Are there legal prerequisites for the keeping of German Shepherds?

Dog-keeping is generally a matter of the federal states. There are no national legal regulations which make the keeping of a German Shepherd dependent on an official authorization. In some states, the keeping of big dogs (generally taller than 40 cm whiters height or more than 20 kg weight) has to be registered with the authority in charge. Possibly, a qualification certificate is required. The responsible regulatory agency will gladly inform you about the legal regulations valid in your federal state.

And do not forget to register your dog at your local authority for dog license fee! The assessment of the dog license fee, as well as the determination of prerequisites for possible discounts regarding the fee are up to the commune and therefore regulated differently in many municipalities. Some local authorities grant a discount for example for dogs that have passed a companion dog trial. Best make enquiries at your local authority.