question regarding dogs in Germany
 

One for the German Fodorites, or anyone who knows the answer really.

Now we have joined the ranks of campervan owners we will hopefully be getting to see more of Germany. The intention is to take the pooch with us. He is a big dog - 65 cm, 30kgs, and I have read that he must be muzzled in Germany. Is that the case? He has never worn a muzzle, and now he is 12 he's getting a bit old to learn to wear one.
I know he must be restrained in the vehicle, and that isn't a problem, but can you tell me the law for muzzling dogs please.l

Thanks

It depends what kind of dog it is, which you didn't mention. Certain breeds are considered dangerous and must be muzzled in certain places.

Raisin was never muzzled in Germany, but she was a 13 kg English cocker, not likely to frighten children or other dogs. When we spent an extended time in the Ruhr valley, we saw very few muzzled dogs. A lady down the street had a Rottie/pitbull cross and he was never muzzled.

I did see a few signs about dogs being muzzled in certain places, but in those, most owners chose to obey the letter rather than the spirit of the law. Yes, their dogs had muzzles, but just loosely attached to their collars. Technically, they were wearing a muzzle, but not as the rules intended. (I also see this a lot on the Vienna ubahn.)

Thanks. The site I looked at said any dog over 50cm has to be muzzled.
Maybe I will buy one and have it handy just in case.

Timber is a Garafiano, which is a rare breed from La Palma, but I know there are some in Germany, all rescues, like Timber.

Good luck! I'm glad Raisin never had to be muzzled, she would have been highly insulted and it probably would have been difficult to get her used to it. If your old boy is friendly (but politely so rather than overly enthusiastic), quiet and well-behaved, you might be able to get by without one, but have one just in case.

I'm not a dog owner, so no certain advice from my side.

But as far as I know there's not German-wide law but it's regulated by the states or cities which means that the laws differ widely.

There are some situations, as riding in a train, when all dogs need to be muzzled if not in a transport box. There are also breeds which always need to be muzzled when outside. This isn't really depending on the size of the dog though size will probably be relevant on the enforcement of wearing a muzzle when for example riding a train.

Thanks Hans, I think we will buy a muzzle, just in case we need it. They aren't expensive, so it can stay in the camper. It won't be easy to get a 12 year old dog to accept it, so hopefully we won't actually need it.

Looking forward to spending some time exploring Germany :).

"There are some situations, as riding in a train, when all dogs need to be muzzled if not in a transport box."

This rule is not enforced stringently, if at all, in my experience. Raisin rode trains up and down and across Germany (from ICEs to local commuter lines). I've been on many other trains in Germany with dogs and did not see any with muzzles and only very small dogs in carriers.

Nonetheless, you never know whether a conductor will decide to enforce the rule, so it's always good to have the muzzle and the dog trained to wear it, however reluctantly.

In Germany, things are always complicated. The regulations for dogs differ between the Länder, so in Bavaria you have other (more relaxed) rules than in (Prussian) Berlin. Also, every public transport corporation has its own rules, but I understand you are travelling with your campervan.

Generally, only the socalled "fighting dog" races have to be muzzled in public, these are Pit-Bulls, American Staffordshire Terrier, Bullterrier, Mastiffs. Size of the dog does not count, since many very large dogs are gentle.

I have browsed some dog-owners forums. Even if there are regulations, they are rarely enforced.

However, if you are from the Netherlands, I would be careful to take your dog without a muzzle to a football game in Germany, at least if you wear orange coloured clothes.

Generally, only the socalled "fighting dog" races have to be muzzled in public, these are Pit-Bulls, American Staffordshire Terrier, Bullterrier, Mastiffs. Size of the dog does not count, since many very large dogs are gentle.>

Man I saw a dog fight to the death or would have been had their two masters not separated them in a Cochem campground - two dobermans - mouths locked on each other and twisting and falling all over - I see the reason for muzzles on certain breeds.

Don't know about the muzzle but ... a friend had a wonderful little dog, maybe a poodle-puli mix, who did circus tricks. He never had him on a leash. One day he looked around and called the dog's name. Finally saw him being walked away on a leash. Guess some Germans are out there looking for attractive pooches leash in hand. Our friend, TG, got him back.