Mobile dog school: process, duties and organisation
A mobile dog school trains where everyday life happens: at home, on walks or at meeting points. That often saves having your own ground, but not the permit. This page shows what stays the same, what changes and what to clarify with the authorities.
- You need the § 11 TierSchG permit even without a fixed ground
- Six steps to get started
- Plan travel and travel time properly
- Three open questions for your authorities
Fixed and mobile dog schools compared
| Aspect | Fixed dog school | Mobile dog school |
|---|---|---|
| Permit under § 11 TierSchG | Required | Also required |
| Training location | Own or leased ground | Homes, meeting points or rented areas |
| Typical costs | Lease, fencing, weather protection, maintenance | Vehicle and kilometres |
| Typical offer | Groups and courses on the ground | Private and everyday training; groups depending on location |
| Scheduling | Sessions can follow one another directly | Allow for travel time between sessions |
This is the typical split, and many schools combine both. The full process is in the guide Starting a dog school, and the proof required is under Permit under § 11 TierSchG.
Six steps to a mobile dog school
Permit first
Clarify your expertise with the veterinary office and describe in the application where you want to train. Allow at least six months: the statutory period is four months and can be extended by up to two; missing documents do not count towards it.
Define your service area
How far will you travel, and what does it cost? A clear area saves travel time and keeps your travel rule simple.
Clarify training locations
Check the usage rules and the safety for dogs at each location. For regular training, a written agreement with the owners is worthwhile.
Business and insurance
Register the business and ask your liability insurer about work at changing locations and the care of other people's dogs.
Calculate prices including travel time
Build travel time into your hourly rate or show it as a travel charge. Otherwise every trip is unpaid work.
Organisation on the go
Appointments, dog details and billing should be at hand on your phone, because you have no office between two sessions.
Travel: how others handle it
Three public dog school price lists show how much this can vary. These are examples, not market values.
- €0.40 per kilometre from the 16th kilometre
- Free up to 25 km one way, then €1.00 per kilometre
- €1.50 per kilometre, there and back
How to work out your hourly rate is under Calculating prices. What dog owners compare when booking is shown in What does a dog school cost?
An example of conditions
The fact sheet of the Darmstadt-Dieburg veterinary office lists possible conditions for dog trainers. Other offices may handle this differently.
- Changes to address, training ground and scope of activity must be reported in writing without delay
- The training ground needs a non-slip surface, shade in summer and an adequate water supply
- Equipment, fencing and training aids must not pose a risk of injury
- Prong collars, electric shock devices and choke collars without a stop are prohibited
Open questions you should clarify
What does your office require for changing locations?
We did not find a nationwide rule. Ask your veterinary office whether it wants to see locations in advance and whether you must report new ones.
Does itinerant trade apply to you?
With sessions booked in advance, the wording of § 55 GewO speaks against it. Your trade office gives the binding answer.
May you train at this location?
Rules for public land differ from municipality to municipality. Commercial training may need its own permit, such as a special use permit. Ask the municipality before offering groups there.
What PfotenCard handles on the go
PfotenCard is not built specifically for mobile schools, but these features help especially if you are on the road a lot. Chat and offline mode are available from the Solo plan, trips from Team or as an add-on to Solo.
Let customers book private sessions
You create sessions directly for customers, or publish free slots they book themselves.
Attendance even without signal
You tick off attendance with a tap. Without a connection this continues in offline mode using the most recently loaded data and syncs later.
Log trips
Record mileage with the reason, saved routes fill in by themselves, as a PDF for your tax office. From Team or as an add-on to Solo.
Chat without private numbers
Customers message you in the app without you having to share phone numbers.
Frequently asked questions
- What is a mobile dog school?
- A dog school that trains where everyday life happens: at customers' homes, on walks or at agreed meeting points. The term is not defined by law, and every school interprets it a little differently.
- Does a mobile dog school need a permit?
- Yes, if you commercially train dogs for third parties or instruct owners in doing so. § 11 TierSchG makes no distinction based on whether you have a fixed ground. You may only start once the permit has been granted.
- Do I need my own training ground?
- The law does not state an obligation to have your own ground. However, the premises and facilities used for your work are also examined, and the permit can refer to them. So describe precisely in your application where you want to train, and ask your veterinary office in advance.
- Do I need an itinerant trade licence?
- That is a question for your trade office. Under § 55 GewO, itinerant trade requires that you act without a prior order. If customers book you in advance, that speaks against it. Anyone offering services without an appointment should get this clarified.
- How do I charge for travel?
- There are often free kilometres and then a price per kilometre. Set a clear rule and state it in your price list. Also consider travel time, because you cannot train during it.
- Is group training possible without your own ground?
- That depends on the location. On public land, leash requirements and rules of use may apply, and commercial training may also need its own permit. On private land you need the owners' consent. Clarify this locally and agree the locations with your veterinary office.
Sources
All online sources accessed on 5 November 2026.
- § 11 German Animal Welfare Act
- § 21 Animal Welfare Act, transitional rule on expertise
- § 55 German Trade Regulation Act, itinerant trade
- Darmstadt-Dieburg veterinary office: fact sheet for dog trainers (as of 5 April 2023)
This page is general guidance and does not replace legal or tax advice. The information from your local authorities is binding.
Your dog school fits in your pocket
Customers, dogs, appointments and credit in one place, with a customer app. The Free plan stays free for up to 25 active customers; chat, offline mode and your own branding are available from Solo.