Restricted Dog Laws by Country: Germany, UK and US (2026)
There is no single global banned-breed list. Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States use different legal tests, definitions and authority layers. Check the destination and every transit country in writing before you book a restricted dog’s journey.
1. Start with the destination and every transit country
Breed laws are territorial. A dog can meet the animal-health rules for a journey and still be refused because the destination or a transit country applies a separate restriction. Record every place where the dog will enter, clear immigration or leave a secure transit area.
Do not use a breed name, an adoption label or an airline acceptance as a substitute for an authority decision. Ask the relevant government or municipal office to assess the dog, purpose, route and address you actually plan to use.
2. Germany: federal import law plus state keeping rules
Germany’s first federal prohibition covers Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Bull Terrier and specified crosses. The same federal law also refers to additional dogs whose dangerousness is presumed under the law of the German state where the dog will be kept.
The exceptions regulation is narrow. It includes working, guide, assistance, rescue and certain returning dogs, a limited temporary stay for a non-German resident, and a route for dogs covered by the state-law provision when lawful keeping in that Land can be shown. A normal move is not automatically approved by a passport, health certificate or temperament test.
Germany decision to save
Ask Customs and the destination authority for written answers about the exact dog, route, exception and address. Keep those answers beside the health and carrier file.
3. Great Britain: banned types and exemption evidence
Great Britain lists banned dog types, including Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro and XL Bully. The official test is based on what the dog looks like, not only the breed or name shown in a document. A banned dog needs a valid Certificate of Exemption before entry, and the pet-travel document and approved-route rules still apply separately. Northern Ireland follows separate guidance for pet travel, so do not apply the Great Britain route to an NI journey.
Great Britain decision to save
Check the banned-type rules first. If an exemption exists, carry the certificate and confirm the current Great Britain pet-entry route before travel.
4. United States: health entry plus state and local checks
The current CDC federal dog-entry pathway focuses on health, age, microchip and documentation, with additional requirements based on rabies risk and vaccination history. The CDC also directs travelers to comply with the destination state or territory’s regulations.
That means there is no safe one-line national answer for a Pit Bull or another restricted dog travelling to the United States. Check the destination state, county and city, plus state or local rules for housing and insurance, before treating the federal health pathway as permission to keep the dog.
US decision to save
Save the CDC entry result, the USDA or veterinarian paperwork, and written state or local answers for the exact destination address.
5. Build a safe pre-travel file
1. Identify the legal destination
Write down the country, state or Land, county, municipality and planned address. A country-level answer is not enough when local keeping rules apply.
2. Separate law from logistics
Keep breed eligibility, health certificates, border routing, transit permission and airline acceptance as separate checks. A pass at one gate does not approve the others.
3. Ask for written decisions
Send the authority the dog’s records, route, purpose, dates and destination. Save the reply with the exact facts you supplied and note any expiry or renewal condition.
4. Recheck before payment
Review the official pages periodically and reconfirm every authority, transit country and carrier before buying non-refundable transport.
For a Germany-bound journey, use the dedicated Germany restricted-dog relocation checklist after you have identified the federal and destination-state decision-makers. For the wider Germany pet-entry workflow, see the Germany pet-entry guide.
Important: rules change
This comparison is an orientation tool, not personalised legal advice. Laws and guidance can change. Recheck the official source and obtain written confirmation before you pay for transport or move the dog.
📚 More Guides for Expats
Are Pit Bulls Banned in Germany? Breed Rules
Check the federal import ban, its limited exceptions, and verified Berlin, Hamburg and Bavaria keeping rules before travelling.
Moving to Germany With a Pit Bull or Restricted Dog
Check the federal breed gate before booking, then verify exceptions, origin paperwork, transit, carrier acceptance and destination-state rules.
Moving to Germany With a Dog or Cat
Choose the correct EU or non-EU route, then check microchip, rabies, certificate, owner-travel and breed requirements.
The EU Pet Passport Guide
Why you need one, how to get it, and how much it costs. The golden ticket for travel within Europe.