A permit is required to keep a dangerous dog.

The Act on the Restriction of the Movement or Import of Dangerous Dogs into Germany (HundVerbrEinfG) has established an import and movement ban for certain dog breeds at federal level. These are dogs of the breeds :

• Pit bull terriers,
• American Staffordshire terriers,
• Staffordshire Bull Terrier,
• bull terriers
• and their crosses with each other or with other dogs.

Dogs of other breeds and their cross-breeds with each other or with other dogs that are suspected of being dangerous according to the regulations of the country in which the dog is to be kept permanently may not be imported or brought into this country from abroad in accordance with Section 2 HundVerbrEinfG.