Germans love pets and also love laws, which work well there.
Today we have decided to share the rules regarding cats and dogs in Germany with animal lovers.
If you own dogs, this is what applies in Germany:
The dog must be walked, it shouldn’t have to stay in its kennel or flat all the time.
Prong collars are banned.
You must walk your dog on a lead, and in some places it is compulsory to use a muzzle.
Puppies must be given at least 4 hours of attention a day.
It is forbidden to tie up a dog or leave it locked in a car. Rules for entry into Germany with a dog/cat:
The pet must have an EU pet passport (EU-Heimtierausweis), an identification microchip and a valid rabies vaccination.
Important: the vaccination must be given at least 21 days before entry — until that time has passed the animal will not be let into the country. And one more detail that people most often trip over: the chip must be implanted prior to the vaccination. If the animal is vaccinated first and chipped afterwards, the vaccination does not count and has to be done again.
The import and transit of puppies under 15 weeks of age is prohibited.
Can you take a dog or cat into a shop?
Interesting laws for cat owners are appearing in different cities across Germany:
🔹 In Berlin the Katzenschutzverordnung (cat protection ordinance) has applied since 8 June 2022: a cat that roams outdoors freely must be neutered, microchipped and registered. Cats reach sexual maturity at 5 months — and that is the age the duty is tied to. The rule does not apply to cats that are only let out on a lead or into a fenced yard.
🔹 In the town of Walldorf (Baden-Württemberg) it was indeed forbidden from 2022 to let cats outdoors in spring and summer — for the sake of the rare crested lark. In January 2025 the ban was lifted: the birds have taken to new nesting sites outside the town. The example is instructive for another reason: rules like this are introduced and withdrawn by the local authority, so the place to check is your own municipality’s website, not general articles on the internet.
Important legal Nuances:
In Germany, dogs are registered with the local authority (Gemeinde) for the Hundesteuer (dog tax), and in some federal states also in the Hunderegister (dog register). Cats only where a Katzenschutzverordnung (cat protection ordinance) applies, and usually only if they go outdoors. Dogs must always carry a tag with their number. Registration can usually be done online via the city website.
Recommended:
Register your pets in databases in Tasso.net or on Findefix.com. Only thanks to these two databases will the police and shelters be able to return a lost animal.
In Germany you pay a tax on a dog — the Hundesteuer. It is set by the municipality, so the amounts differ several times over: from a few dozen euros to around €190 a year for the first dog. For a second and any further dog you pay noticeably more, and for breeds from the “list of dangerous dogs” the rate is several times higher in some towns. The dog must be registered within the deadline set by the municipality. There is no cat tax in Germany.
Keeping dogs and cats in Germany: frequently asked questions
Does the animal have to be microchipped?
For travel within the EU it is compulsory: a microchip and an EU-Heimtierausweis with a rabies vaccination given at least 21 days before entry. Within Germany the obligation depends on the federal state and on whether the dog is classified as dangerous. A chip plus free registration in a database (Tasso or Findefix) is the de facto standard: without it a found animal is hard to return to its owner.
Where does the Leinenpflicht (lead requirement) apply?
Lead rules are set by the federal states and municipalities: in towns they often cover every street and park, and in forests there are seasonal restrictions during the nesting season, usually from March to July. A Bußgeld (fine) is issued for a breach. There is no single nationwide rule — the place to look is your own municipality’s website. Where liability insurance for dogs is compulsory and what the policies cost is set out in the sections animal owner liability insurance and dog insurance.
Can you take a dog on public transport?
The rules are set by the transport operator, so they differ between cities and federal states. The general pattern: a small dog in a carrier usually travels free, a large one on a child’s ticket and often with a muzzle and on a short lead. On Deutsche Bahn long-distance trains a large dog needs its own ticket. Guide dogs travel free and without a muzzle everywhere.
Which of these affects the insurance?
Directly, only the dog’s status: breeds from the “list of dangerous dogs” and dogs the Ordnungsamt (public order office) has classified as dangerous are more expensive to insure, and in several federal states liability cover is compulsory for them. The other rules do not affect the premium, but whether the insurer pays depends on the policy terms. By law, the insurer is released from paying only if the damage was caused intentionally (§ 103 VVG). If contractual obligations (Obliegenheiten) are breached, the payout can be reduced in cases of gross negligence and refused in cases of intent (§ 28 VVG). For an overview of policies and prices see the section pet insurance in Germany.
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With our recommendations, we want to help as many people as possible look after their finances. We fund our work through affiliate links. We mark these links with an asterisk (*).
