Keeping a pet in Germany is not a cheap pleasure
As Deutsche Welle notes, there is no single nationwide law regulating the rules for keeping and walking dogs throughout Germany. Some rules apply nationwide, others only in certain federal states or individual cities.
Bavaria, for example, does not require dog owners to always keep their pets on a leash. In Hamburg, on the contrary, it is forbidden to let dogs off leash on streets and in parks – only on specially designated 'dog lawns'.
True, if the owner of a small dog has obtained the so-called 'dog walking license' (Hundeführerschein), they are exempt from the obligation to always walk their pet on a leash everywhere. The 'license' is issued after successfully passing an exam at a canine club, where the dog must demonstrate that it is capable of performing all necessary commands. This does not apply to all dog breeds. Fighting dogs, for example, must always be kept on a leash in the city, and in some German cities they can only be walked wearing muzzles.
Similar 'dog walking licenses' exist in many federal states, but requirements for their holders vary from region to region. In Schleswig-Holstein, for example, everyone who decides to get a four-legged pet of a potentially dangerous breed must obtain such a 'card' confirming that its owner has the necessary knowledge and skills for keeping a dog.
In most German cities, it is forbidden to let any dogs off leash in certain places. At the entrance to shops, you can often see a sign: 'Dogs must wait outside.' But even if this sign is absent, appearing with a dog without a leash in stores is prohibited. And not only in stores, but also in public transport, on the grounds of hospitals, kindergartens, schools, universities, at places of folk festivals and large gatherings of people, as well as on green areas.
In some regions, the ban on walking dogs without a leash applies at certain times even in rural areas, when dogs may disturb wildlife. Violating all these rules can result in a fine of up to 600 euros. This amount is not just theoretical: fines are often imposed on owners.
Among Germans, there is a widespread opinion that dogs should be walked exclusively on a leash. Almost every second participant in a survey conducted by the opinion research institute YouGov believes that dogs should be kept on a leash everywhere except specially designated 'dog lawns'.
All dog owners in Germany, unlike owners of cats, rabbits and other pets, are subject to a special tax. Its amount depends on the dog's height and weight, breed, and region of residence. For example, in Cologne the dog tax is 150 euros per year, keeping several dogs in the eastern German city of Cottbus costs 270 euros, and the Bavarian town of Starnberg on the shores of the lake of the same name charges its wealthy residents an annual tax of 1000 euros. And that's not all, of course. The dog must be fed, vaccinated as required, and so on. In short, it's not a cheap pleasure.