Legal Basis
Act on the Keeping of Dogs (HundeG Schleswig-Holstein) — in effect since 1 January 2016. Schleswig-Holstein abolished its breed list with this reform and has operated on a breed-neutral basis ever since.
Dangerous Dogs
No breed list. In Schleswig-Holstein, a dog is only considered dangerous if the regulatory authority makes a corresponding determination — for example, following a biting incident, in cases of aggressive behaviour, or due to a lack of suitability on the part of the owner.
What owners need
For all dogs:
- Dog liability insurance — minimum coverage €500,000 for personal injury / €250,000 for property damage, puppies excluded for the first three months of life
- Microchip identification
- General dog owner obligations
For dogs classified as dangerous in individual cases:
- Haltungserlaubnis
- Sachkundenachweis
- Wesenstest
Insurance
Mandatory for all dogs since 1 January 2016. Schleswig-Holstein is one of seven Bundesländer with a general requirement.
Schleswig-Holstein also requires full coverage for at least two claims per year (double annual maximisation) — a specific feature of Schleswig-Holstein that not all insurers offer as standard.
Everyday rules
- Leash requirement in pedestrian zones, parks, and forests during the breeding and nesting season
- Muzzle requirement only for dogs classified as dangerous
- Dogs may be walked outside of secured property
- Leash off in fenced dog exercise areas — muzzle remains for dangerous dogs
- Leash requirement in forests: according to the State Forest Act, especially in Kiel, Lübeck, and Flensburg
Hundesteuer examples
| City | First dog | Second dog | Dangerous dog |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kiel | 126 € | 177 € | no special rates |
| Lübeck | 144 € | 144 € | 618 € |
| Flensburg | 132 € | 180 € | 600 € |
| Neumünster | 120 € | 180 € | 540 € |
Some smaller municipalities in Schleswig-Holstein (Lehmkuhlen, Kletkamp, Nehmten) do not levy any Hundesteuer at all.
Contact
Local regulatory authority · Veterinary Chamber of Schleswig-Holstein