What is the German legislation all about?

This list varies according to which part of Germany you live in so you can cross the street and your legal dog suddenly becomes a banned dangerous dog!

Cat.1)
American Staffordshire Terrier - Pitbull Terrier - Staffordshire Bull Terrier - Bull Terrier - Neopolitan Mastiff - Spanish Mastiff - Dogue de Bordeux  - Dogo Argentino - Fila Brasileiro - Roman Fighting Dog - Chinese Fighting Dog - Bandog - Tosa Inu

Cat.2)
Akbash - Briard - Beauceron - Bullmastiff - Dobermann - Estrela Mountain Dog - Komondor - Kuvasz - Maremma - Mastiff - Pyrenean Mastiff - Pyrenean Mountain Dog - Rottweiler - Tibetan Mastiff
and 15 other European herding breeds

The owners of these breeds must register with the state, and obtain a dog handling licence. Permission to continue to own one of these dogs will be granted if the dog has shown no evidence of aggression towards people, game, livestock, cats and other dogs for more than 3 years. The dog can only be exercised by a person over 18 years, and must wear a leash and muzzle at all times.

Cat.1 dogs, and those who have shown aggression, cannot be bred from under any circumstances. My understanding of the regulations is that if you can show your dog is of no danger to the public, you may be exempted from the muzzle/leash requirement.

Cat.3) Any dog over 40cm/20kg.

Cat.3 dogs should be on a leash in built up areas, and will be moved up to Cat.2 if they show any aggression. We're going to have to wait to see what the final regulations are. 

The entire country of Germany has officially banned the following breeds: Pitbull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier and the Staffordshire Terrier. Those now in the country can be exported out. Any dogs that remain, must take a state run temperament test. If passed: spayed/neutered. If failed: euthanasia.

If you are caught breeding or buying one of these breeds, a $50,000 fine and six months jail term are imposed. The Bull Terrier is on this list in some parts of Germany as well, including the Miniature BT. In other parts, the BT must pass the temperament test (which is 3 hours long and videotaped, at a cost of $500.00 per dog) If the dog passes, the animal may be used in a breeding program, as long as the breeder is a member of the VDH. If failed: euthanasia.

The Minister of the Interior for our area is going to try and separate the VDH breeders from those who breed without papers, which will save our breed. The final decision on this will come middle September. There is no fighting this in the courts. Hopefully, all of the emails, letters and faxes from around the world will help to exclude the Bull Terrier from extinction in parts of Germany. But we were warned...if another serious dog attack occurs where the injuries are life threatening or death occurs, then all of these breeds are finished. This includes the other breeds I mentioned last month (Doberman, Rottweiler, Mastiff, etc.)

One region of Germany has 16 breeds on their 'Forbidden List'. These laws are now before the politicians in Sweden, Italy and Spain. With the European Union in place, it is likely most of Europe will follow Germany's decision. It is a sad day for the registered breeders of the VDH. We cannot breathe a sigh of relief yet, the BT's fate is still hanging the air in some parts of the country. In other parts, it is over. There are a total of nearly 30 dog breeds on the A, B, C list. Some face extinction, others face severe limitations. It is a terrible day for dog owners and breeders nation-wide.

Rudi and Cathie Dettmar