Legal Basis
Dangerous Dogs Act (GefHundG M-V) — Mecklenburg-Vorpommern operates on a breed-neutral basis.
Dangerous Dogs
No breed list. A dog is only considered dangerous if it has proven itself to be biting or dangerous in an individual case through specific behaviour (biting incident, increased aggression, baiting).
What owners need
For all dogs:
- General dog owner obligations under state law
For dogs classified as dangerous in individual cases:
- Haltungserlaubnis
- Sachkundenachweis in individual cases
- Dog liability insurance
- Wesenstest possible to refute the classification
Insurance
No general dog liability insurance requirement. Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is the only Bundesland without any insurance obligation for dog owners — neither for all dogs nor for dangerous ones.
Even without an obligation, insurance is strongly recommended — § 833 BGB strict liability naturally applies here as well.
Everyday rules
- Leash obligation only for dogs classified as dangerous
- Local rules possible in municipalities (park, beach, pedestrian zone)
Hundesteuer examples
| City | First dog | Dangerous dog |
|---|---|---|
| Rostock | 110 € | 600 € |
| Schwerin | 96 € | 540 € |
| Stralsund | 90 € | 500 € |
| Greifswald | 84 € | 540 € |
Contact
Local regulatory authority · Veterinary Chamber of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern