Where in Germany does the breeding and setting time apply?
Dogs must be kept on a leash: where does it apply and what are the regulations?
In some federal states, dog owners have special obligations to leash their four-legged friends during the breeding and mating season.
© Source: Andrea Warnecke/dpa
Hanover. On April 1st, the so-called breeding and setting time begins in Germany. Birds hatch their eggs and many wild animals give birth to their young. In order not to endanger the offspring, the so-called leash obligation applies in some federal states. For dog owners, this means in some places that they are not allowed to let their dog run free when going for walks or walks. Violations are subject to fines.
However, the leash obligation does not apply everywhere during the breeding and settling season. In addition, there are sometimes separate regulations on dog walking at municipal level. An overview.
Is there a uniform leash requirement for dogs in Germany?
Since there is no federal law on leashing dogs, each federal state regulates dog walking itself. As a result, there is no nationwide legal obligation to keep dogs on a leash. In most cases, the regulations are laid down in the respective dog, forest and landscape regulations of the federal states. In some cases, the municipalities also issue their own rules and requirements for dog owners in the region.
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Leash obligation: What are the penalties for violations?
Since there is no national regulation on the obligation to wear a leash in Germany, no general information can be given on the penalties for violations. Usually, however, a breach of the leash obligation is considered an administrative offense for which a fine of up to maximum 50,000 euros can be prescribed. The respective veterinary and regulatory authorities are usually responsible for monitoring the leash requirement.
List dogs: which dog breeds are considered dangerous?
Irrespective of the possible general regulations on the obligation to keep dogs on a leash, separate regulations for the handling of dangerous dogs apply in the respective dog laws of the federal states. These are so-called list dogs, which are classified as (potentially) dangerous by law and for which a separate security system applies. Colloquially, these are also referred to as fighting dogs.
The list dogs in Germany include the following breeds: staffordshire bull terrier, american staffordshire terrier, American Pit Bull Terriers and bull terrier. Crossbreeds with these dog breeds also belong to the list.
In which federal states is there a leash obligation?
Each federal state has corresponding state laws in which the regulations for walking dogs in public are laid down. As a rule, the question of the leash obligation is linked to certain points: For example, the areas in which the dogs are led (in and out of town) play a central role. There are separate regulations on the leash requirement for dangerous dogs (also called attack dogs) in all federal states.
The most important regulations for keeping non-dangerous dogs in all federal states are summarized below.
Leash compulsory in Baden-Württemberg
- No general leash obligation, but special regulations in individual communities
- In Stuttgart dogs must be kept on a short leash (1.5 meters) in public facilities, in pedestrian zones and underpasses, at bus stops, in crowds of people and on the “Neckardamm”.
- More information here
Leash compulsory in Bavaria
- No general leash obligation, but special regulations in individual communities
- Especially for large dogs and attack dogs, municipalities are granted the right to decide independently whether a leash is compulsory on public streets, squares and facilities.
- General provisions for keeping dogs in Bavaria are in Article 18 of the State Criminal and Ordinance Act (LStVG) fixed.
Leash compulsory in Berlin
- General leash obligation for all dog owners in the city center
- In pedestrian zones, shops, public buildings and means of transport, as well as at festivals, train stations and in large crowds, dogs must be kept on a leash no longer than one meter.
- In parks, green spaces and allotments, as well as on promenades and campsites, dogs must be kept on a leash no longer than two meters long.
- More information here
Leash compulsory in Brandenburg
- Nationwide, general leash obligation in pedestrian zones, shopping centers, administration buildings and public transport, parks, gardens and green spaces, in apartment buildings and stairwells, on access roads, sports fields and campsites as well as in large crowds (e.g. folk festivals, parades, public meetings)
- Dogs must be kept on a leash no longer than two meters long.
- Further information here
Leash compulsory in Bremen
- Dogs must be kept on a leash during the breeding and settling season from March 15th to July 15th
- Year-round leash obligation in many parks, pedestrian zones, shops and shopping centers, public transport and at public events
- More information here
Leash compulsory in Hamburg
- General leash obligation for dogs outside of your own property or building or apartment
- Dogs must be kept on a tear-resistant leash no longer than two meters: in shopping centres, pedestrian zones, main shopping areas, busy streets and squares, in large crowds and near schools, playgrounds, children’s and youth facilities
- Further information here
Leash compulsory in Hesse
- General leash obligation for dogs at gatherings and events of all kinds with a large number of people, in restaurants, public transport.
- Appropriate signage must be provided in public parks and open spaces for general use.
- More information here
Leashes compulsory in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
- Dogs must be kept on a leash when they are taken to meetings, parades, folk festivals, other public events and to places with large crowds of people, on public transport, sales outlets and zoos.
- There is usually no leash obligation on beaches, but you should always pay attention to the local signs for dog walking. The municipalities determine additional regulations themselves.
- More information here
Leash compulsory in Lower Saxony
- General leash obligation in the open countryside in the period from April 1st to July 15th (general breeding, setting and rearing season)
- Municipalities may set their own ordinances and extend the leash obligation in their area over time
- Further information here
Leash compulsory in North Rhine-Westphalia
- Dogs must be kept on a leash in pedestrian zones, main shopping areas and on streets and squares with comparable public traffic, in public parks, gardens and green areas including playgrounds, at public meetings, lifts, folk festivals and other events with large numbers of people, as well as in public buildings, schools and kindergartens.
- Further information here
Leash compulsory in Rhineland-Palatinate
- No general leash requirement for dogs. Individual cities and municipalities can issue their own regulations.
- In Mainz and Koblenz Dogs must be on a leash in public facilities, pedestrian zones and nature reserves.
Leash compulsory in Saarland
- No general leash obligation, but special regulations in nature reserves and individual municipalities
- Dogs must also be kept on a leash during the breeding and settling season from March 1st to June 30th. The federal state provides information on its site however, that dogs that “stay reliably in the area of the paths can be led unleashed”.
- Further information here
Leash compulsory in Saxony
- No general leash obligation, but special regulations in individual towns and communities
- Nature reserves and national parks can also enact their own rules for guiding dogs. In the Saxon Switzerland National Park, for example, it is forbidden to let dogs run off leash. There is an exception for hunting dogs that are licensed to hunt.
Leash compulsory in Saxony-Anhalt
- No general leash obligation, but special regulations in individual towns and communities
- In hall Dogs must be kept on a leash, for example on public roads, in facilities and facilities.
- Further information here
Leashes compulsory in Schleswig-Holstein
- Dogs must be kept on a leash in pedestrian zones, main shopping areas and on streets and squares with comparable public traffic, at public meetings, elevators, folk festivals and other events with crowds, in public parks, gardens and green spaces, in apartment buildings (in public spaces), in public Buildings and means of transport, in sports facilities as well as on tent and camping sites, in cemeteries, markets and trade fairs
- Further information here
Leash compulsory in Thuringia
- There is no general leash obligation in Thuringia, but special regulations, such as dog walking in pedestrian zones and playgrounds, can result from municipal ordinances.
- More information here
