Proof of competence: Berlin
Is proof of competence required, and for whom? This is what the official source says for Berlin, with the date checked.
sourcedchecked on 28 October 2026
Summary
Owners of listed dogs; voluntary for everyone else
The rule
A dog licence is voluntary in Berlin; with the certificate of competence, the dog can be exempted from the general leash requirement. Competent is anyone who passes the competence test at an approved body or who, for example, has kept a dog for three years in the last five years without complaint; the certificate is issued by the public order office of the district of residence. For listed dogs, proof of competence is compulsory.
Source
Land Berlin, berlin.de (Senatsverwaltung, Verbraucherschutz): FAQ Hundegesetz
checked on 28 October 2026
Proof of competence in the other federal states
- Baden-Württemberg
- Bavaria
- Brandenburg
- Bremen
- Hamburg
- Hesse
- Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
- Lower Saxony
- North Rhine-Westphalia
- Rhineland-Palatinate
- Saarland
- Saxony
- Saxony-Anhalt
- Schleswig-Holstein
- Thuringia
Dog rules Berlin: all six topicsProof of competence in all federal states
No guarantee
As of: 28 October 2026. The official text alone is authoritative. Source and date checked per row.
Not legal advice. We summarise the rules in plain language. This is a guide and does not replace information from the competent authority.
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