![Germany dog ban: The New Torture Breeding List [July 2026]](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMTIwMCIgaGVpZ2h0PSI2MDAiIHhtbG5zPSJodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8yMDAwL3N2ZyI+PHJlY3Qgd2lkdGg9IjEwMCUiIGhlaWdodD0iMTAwJSIgZmlsbD0iI2YzZjRmNiIvPjwvc3ZnPg==)
Germany dog ban: The New Torture Breeding List [July 2026]
Berlin, July 2026 – This is a topic that has been heating up tempers among animal welfare activists, breeders, and dog owners for months: the comprehensive amendment to the German Animal Welfare Act. After long debates, heated hearings in the Committee on Agriculture, and numerous revisions, the legislative project is now reaching a crucial phase in the Bundestag. At the very center of the discussions is the reformed Section 11b of the Animal Welfare Act (TierSchG) and the newly created symptom list for torture breeding.
For you as a (future) dog owner or breeder in Germany, this reform brings far-reaching legal and practical changes. We explain in detail what the new regulations mean, how they are intended to facilitate enforcement, and what you must pay close attention to immediately when buying a puppy.
The Core of the Reform: Why a New Symptom List?
The ban on so-called torture breeding (Qualzucht) is by no means new in Germany. Basic rules have existed since 1986, which were further specified in Section 11b of the Animal Welfare Act in 2013. The law fundamentally prohibits the breeding of animals that experience pain, suffering, or damage due to hereditary traits. However, in practice, this ban failed alarmingly often. The reason: vague legal definitions led to a massive enforcement deficit. The responsible veterinary offices of the federal states often lacked the necessary legal certainty to effectively enforce breeding bans.
This is exactly where the current animal welfare amendment comes in. The legislature is introducing a non-exhaustive list of potential symptoms of torture breeding. This list is intended to serve as a concrete, manageable basis for authorities to identify and penalize violations more quickly.
Which Traits Are on the Torture Breeding Symptom List?
The symptom list anchored in the draft law defines specific health limitations and anatomical deformations that are considered clear indications of torture breeding, provided they are hereditary and lead to pain or suffering. The explicitly mentioned features include, among others:
- Shortness of breath and airway syndromes: This particularly affects brachycephalic (short-headed) breeds such as the Pug, the French Bulldog, or the English Bulldog. If dogs can no longer breathe normally due to narrowed nostrils, overly long soft palates, or altered tracheas, the breeding ban applies.
- Hereditary sensory loss: This includes congenital blindness or deafness. These defects are often associated with certain coat colors, such as the controversial Merle factor, when paired carelessly.
- Neurological deficits and movement disorders: Hereditary deformations of the spine or joints that make it impossible for the dog to walk without pain.
Important for you to know: The legislature is expressly not calling for a blanket ban on specific breeds. Breeds like the Dachshund, which is often wrongly declared as completely banned, may continue to be bred—provided the parent animals are healthy and do not exhibit any of the mentioned symptoms of suffering. Breeding healthy animals remains fully permitted and is even intended to be strengthened by the law.
What Changes for Breeders in Germany?
For breeders, the new Animal Welfare Act means one thing above all: more responsibility and stricter documentation requirements. On one hand, the symptom list helps breeders better recognize for themselves whether a planned mating violates the law. On the other hand, they must expect that veterinary offices will now monitor more strictly and consistently issue breeding bans if symptoms from the list are present.
Furthermore, the amendment introduces a strict exhibition ban: Vertebrates that exhibit characteristics of torture breeding may no longer be presented at dog shows and exhibitions. This is intended to prevent sick animals from winning awards and thus promoting a false beauty ideal in breeding.
Impact on Dog Owners and Online Retail
Even if you are currently looking for a puppy, the new law affects you directly. A massive problem in recent years has been the unregulated trade of sick puppies over the internet. The amendment places a duty on the operators of online platforms:
- Traceability: In the future, providers of live animals must register their real data on the respective online platform. Anonymous sales from the trunk of a car are intended to be prevented in this way.
- Trading ban for torture breeds: Animals that exhibit characteristics on the torture breeding symptom list may no longer be offered for sale on online platforms.
For buyers of short-headed breeds, this means they must look even closer. Reputable breeders have their animals examined by a veterinarian before breeding, for example, through a so-called BOAS assessment (Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome) to prove the free breathing of the parent animals. If you would like to find out about the health requirements of different dog breeds, we recommend a look at our comprehensive breed overview.
Conclusion: A Milestone for Animal Welfare
The adjustment of the Animal Welfare Act debated in the Bundestag in July 2026 is a long-overdue step. The new symptom list finally creates the legal clarity that veterinary offices need to effectively enforce the torture breeding ban that has existed since 1986. No animal lover wants their dog to suffer from shortness of breath, be born deaf, or live in constant pain. The law therefore not only protects the animals but also saves future dog owners from immense veterinary costs and emotional suffering.
If you are looking for a healthy, well-tempered puppy, choosing the right source is more crucial than ever. Platforms like HonestDog are at your side as a trusted partner. We strictly vet our breeders and actively advocate for education and animal welfare, so that you can welcome your new best friend into your family with peace of mind.
FAQ: The Most Important Questions About the New Animal Welfare Act (July 2026)
Are breeds like the Dachshund or the Pug now banned in Germany?
No. The new Animal Welfare Act does not ban specific breeds across the board. It merely prohibits breeding with individual animals that exhibit hereditary traits that lead to pain or suffering (e.g., shortness of breath in Pugs or extreme back problems in Dachshunds). Healthy representatives of these breeds may continue to be bred.
What happens if I already own a dog with torture breeding characteristics?
For you as a pet owner, nothing changes regarding your permission to keep your dog. There is no ban on owning existing animals. However, you may not breed with this dog and cannot show them at official events or exhibitions.
Will I still be able to buy dogs over the internet in the future?
Yes, but under stricter conditions. Online platforms must verify the identity of sellers to stop anonymous puppy trading. In addition, animals showing obvious symptoms of torture breeding may no longer be advertised online. It is always recommended to use verified and reputable placement portals like HonestDog.