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How do I insure a listed dog breed in Germany?

In short

A listed dog (Listenhund), a breed your federal state presumes to be dangerous, needs dog liability insurance that expressly accepts its breed. Many tariffs refuse listed dogs, the rest charge surcharges: about EUR 100 to 300 a year is usual, instead of EUR 40 to 80 for other dogs. Most states make this insurance mandatory, often plus proof of expertise, a police certificate or a temperament test.

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How do I insure a listed dog breed in Germany?

What it costs

Guide figures from published premium information for dog liability insurance for listed dogs.

Example	Typical range
Dog without listed status, for comparison	about EUR 40 to 80 a year
Listed dog, usual range depending on federal state	about EUR 100 to 300 a year
Listed dog, quoted average	about EUR 15 a month, around EUR 180 a year
Listed dog with a passed temperament test	often in the lower half of the range, about EUR 100 to 180 a year

Guide values as of September 2026. The figure for listed dogs with a passed temperament test is a guide value from our quoting practice. Your premium depends on breed, federal state, cover and deductible; we obtain the exact quote for you.

Worked example

American Staffordshire Terrier in North Rhine-Westphalia, temperament test passed

This is what sensible cover looks like when the tariff expressly accepts the breed.

Breed in the application	stated exactly, not disguised as a crossbreed
Sum insured	EUR 10 million
Deductible	none or EUR 150
Damage to rented property and third-party sitters	included
Premium	about EUR 100 to 180 a year

Around EUR 8 to 15 a month. Without a passed temperament test rather up to EUR 300 a year.

What makes a dog a listed dog

Listenhund is not a term from a federal law. Each of Germany's federal states decides which breeds it presumes to be dangerous. Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Lower Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein and Thuringia have no breed list; there only the behaviour of the individual dog counts.

Several states, such as Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Hamburg and North Rhine-Westphalia, distinguish two groups: for the first, the dangerousness cannot be disproved; for the second, you can disprove it with a passed temperament test (Wesenstest). The lists often apply to crossbreeds in the same way.

In addition, a nationwide import ban applies to four breeds and their crosses. If you want to bring such a dog with you from abroad, it will not be allowed across the border.

Why insurance is harder than for other dogs

Insurers calculate by breed, and listed breeds are treated across the board as a higher risk, even if your dog has never caused trouble. The result: some tariffs exclude listed dogs, others charge clear surcharges.

Honestly, the price is secondary here. What matters more is that the tariff expressly accepts your dog with its breed. A policy where the breed was stated wrongly or not at all can be worthless in a claim.

Situation	What to expect
Dog without listed status	EUR 40 to 80 a year, free choice of tariff
Listed dog, tariff accepts it	about EUR 100 to 300 a year
Listed dog with a passed temperament test	sometimes rated cheaper, not in all tariffs
Dog classified as dangerous after a bite incident	accepted only after review, sometimes refused
Moving to a state without a breed list	premium often stays, because the insurer calculates by breed

What the states require besides insurance

Depending on the state, further conditions apply: proof of expertise (Sachkundenachweis), a police certificate of good conduct (Führungszeugnis), lead or muzzle rules, a permit from the authority and a higher dog tax. In Bavaria, for example, a permit for the first group is rarely granted.

The exact obligations are in the dog law or regulation of your state. Ask the local public order office (Ordnungsamt) before you buy or bring the dog, because some conditions apply from day one.

Lead and muzzle rules: what happens if you ignore them

Breaking official conditions is first of all a matter for a fine. Whether the insurer still pays in full after a loss depends on the tariff. Make sure a breach of lead or muzzle rules does not cost you cover towards the injured person.

The sum insured should not be tied to the state minimum. A single serious personal injury with lost earnings and long-term care can cost several million euros.

When you do not need a special tariff

If your dog is neither a listed breed nor a listed crossbreed, you do not need a listed dog tariff, even if it is large or powerful. You then pay the normal premium.

With a crossbreed of unclear origin it is still worth checking: what counts is what is stated in the pet passport and with the authority, not how the dog looks.

Step by step

Check the dog law of your federal state to see whether the breed is listed and in which group.
Clarify the conditions: permit, proof of expertise, police certificate, temperament test.
Only compare tariffs that expressly accept the breed.
State the breed and any known incidents fully in the application.
Choose cover of at least EUR 10 million.
Keep the insurance confirmation ready for the authority.

Checklist

Breed expressly named in the policy
Cover of at least EUR 10 million
No loss of cover towards injured persons after a breach of lead or muzzle rules
Damage to rented property included
Private dog sitters covered
Passed temperament test submitted to the insurer

Common mistakes

Listing the dog as a crossbreed without stating the breed
Choosing only the state minimum as cover
Not checking the new conditions after moving to another federal state
Believing personal liability insurance also covers the dog

Questions and answers

Frequently asked

Does every insurer accept a listed dog?

No. Some tariffs exclude listed breeds. Check before applying whether your breed is expressly named.

Does a temperament test lower the premium?

Sometimes. Some tariffs rate the dog cheaper after a passed test, others keep calculating by breed. Submit the certificate in any case.

Is a crossbreed of a listed breed also a listed dog?

In many states yes, the lists often include crosses. The rule of your federal state is what counts.

Will my premium fall if I move to a state without a breed list?

Not automatically. Many insurers calculate by breed, not by state law. Comparing after the move is still worth it.

What happens if I do not state the breed in the application?

The insurer can withdraw from the policy or reduce payment because of false information. In a serious case you are then liable with your own assets.

Can I bring a listed dog with me from abroad?

For Pit Bull, American Staffordshire, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Bull Terrier and their crossbreeds a nationwide import ban applies in Germany.

Is the minimum cover my state requires enough?

For the authority yes, for your own protection rarely. Serious personal injuries quickly exceed such sums.

Sources

NAMMERT insurance broker

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