Listenhunde, or listed dog breeds, are breeds that are considered dangerous. It does not matter whether the dog has ever caused trouble or not.
Dogs that belong to one of these listed dog breeds may only be kept under certain conditions, are subject to strict regulations and are often required to wear a muzzle in public places.
Each federal state in Germany handles the categorisation of such dogs differently. A table summarising listed dog breeds by state can be found here.
In many federal states, there is a Hundeführerschein (dog handler’s licence). This document allows you to prove that you are experienced in handling your pet responsibly and that you can guide it through potentially dangerous everyday situations.
There is no longer a list of dangerous dog breeds in Thuringia, Schleswig-Holstein and Lower Saxony. For owners of a listed dog breed, it is therefore worth considering moving to one of these federal states in order to avoid expensive liability insurance, a dog handler’s licence, and your dog being required to wear a muzzle.
In Saxony, and therefore also in Leipzig, American Staffordshire Terriers, Bullterriers, Pitbull Terriers and their crossbreeds are on the list of dangerous dogs. You do, however, have the option of getting an officially recognised expert assessment of the temperament of your dog to disprove that it is dangerous. The cost of this assessment is approx. €200 to €300. If you would like more information about this, please contact our Animals team.
If it cannot be proved that the dog does not pose a danger, then the requirements of the Law for the Protection of the Public against Dangerous Dogs (Gesetz zum Schutze der Bevölkerung vor gefährlichen Hunden – GefHundG) apply to the dog. It will then be subject to a breeding and trade ban, for example, and keeping it shall only be permitted with permission from the authorities.
Here are two excerpts from the law:
http://www.polizei.sachsen.de/de/dokumente/Landesportal/Gesetzestext.pdf
http://www.polizei.sachsen.de/de/dokumente/Landesportal/DVOGefHundG_2003.pdf
According to the law, there is a general obligation in Saxony for dangerous dogs to be walked on a lead and to wear a muzzle. Furthermore, the owner must take out third-party liability insurance. Additionally, warning signs must be placed at the entrances to the premises/home. Dangerous dogs may not be taken to children’s playgrounds, sunbathing areas or bathing facilities. One person may only walk one dangerous dog at a time.