Dog Competence Certificate in NRW, Germany: Rules for Large Dogs

Do you live in North Rhine-Westphalia with a Labrador, a German Shepherd or a mixed breed that will grow big? Then you need a competence certificate. The NRW Dog Act requires it for every large dog, regardless of breed. Here is who tests you, what is tested, who is exempt and what else you have to take care of.

Who needs the certificate in NRW?

Everyone who keeps a large dog. The law calls a dog large if, fully grown, it reaches at least 40 cm at the withers or at least 20 kg. Breed does not matter, and one of the two limits is enough.

If you are getting a puppy: what counts is the size of the adult dog. If your puppy belongs to a large breed or is a mix likely to cross one of the limits, take care of the certificate early.

Dangerous dogs and certain breeds have their own, stricter rules in NRW, including a permit requirement. This guide covers large dogs.

What you need besides the certificate

In NRW you may only keep a large dog if you can show the authority all of the following:

• Registration: you report the dog to the public order office (Ordnungsamt) of your town.
• Competence and reliability: you prove competence with the certificate. If there are doubts about your reliability, the authority can ask for a certificate of good conduct.
• Microchip: the dog needs a tamper-proof microchip.
• Liability insurance: it must cover at least 500,000 euros for personal injury and 250,000 euros for other damage.

On top of that, large dogs must be kept on a leash on public streets, paths and squares in built-up areas.

The law sets no fixed deadline. The authority can set one and prohibit keeping the dog if the proof is still missing. Keeping a large dog without registration or proof is an administrative offence with fines of up to 100,000 euros.

Who tests you and what is tested?

You can get the certificate from:

• the official vet (veterinary office of your district or city),
• recognised experts or expert bodies, recognised by the State Office for Consumer Protection and Food (LAVE), which publishes the list,
• vets designated by the veterinary chamber.

Tests by recognised experts are equivalent to those of the official vet. The assessment is an interview or a comparable written test. You show sufficient knowledge in five areas:

1. Social behaviour and body language of dogs and breed traits, for example dog body language
2. Keeping, feeding, biology and care
3. Recognising and assessing typical dangerous situations with dogs
4. Learning and training
5. Laws on handling dogs

If you fail, you may retake the test once, ideally within two months. The regulation does not require a practical test with your dog for large dogs.

The state does not set uniform fees. Examiners set their own prices, so ask in advance.

Who counts as competent automatically?

You do not need a test if you belong to one of these groups:

• vets
• holders of a hunting licence or people who passed the hunting exam
• holders of a permit under the Animal Welfare Act to breed, keep or trade dogs
• police dog handlers
• experts recognised by LAVE

If you move to NRW from another German state, your certificate from there may count. The law says it should be recognised if it essentially meets the NRW requirements. A certificate from Lower Saxony is a typical case. Your local public order office decides.

Will a licence for all dog owners come to NRW?

This is being debated. In March 2026 the SPD parliamentary group tabled a motion asking the state government for a concept for a competence certificate for all dog keepers. It was presented with dog trainer Martin Rütter on 15 September 2026, and the state parliament held a hearing on 21 September 2026. As of 1 October 2026 there is no draft law, so nothing has changed for keepers of large dogs.

The models are Lower Saxony and Bremen, where everyone who takes in a dog must prove theory and practice.

How to prepare

The five test areas cover exactly what you need in everyday life with a large dog. Read up on dog body language and dog training, and ask your examiner whether they offer practice questions or a reading list.

Training pays off even without a practical test. A large dog has to be on a leash in town, so practise loose-leash walking and calm encounters with other dogs before your dog is fully grown and strong.

To keep your large dog relaxed on the leash, the Hundeo app has video courses on loose-leash walking and dog encounters.