Dog training for protection purposes, authorisation (protection dog training)

A licence is required under the Animal Welfare Act to train dogs to protect third parties.
Dogs are trained for protection purposes if they are trained to protect people or property, in particular buildings.

This is the case when dogs are trained in accordance with the examination regulations for protection dogs of the German Kennel Club (VDH) in the current version or in accordance with comparable criteria or when training service dogs of the police, customs, the German Armed Forces or private security services.

Training for third parties exists if the trained dog is given to other persons or the training is carried out on behalf of the animal owner.

These requirements are not met if the dog training is carried out in dog sports clubs with the involvement of the dog owner.

The professional knowledge and skills required for the activity are generally assumed if the person responsible

• has completed state-recognised or other training or further training that qualifies them to handle the animal species to which the activity relates, or
• has the specialist knowledge required for the activity due to their previous professional or other contact with animals.

In the case of facilities for guard dog training that are demonstrably operated in accordance with the regulations applied by the Verband für das Deutsche Hundewesen e. V. or its affiliated member organisations in the currently valid versions, the required knowledge and skills of the person responsible must be assumed.

The responsible person must be reliable. Reliability can be assumed if the person is known to the authority and there are no facts that give rise to doubts about their reliability with regard to animal welfare.

If these requirements are not met, the authority must check the necessary reliability, in particular taking into account any criminal or fine proceedings. To this end, it may request the person responsible for the activity to apply for a certificate of good conduct and, if a decision is to be made on the granting of a licence to carry out a commercial activity or other economic enterprise, information from the central trade register for submission to it.

Reliability is generally not given if the person has been convicted of a felony or misdemeanour in the 5 years prior to the application, which has shown a lack of reliability with regard to the breeding or keeping of animals or the trade in animals. The latter also applies if the person has been fined for administrative offences under the Animal Welfare Act.

Other legal offences, e.g. against animal disease law, species protection law and the police and regulatory law of the federal states, can also constitute a lack of reliability.

A lack of reliability can also be assumed if the financial basis for the proper management of the business is clearly insufficient.

The premises and facilities for carrying out the activity must allow for the species-appropriate feeding, care and accommodation of the animals kept.