the same time, owners must comply with rules on importation, registration, tax, leads, insurance, and animal welfare. Many requirements depend not only on federal law, but also on the Land, city, and breed.

How dog-friendly Germany is

Pets are part of everyday life in Germany: according to industry organisations IVH and ZZF, pets lived in 43% of households in 2025, and the total number of dogs, cats, small animals, and ornamental birds was 33.4 million. Dogs are usually well integrated into urban life, but conduct rules are stricter than newcomers may expect.

You can often take a dog into a restaurant, café, or non-food shop, but ask staff first. Dogs are generally not permitted in supermarkets, bakeries, many public authorities, playgrounds, or ordinary public beaches. Beaches and off-lead areas often have designated zones.

A typical “Dogs must remain outside” sign at a German post office

Also remember the Tierschutz-Hundeverordnung: a dog must have sufficient exercise, human contact, care, water, and living conditions appropriate to its age, breed, and health.

How to bring a dog to Germany

If you import a dog as a pet, rather than for sale or transfer to another owner, EU rules on non-commercial movement of pets apply. Usually, up to five dogs, cats, or ferrets may travel with the owner or an authorised person.

For a dog, you generally need:

identification by microchip; an old legible tattoo is accepted only under conditions set by EU rules;
a valid rabies vaccination;
an EU pet passport for travel within the EU, or an official veterinary certificate for entry from a third country;
documentary and identity checks at the Travelers’ Point of Entry when entering from outside the EU, where required for the route;
a rabies-antibody test if the country of dispatch is not on the list of countries exempt from this test.

Plan the move early: vaccination, the waiting period after it, a possible rabies antibody titration test, and certification can take weeks or months. For a route from a particular country, check Zoll and European Commission pages before buying tickets.

This is Lucas from Mexico

Where to get a dog in Germany

The safest options are a registered breeder, a shelter, or a private transfer from people you know. It is important not only to buy a “healthy puppy,” but also not to support illegal animal imports.

Registered breeder

You can look for a breeder through VDH or breed clubs. A responsible breeder shows the living conditions, the puppies’ mother, documents, the purchase contract, and veterinary records. Puppies must not be given away too early: German animal-welfare rules restrict premature separation from their mother.

Shelter or Tierschutzverein

At a Tierheim or Tierschutzverein, you can adopt an adult dog or a puppy needing a new home. The shelter usually assesses the owner’s experience, housing, compatibility with children or other animals, and charges a Schutzgebühr—a protective fee, not a market purchase price.

Private transfer

You may take a dog from friends or family if its origin, age, vaccinations, and papers are transparent. Even in a private transfer, make a written agreement and check the pet passport, microchip, and veterinary records.

Where not to buy a dog

Online listings, social media, and “puppy delivery to a car park” require particular care. Typical risks are forged passports, separation from the mother too early, illness, illegal imports, missing vaccinations, and an inability to verify the seller.

Before buying, check:

whether you can see the puppy and mother where they are kept;
whether the microchip matches the documents;
whether there is a contract, pet passport, and vaccination history;
whether the price seems implausibly low or high without explanation;
whether the seller promises “quick delivery” from another country without proper controls.

The story in the source article about buying a dog from Hungary illustrates a typical risk: documents may look convincing, while transport and the animals’ origin may still be part of an illegal scheme. If papers prove invalid, consequences can be serious: quarantine, refusal of entry, seizure of the animal, administrative proceedings, and costs for the owner.

Breeds that cannot be freely imported

According to Zoll, importing into Germany and moving the following breeds and their crossbreeds across the border is prohibited:

Pitbull Terrier;
American Staffordshire Terrier;
Staffordshire Bull Terrier;
Bull Terrier.

In addition to the federal import ban, every Land has its own rules on dangerous dogs. Some Länder have additional breed lists and requirements for permits, a Sachkundenachweis, temperament tests, muzzles, leads, and insurance. If a dog resembles a listed breed or is a mixed breed, obtain written information in advance from the competent Land and city authority.

