The permit under § 11 TierSchG
Without this permit, nobody in Germany may commercially train dogs or instruct dog owners. It therefore comes at the start of every dog school founding. This page explains what the veterinary office requires and how the procedure works.
- Legal basis: § 11 (1) sentence 1 no. 8 letter f TierSchG
- Three requirements: expertise, reliability, premises
- Expert interview usually only without a formal qualification
- Processing deadline four months, extendable by two months
What the law requires
§ 11 (1) sentence 1 no. 8 letter f of the German Animal Welfare Act makes the commercial training of dogs and the instruction of their owners subject to a permit. This refers to an activity carried out on a self-employed, planned, ongoing basis with the intention of making a profit.
Expertise
Knowledge of the biology and behaviour of dogs, species-appropriate keeping, health, learning behaviour, welfare-compliant training methods and the relevant legal provisions.
Reliability
There must be no facts that give rise to doubts about your reliability with regard to animal welfare. It's usual to submit a police certificate of good conduct.
Premises
For schools with a fixed location: escape-proof fencing, injury-free equipment, weather shelter and water supply. Mobile dog schools don't need a fixed ground.
How the procedure works
The process is similar nationwide; your veterinary office decides the details.
Submit the application
In writing to the responsible veterinary office – informally or on the authority's form. In it, you set out your expertise, prove your reliability and describe the premises.
Enclose documents
Usually a CV, proof of training and professional experience, a description of the activity and premises, and a police certificate of good conduct.
Case-by-case assessment
The authority assesses whether your qualification is sufficient. There's no uniform nationwide list of recognised qualifications – decisions are made case by case.
Expert interview
Usually required if there's no completed relevant training or further education. It mostly consists of a theoretical and a practical part and can be waived if you have a proven qualification.
Decision
The permit is granted, often with conditions – for example on group size, the equipment of the ground or documentation.
Frequently asked questions about the permit
- Who needs the permit under § 11 TierSchG?
- A permit is required by anyone who commercially trains dogs for third parties or instructs their owners – so practically every dog school and every behaviour consultancy. Commercially means: self-employed, planned, ongoing and with the intention of making a profit. The person who runs the business needs the permit; employed trainers don't need their own.
- What proof does the veterinary office require?
- Three things: expertise, reliability and – for schools with a fixed location – suitable premises. Expertise covers the biology and behaviour of dogs, keeping, health, learning behaviour, welfare-compliant training methods and the relevant legal provisions.
- How do I prove my expertise?
- Either through a completed qualification with an exam – such as animal keeper, veterinary assistant, Hundefachwirt (IHK) or “Hundeerzieher und Verhaltensberater (IHK)” – or through many years of practical professional experience. Case law has confirmed that decades of experience must also be recognised. Without a formal qualification, the route is usually an expert interview.
- How does the expert interview work?
- It takes place at the responsible veterinary office and is usually divided into a theoretical and a practical part. What's tested is whether you actually have the expertise – not whether you can show a particular certificate. If you have a proven formal qualification, the interview may be waived.
- How long does the procedure take?
- The authority is supposed to process the application within four months; this deadline can be extended by two months. In practice, the duration depends heavily on the office and on availability of dates for the expert interview. Plan your start-up with enough lead time.
- Are there differences between the federal states?
- Yes, and significant ones. The law is the same nationwide, but implementation is up to the federal states and the individual veterinary authorities. Requirements for documents, the expert interview procedure and fees differ. Only your responsible veterinary office can give you binding information.
- Who is exempt from the permit requirement?
- Vets who offer behavioural therapy as part of their freelance practice don't need a separate permit. Nor do employed trainers – in that case, the business management holds the permit.
What comes next
With the permit in hand, business registration, insurance and the question of what a training session has to cost follow. We've written about both separately.
Note: This page reflects publicly available information and is not legal advice. The implementation of § 11 TierSchG differs considerably between the federal states and individual veterinary authorities. Only the information from your responsible veterinary office is binding.
Once you have the permit, the admin begins
Customers, dogs, vaccination records, appointments and credit in one place – apply for beta access.