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Insurance broker / Insurance questions / Dog and horse liability

Who pays if my dog bites a person in Germany?

In short

You as the keeper, even if you did nothing wrong. If my dog bites a person in Germany, I am liable under section 833 of the Civil Code for treatment, lost earnings and pain and suffering. Who pays in practice is your dog liability insurance (Hundehaftpflicht) up to the sum insured, usually EUR 10 million. Without it you pay yourself. If the person provoked the dog, the claim can be reduced.

Who pays if my dog bites a person in Germany?

What it costs

Premiums for dog liability insurance in Germany.

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
Listed breedoften EUR 150 a year and more

Guide values as of October 2026 from published tariff examples.

The listed breed figure and the amounts in the example are guide values from our quoting practice;

we obtain the exact quote for you.

Worked example

Dog bites a jogger in the calf

The dog jumps at a jogger on a field path and bites his calf. He is off work for two weeks and needs stitches.

Treatment, recovered by the health insurerabout EUR 800
Continued pay, recovered by the employerabout EUR 1,600
Pain and sufferingabout EUR 1,000 to 2,500
Running clothes at current valueabout EUR 80

In total about EUR 3,500 to 5,000. With dog liability insurance the insurer pays, without it you do. All amounts are guide values from our quoting practice.

Why you pay even without fault

Section 833 of the Civil Code (BGB) makes the keeper liable for harm caused by an animal. Whether the dog was on a lead, well trained or has never bitten before does not change the basic liability. The exception for working animals does not apply to a family dog.

A bite is therefore almost always a liability case. The open question is usually how much, not whether.

What the person bitten can claim

All consequences of the injury are covered, including pain and suffering (Schmerzensgeld) under section 253 (2) BGB.

ItemWhat it means
Treatmentdoctor, hospital, tetanus, scar care; health insurers can recover this from you under section 116 SGB X
Lost earningslost income; an employer can recover continued pay under section 6 EFZG
Pain and sufferingbased on severity, duration and consequences
Propertytorn clothes, broken glasses, at current value
Follow-up costshousehold help, travel, in severe cases a pension

What your dog liability insurance does

Under section 100 of the Insurance Contract Act a liability policy pays justified claims and fights unjustified ones. Report the bite at once and do not pay anything yourself. Admitting liability too early can make it harder to fight an inflated claim.

Bites to you or relatives living with you are not covered. That is a matter for your own health and accident insurance.

When the injured person gets less

If the person kicked, teased or touched the dog despite a warning, their contributory fault reduces the claim under section 254 BGB. How much depends on the case.

Your personal liability insurance does not cover dogs

German personal liability insurance (Privathaftpflicht) usually excludes dogs. You need a separate dog policy. Several federal states make it compulsory for every dog.

Without insurance you pay yourself

Without dog liability insurance you are liable with your income and savings. A child with facial scars or a fall with lasting damage can quickly cost five or six figures.

Step by step

  1. Give first aid and call an ambulance if needed.
  2. Exchange names and addresses, note witnesses.
  3. Report the bite to your insurer the same day.
  4. Do not admit liability or pay anything yourself.
  5. Have the dog's vaccination record ready.

Checklist

  • Dog liability cover of at least EUR 10 million
  • Policy number saved on your phone
  • Vaccination record up to date
  • Rules of your federal state checked
  • Other people walking the dog covered

Common mistakes

  • Handing the bitten person cash
  • Not reporting a small wound
  • Relying on personal liability insurance that excludes dogs
  • Not finding the vaccination record when the hospital asks

Questions and answers

Frequently asked

Who pays if my dog bites a child?

Your dog liability insurance, as with adults.

Pain and suffering for scars on a child's face is often higher.

Does insurance pay for a first bite?

Yes.

Liability does not depend on earlier incidents.

What if my dog bites someone in my family?

That is not a liability case.

Health insurance pays treatment, accident insurance any lasting harm.

Can the insurer refuse to pay?

Under section 103 VVG only if you caused the damage intentionally.

Breached policy obligations can lead to reductions.

What if the person asks for too much?

Your insurer fights the excessive part and pays the legal costs.

Sources

NAMMERT insurance broker

Request a quote: Dog and horse liability

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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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