Dog registration, Hundesteuer, and Hundemarke

After moving or buying a dog, register it where it is kept. Depending on the city, this may be called Anmeldung zur Hundesteuer, registration in a Hunderegister, or an application to the Bürgeramt, Ordnungsamt, Finanzamt, or the city’s online portal.

You will usually need:

owner details and address;
the dog’s name, breed, age, and sex;
microchip number;
start date of keeping the dog;
origin or transfer documents, if required;
proof of Haftpflichtversicherung if it is compulsory in your Land or for your category of dog.

In Berlin, for example, permanent keeping of a dog is registered in the central Hunderegister; since 2024, this registration also counts as tax registration for Hundesteuer. Other cities can have different procedures and deadlines.

Hundesteuer is a municipal tax, so the amount depends on the city, the number of dogs, and sometimes the breed category. After registration, some cities issue a Hundemarke, but token rules are local too: for example, some cities have abolished the duty to wear a tax tag while retaining the tax itself.

A German dog-tax tag

Hundeführerschein, expertise, and walking rules

There is no single “dog exam” for all owners throughout Germany. Requirements depend on the Land and dog type. Dangerous or large breeds more often require a Sachkundenachweis, Hundeführerschein, temperament test, or separate permit. In some Länder, requirements are broader and may apply to all owners.

Lead rules are also local. They can vary in a city, park, public transport, forest, during wild-animal breeding season, or near playgrounds. A practical approach is to check your Land and city websites for Leinenpflicht, Hundeauslaufgebiet, Hundegesetz, and Gefahrenabwehrverordnung.

A book for preparing for a German dog certificate

Cleaning up, muzzles, and public behaviour

You must clean up after your dog. Fines are set locally and can differ even between neighbouring cities. Public transport often has separate carrier rules: a lead is almost always compulsory, and a muzzle may be required for certain dogs or on particular transport networks.

A good minimum for dog owners in Germany:

carry waste bags;
keep your dog under control even in an off-lead area;
do not let your dog approach people, children, or other animals without consent;
check rules for restaurants, hotels, trains, and parks in advance;
do not leave your dog in a car for long, especially in warm weather.

Dog insurance

The owner is liable for damage caused by their dog. Hundehalterhaftpflichtversicherung is not compulsory everywhere, but several Länder require it for all dogs and others for dangerous or large dogs. Even where the law does not require insurance, it is practically important because third-party damage can be costly.

Dog health insurance is not a standard administrative obligation, but can help with surgery and treatment costs. Before buying a policy, compare limits, deductibles, breed exclusions, age, chronic conditions, and waiting periods.

How much it costs to keep a dog

There is no single universal figure: costs depend on the city, dog size, food, insurance, veterinary care, training, grooming, and tax. When budgeting, include:

purchase cost or Schutzgebühr when adopting from a shelter;
basic equipment: bed, bowls, lead, collar or harness, and carrier;
food and treats;
Hundesteuer;
Haftpflichtversicherung and possible health insurance;
vet care, vaccinations, medicines, and emergency expenses;
dog school, grooming, and care;
extra travel, hotel, and transport costs.

If you adopt from a Tierheim, some cities may grant a tax reduction for a limited period, but check the municipal rules.

Short owner checklist

Check whether the breed may be imported and kept in your Land.
Prepare a microchip, rabies vaccination, and the required veterinary documents.
Register the dog with the city or Hunderegister.
Find out the Hundesteuer amount and Hundemarke rules.
Check whether Hundehalterhaftpflichtversicherung is required.
Understand Leinenpflicht, muzzle rules, and walking areas.
Save contacts for a vet, Tierheim, and TASSO.

Conclusion

A dog in Germany means not only walks and dog-friendly cafés, but also a set of local obligations. For newcomers, the key points are: do not buy an animal from doubtful sources; arrange import correctly; register the dog; pay Hundesteuer; follow lead rules; and check your Land’s and city’s requirements in advance.