Apply for refutation of the presumed fighting dog status

Dogs of the following breeds are considered to be particularly dangerous and aggressive:

• American Staffordshire Terrier,
• Bull Terrier and
• Pit Bull Terrier.

They are therefore presumed to be fighting dogs. This also applies to crossbreeds with each other or with other dogs.

In addition, fighting dog status can be officially determined in individual cases, especially for dogs of the following breeds and their crosses with each other or with other dogs:

• Mastiff, Bullmastiff,
• Staffordshire Bullterrier,
• Dogo Argentino,
• Bourdeaux Mastiff,
• Fila Brasileiro,
• Mastin Espanol,
• Mastino Napoletano,
• Tosa Inu.

These dogs are regularly identified if there are signs of increased aggression or dangerousness, for example after a biting incident.

Please note: According to § 1 Paragraph 1 of the Fighting Dogs Ordinance, any other dog of a non-listed breed with individually increased aggression and dangerousness towards humans or animals can also be categorised as a fighting dog in individual cases.

If you wish to keep a dog that is suspected or officially recognised as a fighting dog, you require a licence to keep a fighting dog.

The licence requirement does not apply if the presumption of fighting dog status is refuted.

A behavioural test is an important basis for deciding whether the fighting dog status has been refuted.

Note: If your dog has passed the behavioural test once, but proves to be increasingly aggressive and dangerous at a later date, it is irrefutably considered a fighting dog.