Pitbulls are largely not allowed in Germany. A federal law has banned the import of pit bull terriers and closely related breeds since 2001, and most of Germany’s 16 states either prohibit keeping them outright or allow it only under a strict permit regime. Whether you can legally live in Germany with a pitbull-type dog depends on the specific breed, the state you settle in, and whether local authorities treat the dog as inherently dangerous or only presumed dangerous.
The Federal Import Ban
Germany’s Dog Transfer and Import Restrictions Act (Hundeverbringungs- und -einfuhrbeschränkungsgesetz, or HundVerbrEinfG) prohibits bringing four breed types and their crosses into the country: Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and Bull Terrier.1Customs online. Dangerous Dogs German customs enforces the ban at the border, and it applies regardless of the individual dog’s temperament, training, or history.
The federal law only covers importation. It does not regulate dogs already inside Germany. Ownership rules are set separately by each of the 16 states.
Who Can Still Bring One In
Customs recognizes a few narrow exceptions to the import ban:
- Residents who already hold a state-issued permit to keep a dangerous dog and are returning from a trip abroad.
- Tourists and other short-term visitors staying fewer than four weeks.
- Working dogs, including military and police service dogs, guide dogs for visually impaired handlers, assistance dogs for people with disabilities, and rescue or civil protection dogs.
In each case, you must carry the original documentation at the border: pedigree certificates, vaccination records, temperament test results, and any permits from your local public order office.1Customs online. Dangerous Dogs Without the paperwork, exceptions don’t apply.
State Rules Decide Whether You Can Keep One
Because ownership sits at the state level, a dog that is perfectly legal in one state can be banned in the next. Many states use a two-category system that determines whether keeping the dog is possible at all.
Category 1: Presumption You Cannot Overcome
Category 1 breeds are treated as inherently dangerous, and no temperament test can change that. In states using this classification, keeping a Category 1 dog is either flatly forbidden or requires exceptional authorization. Bavaria places Pit Bull, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Bandog, and Tosa Inu in Category 1, and keeping any of them is not permitted.2Stadt München. Negative Certificate for Fighting Dogs
Category 2: Presumption You Can Rebut
Category 2 breeds are presumed dangerous, but an owner can rebut that presumption with an official temperament test. A dog that passes gets a certificate confirming it does not display heightened aggression, and the owner can keep it legally. Bavaria’s Category 2 list includes Rottweiler, Bullmastiff, Cane Corso, Dogo Argentino, and American Bulldog, among others.2Stadt München. Negative Certificate for Fighting Dogs A Category 2 dog that fails the test is treated the same as a Category 1 breed.
Labels and lists differ from state to state. Baden-Württemberg, Hamburg, Hesse, and Brandenburg maintain their own expanded lists that may add breeds like Dogue de Bordeaux, Fila Brasileiro, Kangal, or Caucasian Shepherd Dog.3Customs online. Provisions Imposed by Individual Federal States Check the specific state list before you commit to a location. German Customs publishes a state-by-state overview.
States That Judge the Dog, Not the Breed
A few states have moved away from breed lists entirely. Lower Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein, Brandenburg, and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania classify a dog as dangerous only if it actually shows aggressive behavior, regardless of breed. In practical terms, a well-behaved pitbull-type dog can be kept in these states without the extra restrictions imposed elsewhere. A behavioral assessment can still be ordered if an incident occurs or a complaint is filed.
What Ownership Looks Like Where It’s Allowed
In states that permit dangerous dogs under a permit regime, the requirements are demanding, and losing any of them can cost you the permit.
The Keeping Permit
You need a special keeping permit (Erlaubnis) from your local public order office. Applicants must be at least 18 years old and show both personal reliability and the expertise to handle a dangerous dog.4Bundesportal. Apply for a Permit for Dangerous Dogs Some states also require a legitimate interest in keeping the dog, meaning a specific reason beyond wanting one as a pet.
Liability Insurance
Owners must carry dog liability insurance (Hundehaftpflichtversicherung). Rhineland-Palatinate, for example, sets the minimum at €500,000 for personal injury and €250,000 for property damage.4Bundesportal. Apply for a Permit for Dangerous Dogs Minimums vary, and nearly every state requires insurance for dangerous breeds. Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is currently the only state where dog liability insurance is entirely voluntary, even for non-listed breeds.
