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Who pays if my dog bites another dog in Germany?

In short

If my dog bites another dog in Germany, my dog liability insurance pays the other dog's vet bills, even above the dog's value. Because both dogs usually contribute in a fight, costs are often split, not rarely 50:50. Your own dog's vet bill is never paid by your own liability insurance; you pay it or your dog health or surgery insurance does.

Who pays if my dog bites another dog in Germany?

What it costs

Premiums for dog liability insurance and typical vet bills after dog fights.

ExampleTypical range
Basic tariff with deductiblefrom about EUR 35 a year
No deductible, EUR 10 million coverabout EUR 50 to 70 a year
Premium tariff with high coverabout EUR 100 to 150 a year
Treating a bite wound at the vetabout EUR 150 to 600
Surgery after a serious fightabout EUR 1,000 to 3,000

Premiums are guide values as of October 2026 from published tariff examples.

Vet costs are guide values from our quoting practice; we obtain the exact quote for you.

Worked example

Fight in the park, both dogs off the lead

Your Labrador and a terrier get into a fight. The terrier needs stitches, your Labrador has a bite on the ear.

Vet for the terrierEUR 1,200
Vet for the LabradorEUR 400
50:50 split: your insurer paysEUR 600 to the terrier owner
Terrier owner's insurer paysEUR 200 to you

The terrier owner bears EUR 600, you bear EUR 200 without dog health insurance. The amounts are guide values from our quoting practice.

Your dog injures another dog

When your dog bites another dog, German law treats it like damage to property: animals are not things, but the rules for things apply to them (section 90a BGB). As keeper you are liable under section 833 BGB even without fault. Your dog liability insurance takes over the claim.

One special rule helps the other owner: under section 251 (2) BGB the cost of treating an injured animal is not excessive just because it is much higher than the animal's value.

Why only part is often paid

When two dogs fight, the animal hazard (Tiergefahr) of both dogs is at work. The Federal Court of Justice has ruled that the other owner must count their own dog's share. Your insurer then pays only your share.

There is no fixed rate. Who attacked, the size of the dogs and whether one was on a lead all count. If it cannot be clarified, a split is common. See our page on why only 50 percent is paid.

SituationTypical result
Your dog attacks a leashed dogyour share high, often all
Both off the lead, unclear causeoften split
Other owner made a mistaketheir share rises
Large dog against a very small doglarge dog's share usually higher

Who pays for your own dog

Your own liability insurance never pays for your dog. The other owner's insurer pays their share. The rest is yours unless you have dog health or surgery insurance.

If a person is bitten while separating the dogs

If the other owner steps in and is bitten, that is a personal injury with treatment and pain and suffering. Contributory fault under section 254 BGB can reduce the claim.

What to do after the incident

Exchange names, addresses and insurance details, note witnesses and take photos. Report the incident to your insurer even if you think the other dog started it.

Step by step

  1. Separate the dogs without reaching between their jaws.
  2. Take the other owner's details and insurer.
  3. Photograph injuries and the place, note witnesses.
  4. Report to your dog liability insurer.
  5. Keep vet bills and send each to the right insurer.

Checklist

  • Dog liability without a high deductible
  • Dog health or surgery insurance considered
  • Insurance details with you on walks
  • Local lead rules known
  • Reliable recall

Common mistakes

  • Promising the other owner full payment
  • Sending your own vet bill to your own liability insurer
  • Leaving without the other owner's details
  • Accepting a split without checking the reasons

Questions and answers

Frequently asked

Does my insurance pay if my dog started it?

Yes, for the damage to the other dog.

Who started affects the split.

Do I get my own dog's costs back?

Only the other owner's share through their insurer.

Must a costly vet be paid for a cheap dog?

Yes, section 251 (2) BGB says treatment costs are not excessive just because they exceed the dog's

value.

What if the other owner has no insurance?

They are liable with their own money; you have to pursue them yourself.

Is a puppy covered the same way?

Yes, if the puppy is included in your policy.

Check from when puppies are covered.

Sources

NAMMERT insurance broker

Request a quote: Dog and horse liability

We compare insurers and come back to you, in English.

Free; the insurer pays our fee.

1Who is it for?
2Which insurance?

Choose as many as you like. For each one, the details an insurer needs for a quote appear below.

Personal

Business

3Details

Dog and horse liability insurance in Germany (Tierhalterhaftpflicht)

For example Labrador, mixed breed about 20 kg, leisure horse

For example horse sharer, dog sports, dog walker, moving from abroad

4Your current policy
5How can we reach you?

Related questions

Your broker: Norman Nammert, trading as NAMMERT.

Insurance broker licensed under section 34d(1) of the German Trade Regulation Act.

Broker register no. D-C08Q-TOSD4-37.

NAMMERT Assekuradeur GmbH is a separate company.

It does not arrange your contract.

Statutory disclosure (German) · Updated

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