Negative certificate for fighting dogs

The keeping of category 1 fighting dogs is not permitted in Munich. You need a negative certificate for dogs with suspected fighting dog characteristics.

Description

Special regulations apply to the keeping of highly aggressive and dangerous dogs. The Bavarian Fighting Dog Ordinance defines two categories:

Category 1: Fighting dogs These include the dog breeds Pit Bull, Bandog, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Tosa-Inu.

Category 2: Dogs with suspected fighting dog characteristics
This includes the dog breeds Alano, American Bulldog, Bullmastiff, Bull Terrier, Cane Corso, Dogo Argentino, Dogue de Bordeaux, Fila Brasileiro, Mastiff, Mastin Espanol, Mastino Napoletano, Perro de Presa Canario, Perro de Presa Mallorquin, Rottweiler.

  • Negative certificate for dogs younger than 18 months
    In the case of very young dogs, you will initially receive a temporary negative certificate on application. You must then submit the expert report as soon as the dog is 18 months old.
  • Negative certificate for dogs older than 18 months
    You submit an expert report on your dog. If this proves that the dog does not have any increased aggression or dangerous behaviour towards people or animals, we will issue a certificate (negative certificate). It is therefore not considered a fighting dog. The amount of dog tax due is then reduced from 800 to 100 euros per year.

Dogs must be kept on a lead:Owners of fighting dogs visiting Munich with their pets must keep their dogs on a lead at all times of the day and night in all public areas and on all public paths, streets and squares throughout the city. The leash must be tear-resistant and must not exceed a length of two metres. It must be securely fastened to the collar or harness so that the dog cannot slip out. Violations can be penalised with fines.

All incidents involving dangerous dogs (e.g. "dog bites human" or "dog bites dog") should be reported immediately to the police or the district administration department. You can use our form for a written report. State the place, time, people involved and witnesses to the incident and describe the exact course of events and the behaviour of the people involved.

Consequences of keeping unauthorised fighting dogs
If a fighting dog is kept without the required licence, a fine of up to 10,000 euros can be imposed. This also applies to category II dogs that do not have a valid negative certificate.

All incidents involving dangerous dogs (e.g. "dog bites human" or "dog bites dog") should be reported immediately to the police or the district administration department. You can use our form for a written report. State the place, time, people involved and witnesses to the incident and describe the exact course of events and the behaviour of the people involved.

Category 1 fighting dogs are generally not allowed to be kept in the city of Munich andyou need a negative certificate for category 2 dogs.Both also apply to crossbreeds with each other or with other dogs.

Required documents

For a negative certificate:

  • fully completed application form
  • two photos (front and side) of the dog
  • for dogs aged 18 months and over: an additional certificate from a publicly appointed and sworn canine expert

Duration & Costs

Fees

50 to 150 Euro

Questions & Answers

Recently, more and more new dog breeds have appeared on the market. These unrecognised breeds are often crosses of dogs from the two categories of fighting dogs mentioned above. The fact that the breed itself is not mentioned in the Fighting Dogs Ordinance is not sufficient to disprove that the dog belongs to one of the two categories.

Examples of the so-called modern breeds (not exhaustive):

Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog, Alaunt Bull, Alba Bull, Alpha Blue Blood Bulldog, American Bully, Australian Bulldog, Catahoula Bulldog, Exotic Bully, Hybrid Bull, Leavit Bulldog, Pocket Bully, Shorty Bull, Siam Bull, Tay Bull, Victorian Bulldog, XXL Bully.

The DNA tests are based on probability calculations. For a breed test in the laboratory to be one hundred per cent accurate, the gene markers of all dog breeds would have to be stored in the databases. In order for the evidence to be comparable and unshakeable in court, all companies/laboratories would have to be able to access the same database. However, this is currently not the case.

For this reason, DNA analyses are not suitable for the unequivocal identification of a specific breed (fighting dog category I, fighting dog category II, no fighting dog) and can therefore not be recognised by the district administration department.

Legal basis

  • Bavarian Ordinance on Dogs with Increased Aggressiveness and Dangerousness (Fighting Dogs Ordinance)
  • Ordinance of the City of Munich on the free movement of large dogs and fighting dogs (Dog Ordinance)
  • State Penal and Ordinance Act (LStVG)
  • Ordinance on exceptions to the ban on the movement and import of dangerous dogs into Germany (HundVerbrEinfVO)
  • Law on the restriction of the movement or import of dangerous dogs into the country (HundVerbrEinfG)

Landeshauptstadt München

Kreisverwaltungsreferat (KVR)
Hauptabteilung I Sicherheit und Ordnung, Prävention
Allgemeine Gefahrenabwehr

Internet

Postal address

Landeshauptstadt München
Kreisverwaltungsreferat (KVR)
Hauptabteilung I Sicherheit und Ordnung, Prävention
Allgemeine Gefahrenabwehr

Ruppertstr. 19
80466 München

Fax: +49 89 233-45665

Address

Ruppertstr. 19
80466 München

Get in touch with us

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