Microchip and Registration
Every dangerous dog must be permanently marked with an electronically readable microchip so that identity and dangerous-dog status can be verified.4Bundesportal. Apply for a Permit for Dangerous Dogs You must notify authorities if the dog changes hands, goes missing, or dies.
Muzzle and Leash in Public
Most states require dangerous dogs to be muzzled and leashed in all public spaces. Leash rules often remain even where a temperament test has lifted other restrictions. In Munich, the leash must be tear-resistant, no longer than two meters, and securely fastened so the dog cannot slip free.2Stadt München. Negative Certificate for Fighting Dogs These rules apply around the clock on all public paths, roads, and squares.
Breeding and Sterilization
Several states prohibit breeding dangerous dogs outright, and some require sterilization as a condition of the keeping permit. Breeding bans typically also block the commercial sale of dangerous breeds within the state.
The Temperament Test (Wesenstest)
The temperament test is the gateway to legal ownership for Category 2 and similar rebuttable-presumption breeds. A public veterinarian and a law enforcement expert jointly administer it, and the assessment covers six areas: basic obedience, how the dog reacts when tethered and separated from the handler, response to vehicles, behavior toward strangers, behavior toward other animals, and reaction to sudden acoustic and visual stimuli.
Passing produces a certificate stating the dog is “highly unlikely to be a fighting dog” based on the observed behavior. The certificate is not permanent protection. If the dog later shows dangerous behavior, it can be reclassified as irrebuttably dangerous regardless of any prior test result.5Stadt Heidelberg. Keeping a Fighting Dog – Apply for a Behaviour Test
Dogs must be at least 18 months old for the full test. Younger dogs can receive a provisional certificate but must retake the test between 15 and 18 months of age.5Stadt Heidelberg. Keeping a Fighting Dog – Apply for a Behaviour Test Tests typically cost several hundred euros, and a failed result can mean the dog is treated as a banned breed.
Penalties for Getting It Wrong
The consequences of keeping a dangerous dog without proper authorization are serious. Fines of up to €10,000 apply for keeping a fighting dog without the required permit, and the same maximum applies to Category 2 owners who lack a valid temperament test certificate.2Stadt München. Negative Certificate for Fighting Dogs Other breaches, such as failing to muzzle or leash the dog in public, can bring fines of up to €5,000 depending on the state.
Authorities can also confiscate a dog kept illegally or judged dangerous to the public. Under Germany’s Animal Welfare Act, if suitable rehoming is not possible, authorities may order the animal euthanized at the owner’s expense.6Michigan State University Animal Legal and Historical Center. German Animal Welfare Act
Moving Between German States
Relocating with a pitbull-type dog is one of the harder situations owners face. A dog that is legal in a behavior-based state like Lower Saxony can become a banned Category 1 breed the moment you cross into Bavaria. Existing permits and temperament test certificates do not automatically transfer. Contact the public order office in the destination state before moving and apply for whatever permits, tests, or exemptions it requires. In some cases you will find your dog simply cannot legally live there.
State-level bans are not always absolute. The locally competent authority in the destination state can, in some circumstances, issue an official authorization to keep the dog despite a general ban.3Customs online. Provisions Imposed by Individual Federal States Authorization is discretionary, never guaranteed.
General Dog Import Rules Still Apply
Even where an exception to the breed ban applies, standard EU and German veterinary requirements still have to be met. Every dog must be microchipped before receiving a rabies vaccination, and the rabies shot must be given at least 21 days before crossing the border.7German Missions in the United States. Travelling with Pets Dogs arriving from another EU country need an EU Pet Passport; dogs arriving from outside the EU need an animal health certificate from an official state veterinarian in the country of departure, issued no more than 10 days before arrival, and depending on the country of origin a rabies antibody titer test may also be required.8European Union. Travelling with Pets and Other Animals in the EU For a restricted breed, clearing these general steps is necessary but never sufficient: the HundVerbrEinfG rules apply on top, and failure at any layer can lead to quarantine, return to the country of origin, or confiscation.