European trip with 'potentially dangerous dogs'!!!!!

[littleT]

Hi everyone, I know there are a few members on here that have Rottweilers, as we do. We wondered if anyone has any experiences or advice on travelling in Europe with your dogs. After a bit of research it appears Rotties are on the 'potentially dangerous dogs' list, certainly in France and Spain, requiring them to be muzzled and leashed but also various other requirements such as Liability insurance, evidence of clean police records (us....not the dogs!!!) and registering with every province you are travelling through.

The Spanish and French embassy have sent me guidelines on their Dangerous Dogs Act and it seems a bit daunting to be honest. Just wondering if anyone can shed more light!?

 

[Deleted member 9237]

Hi everyone, I know there are a few members on here that have Rottweilers, as we do. We wondered if anyone has any experiences or advice on travelling in Europe with your dogs. After a bit of research it appears Rotties are on the 'potentially dangerous dogs' list, certainly in France and Spain, requiring them to be muzzled and leashed but also various other requirements such as Liability insurance, evidence of clean police records (us....not the dogs!!!) and registering with every province you are travelling through.

The Spanish and French embassy have sent me guidelines on their Dangerous Dogs Act and it seems a bit daunting to be honest. Just wondering if anyone can shed more light!?

My son has said the dog must be muzzled at all times and on a lead if out and its a good idea to keep a copy of the insurance with you, Because thats one of the things he would want to see if any thing happend. But he said if your just on holiday dont worry about it to much.

 

[littleT]

Thanks for the advice. We want to make sure we do the right thing by our dogs and we wouldn't want to get into trouble. It's difficult because we've had a few people say that a muzzle and leash is more than sufficient, but the Spanish Embassy requirements suggest otherwise.

I might add that they are both so friendly and goofy at that. They're alot of fun and certainly don't suit a muzzle!! :dog:

 

[rottiontour]

Let me tell my experiences in Europa.

Germany:
Five "Bundesländer" require muzzle and leash (Nordrhein-Westfalen, Bayern, Hessen, Brandenburg, Hamburg, here the officials like police react hysteric due to press campaigns and law, citizens mainly don´t care, if dog is leashed and muzzled). We use those countries only for transit and p....
That means, the other 11 german coutries are free and normal for Rottweiler (leash iaw situation, for sure).
In all Germany from 1. April-15. July all !! dogs on leash to protect breeding animals. (Brut- und Setzzeit).


Poland, CZ, Slowakia, HU, Serbia, Macedonia, Kroatia, Slovenia, RU, BUL, Greece, Italy are free of muzzle for Rottweiler, no restrictions in real life. Partially leash, but this is selfexplaing iaw circumstances (people, dogs arround, town environment). I experienced that all people handle Rottweilers very respectful, but not with fear and without hysteric. No hate at all.

France: Muzzle ansd leash everywhere. I have no experiences.

Austria: Muzzle and leash for Rottweiler only in Vienna and "Niederösterreich" (North-eastern part). No hate and hysteric behaviour at all. Lovely country for Rottweilers.

Swiss: Hard restrictions, complicated, i use only for transit.

Spain: at least muzzle and leash, if more restrictions i ´m not sure, i have no experiences.

What I do: I avoid the countries where my rotti needs a muzzle ....and everywhere else, we simply feel free.
Especially in the eastern countries like greece, which is as warm as spain , a rotti is absolutely no problem.
You and him are respected and safe!!

Hope, this helps
Bernd

 

[cooljules]

What about a DSH? The dog only beaches were good at Ruegen. i have not been for 3 years, it much more hassle back then to bring your dog back, now so much easier, quciker and cheaper. That was with my ugly little hairy dog. The DSH is so soft etc but people think of them as security dogs...

When im in E Germany, i always go into Poland for fuel, tobacco, cigs and vodka (and the girls are pretty lol) I dont speak Polish, but just inside the border, my German is ok so they understand.

Any fotos of your 'butchers dog'? i can say the words in german, just not spell it.

Another funny thing is when people here, who i see in parks..if they have a dachshund?? makes me laugh, i call them Dackles and Teckles (my german spelling is very bad..so is my english...)

Never seen another English person at Ruegen, its a great Insel and people should really visit it. Berlin is ok, but too many tourists for me.

 

[cooljules]

Here is ugly Arthur some years ago in Dresden, maybe 3 years before i moved there. he is now about 18, since last year blind, not so good at walking, has like alzheimers..so must be walked on a lead as will just walk away. can only see light/dark and has trouble at night with wee and pooing, but he is still happy. he loves walks, and gets exited when he knows i am going out. loves cuddles and kisses.

And very pretty Wittmann. such a nice girl, had her 3 years, from a very bad home...only understands German. shes a good entejaeger (i think that is correct spellng for duck hunter in german)

 

[rottiontour]

What about a DSH?

DSH/Shepherd is not mentioned on any racelist.
However, not to mix up the racelist of a country with a local restriction , which a community gives out for beaches or nature parks.

see racelist here:
Rasseliste

haven´t got it in english, sorry

regards
bernd

 

[cooljules]

DSH/Shepherd is not mentioned on any racelist.
However, not to mix up the racelist of a country with a local restriction , which a community gives out for beaches or nature parks.

see racelist here:
Rasseliste

haven´t got it in english, sorry

regards
bernd

moin, thanks

 

[rottiontour]

moin, moin to UK....."free east frisia" is white and dark....and sunny above 10.000 feet
be

 

[kimbowbill]

makes me laugh all this with dogs, there are some really nasty terriers out there, and yet they are ok, i know a few rotties, not one of them are nasty, i think its about look, nothing to do with temprement, bullmastiffs are totally banned from France, i know that for sure, i was going to go last year, they won't even accept them with a muzzle :sad:

 

[rottiontour]

makes me laugh all this with dogs, there are some really nasty terriers out there, and yet they are ok, i know a few rotties, not one of them are nasty, i think its about look, nothing to do with temprement, bullmastiffs are totally banned from France, i know that for sure, i was going to go last year, they won't even accept them with a muzzle :sad:

yes, fully aggree, problems are depending on the individual dog and its owner and not on the race. And this is scientifically proven at several "animal affair" universities like Kiel and Hannover or Vienna and Graz. I read all the literature about it. However it is more a "political" thing than a thing of "brain and common sense".
The only problem is, that the owner of a large "dangerous" dog sometimes will be discriminated in the same way as his dog.

Have fun with all types of dogs

bernd

 

[littleT]

Well thanks for all your responses and thats a very useful list Bernd, so thanks very much.

I agree about branding certain breeds as dangerous. It's a very broad stroke with a brush and evidence shows that it's just not the case.

Any dog has the ability to bite and do so on a daily basis, unfortunately it's when the Rotties, Staffies, Mastiffs etc become unbalanced and bite, they do alot of damage which is why we always hear about it. They are all dogs first. The imbalances come because the human that has taken on the responsibility of owning that dog has failed them.

We don't like the idea of muzzling our two, so are most likely to just avoid the countries/areas that require it.