Legal Basis
Berlin Dog Act (HundeG Berlin) — dispenses with a category classification. The list is very small.
Dangerous Dogs
Only three breeds plus their crossbreeds are considered dangerous by law in Berlin:
- American Pit Bull Terrier
- American Staffordshire Terrier
- Bull Terrier
This short list is a Berlin peculiarity — the Staffordshire Bull Terrier is not included here.
What Owners Need
For listed dogs:
- Sachkundenachweis (proof of competence) — mandatory
- Wesenstest (temperament test) of the dog
- Police clearance certificate
- Dog liability insurance
- Haltungserlaubnis (permit to keep) from the responsible Veterinary and Food Safety Office
For all dogs in Berlin (regardless of breed):
- Dog liability insurance is mandatory
- Registration in the Berlin Dog Register
Insurance
Mandatory for all dogs, not just for listed ones. Berlin is one of the seven Bundesländer with a general dog liability insurance requirement.
Everyday Rules
- General leash requirement for all dogs in public areas
- Muzzle requirement for listed dogs
- Identification requirement (microchip) for all dogs
Hundesteuer
In Berlin 120 € per dog — regardless of whether it is a listed dog or not. Berlin is one of the few large German cities without a surcharge for listed dogs in the Hundesteuer.
Contact
District Office / Veterinary and Food Safety Office · Berlin Chamber of Veterinarians