A permit is required to keep a dangerous dog.

The Act on the Restriction of the Introduction or Import of Dangerous Dogs into Germany (HundVerbrEinfG) established a ban on the import and introduction of certain dog breeds at the federal level. These are dogs of the breeds:

• Pitbull Terrier,
• American Staffordshire Terrier,
• Staffordshire bull terrier,
• Bull terrier
• as well as their crosses with each other or with other dogs.

Dogs of other breeds as well as their crosses with each other or with other dogs, for which a danger is suspected according to the regulations of the country in which the dog is to be kept permanently, may not be imported or brought from abroad into this country according to § 2 HundVerbrEinfG.