Dogs in Germany – How to Adopt

Dogs in Germany – How to Adopt [2024 Guide]

You definitely do not want to leave your dog behind, so know about the German culture and laws of having a dog in Germany.

Pet Dog Historical Importance

Germans love to have dogs as their loving companion and pet. This is deep-rooted culture in the history of Germany. More than 20 famous dog breeds have arisen in Germany, which shows that dogs has contributed to German society for centuries. Germany has registered more than 10.7 million dogs.

They are their favorite pet after cats and they prefer to bring their dogs in German cafés and restaurants. If you also want to bring yours, do not forget to confirm from the premise’s owner beforehand. Germany do not allow people to bring their dogs in Government institutions, bakeries, supermarkets, and children’s playgrounds. “Wir müssen draußen bleiben” sign is seen at these places which means stay outside if you have a dog with you.

Bring Your Dog to Germany

Your can bring your dog to Germany from other country but you must comply with the rules to do so. Rules regarding transportation of animals, both from EU and non-EU countries are applicable to both commercial and non-commercial reasons.

One of the rule is that you cannot bring more than 5 dogs per person and your dog must have;

  • A tattoo or microchip
  • An official dog passport or a veterinary certificate
  • Vaccination credential for immunization against rabies.
  • Blood test (after 30 days of rabies vaccination and 90 days before you enter Germany) if your dog is from Egypt, Thailand, Turkey, India, Pakistan, and Morocco

When bringing dog from other country, do not forget to check your airline if there are some additional rules or requirements such as the size of animal, sedation, pet containers, etc. 

Adopt a Dog in Germany

If you have no dog at the time of entering Germany but plan to adopt one after you enter Germany, be more careful because of the strict German laws.

Where?

Buy a legal and healthy dog from:

  1. Pet Shelter (Tierheim or Tierschutzverein) who connect the rescued animals with caring families and save them.
  2. Registered Breeder (Züchter, breeders) who enlist via German Dog Breeder Association (VDH) and sell dogs lawfully.
  3. Private Friend if your friend has a pregnant dog.

Where Not?

There is black market around the borders or online where puppies are poorly fed and taken prematurely from their mother dog. Illegal ways to buy a dog includes;

  • Strange advertisements online
  • Visits without the pet’s mother
  • Selling of pets on the street
  • No license or other proof of legal Report such activities if you see any;

Life With A Dog in Germany

According to law, it is allowed to have dog on a lease property, but it is good to get permission from your landlord. Your landlord will allow you to have a dog that have a legal and harmless breed. Some breeds are illegal in Germany which you can find here

Vet

Find a common veterinarian (Tierarzt) in advance so you might visit in case of emergency. You also need a veterinarian for yearly vaccination, poisoning, injuries, spaying, and flea prevention, etc. It is not mandatory to find a veterinarian in advance but it is good if you know one to cater to your pet’s health.

Public Transportation

There is no restriction to travel on public transportation with your pet. Whenever getting a ticket for you, ask about the ticket of your pet if it is required or not. The only requirement is that your dog must have a leash and muzzle and a few animals must be secured in carriers.

Pet Supplies

You will find a lot of offline and online pet stores in Germany to get pet supplies your pet need. To get the raw meat for your dog, you can find butchers for dogs (Hundemetzger).

Health Insurance

Insurance is always good to have to cover the losses. Your dog might get injured or sick, so have pet health insurance (Tierkrankenversicherung) for your dog to cover the expenses of big surgeries and standard operations. Get your dog registered at a reliable health insurance provider but remember it will not cover the vet visit charges. Insurance will also cover the procedures like castration, travel insurance, sickness treatments, etc.

Cost

The cost of pet health insurance is around 250 Euros per dog per year. Insurance providers such as Getsafe and Luka offer their plans at very reasonable prices. You can also register your pet for major surgeries and expensive treatments that costs you around 130 Euros which is called Operations­kosten­versicherung. 

Conclusion

During your initial days, you might find it difficult to live with a dog due to the rules and regulations in Germany, but soon, you will find is super easy to live with your dog in Germany. Get help from your friends or colleague if you are facing any issue or you can ask your queries at different social media groups. Do not forget to have required documents of your dog to save yourself from illegal activities. Follow the instruction from the Germany’s customs office, when moving to Germany with your dog.


Jibran Shahid

Jibran Shahid

Hi, I am Jibran, your Fellow Expat living in Germany since 2014, With my 10 years of experience, my aim is to bring you the well researched guides about life in Germany

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