German Animal Welfare Regulation for the Protection of Dogs

The Animal Protection Dog Ordinance (Tierschutzhundeverodnung) has been in force since 1 January 2022. Among other regulations, it provides for a ban on showing certain dogs:

§ 10 Prohibition of the show

It is prohibited to show dogs or to organize shows with dogs,

1. in which parts of the body, in particular ears or tail, have been completely or partially amputated in a manner contrary to the protection of the animal, or
2. in which for hereditary reasons

   a) body parts or organs are missing or unsuitable for the proper use of the species or have been altered, resulting in pain, suffering or damage,

   b) behavioural disorders associated with suffering occur,

   c) any species-appropriate contact with conspecifics causes them or a conspecific pain or avoidable suffering or harm; or

   d) the keeping is only possible with pain or avoidable suffering or leads to harm.

To ensure compliance with the requirements of the Animal Welfare Ordinance, the event will implement a plan that includes the following:

 1. Veterinary examination for certain dog breeds.
 2. Sample Examinations in dogs of all breeds

Please note that the provisions of  § 10 TierSchHuV and the associated requirements apply not only to exhibition participants but also to dogs presented as part of other event components (junior handling, breed presentations, sports competitions, etc.). 

Responsibility for compliance with the provisions of the ordinance lies with the organizer and exhibitors. The Veterinary Office will pay particular attention to compliance with the Animal Welfare Dog Ordinance; violations may be subject to fines. 

1. Veterinary examination

Dogs of the following breeds, which are entered for the dog show, have to undergo a general veterinary examination and/or a special examination in advance and have to be certified with the VDH forms (download see below). VDH-forms of prior events will be accepted, if they are still valid. The validity period can be found in the following list. Forms for the normal clinical examination are currently valid for one year.

Please upload the required certificates (whether they are forms from a previous event or new forms) when registering your dog on the OnlineDogShows-Portal portal by April 27, 2026, at the latest.

*Results of the 'Respiratory Function Grading Scheme' developed by the University of Cambridge are recognised. Animals graded 0 or 1 are allowed to participate in the show. For dogs of the Pug, French and English Bulldog breeds, only the Cambridge test and the likewise scientifically validated, treadmill-supported fitness test of the University of Veterinary Medicine Hanover ("VDH Fitness Test") can be accepted at the VDH shows in Dortmund (VDH European Winner & Spring Winner and Bundessieger & Autumn Winner Show) and Gelsenkirchen (German Winner Show). Other stress test results can no longer be accepted as a basis for show participation for dogs of these breeds.

Forms

Form "Clinical examination before a dog show"

Form "Special examination"

Form "Exercise test" (For Pugs, French Bulldogs and Bulldogs, only results of the Cambridge Test and the Fitnesstest of the Veterinary University Hannover can be accepted.)

Further information about the VDH exercise test, which is offered by the VDH member clubs, can be found here

Further information about the VDH-Fitness- und Cambridge-Test can be found here.

You can submit the completed forms in the exhibitor portal until 27. April 2026.

Irrespective of the presentation of the examination form, animals with relevant diseases in the sense of § 10 No. 2 TierSchHuV, which were not detected during the examination, may be excluded from the event by the responsible veterinary office or the organiser at their own discretion.

2. Checks at the show

The VDH shall carry out random inspections of the registered dogs at the exhibition. If a dog shows one of the characteristics listed below or relevant diseases in the sense of § 10 S.1 Nr. 2 TierSchHuV during these inspections, the dog must be excluded from the event by the responsible veterinary office or the organizer at his own discretion.

Dog owners/exhibitors will be informed at the entrance when their tickets are scanned if their animals are scheduled for inspection and directed to the examination rooms in hall 8. The inspection will take place before the owners/exhibitors go to the rings. The Special Managers will be informed which dogs will be inspected. Only after this and in case of proof that the control has taken place and that there are no veterinary concerns about the dog's participation, the dog is allowed to be judged in the ring.

In addition, controls may be carried out in the halls. All dogs participating in the final competitions in the ring of honor will additionally be checked by a veterinarian in the preliminary ring.

These checks can be performed in dogs of all breeds. In order to ensure the most effective selection of random samples, known breed dispositions will be taken into account here.

3. List of features

Dogs with the following characteristics (heredity is assumed) are not allowed to participate in VDH events with a term. This is not an exhaustive list. Other characteristics may - in consultation with the local veterinary offices - also lead to exclusion according to § 10 TierSchHuV if they fulfil the criteria of the regulation.

Disturbance of respiration including disturbance of thermoregulation, pathological respiratory sounds respiratory sounds, dyspnoea, cyanosis, hyperthermia especially in brachycephalic breeds.

Eye including eyelids:

• Eyelid malpositions such as en- and ectropion, exophthalmos
• Blindness
• Strabismus

Neurological symptoms

Deformity of the skull, coupled with clinical symptoms, e.g. open fontanelles, disproportionate shortening of the mandible or maxilla, visibility of teeth or tongue when the mouth is closed, brachycephalic obstructive airway Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS)

Dwarfism (pituitary form)

Skin and hair
Pigmentation-related traits:

• Extensive hairlessness (especially in carriers of the mutated FOXI3 gene). Click here for further explanation. 
• Whiteheadedness/extreme spotting associated with deafness and/or UV-related skin damage.
• Merle markings plus predominant white markings in the head area, especially unpigmented ears: Show only with genetic test (All genotypes which, according to the current state of knowledge, are associated with a significant risk of developing impairments of the sensory organs, lead to exclusion).
• Colour Dilution Alopecia (Note on Colour Dilution: There is still a need for research to differentiate healthy dilute (e.g. "classic" Weimaraner) from diseased dilute (dogs with Colour Dilution Alopecia).)
• Albinism
• Dermoid cysts
• Excessive formation of skin wrinkles (wrinkles affecting sensory organs and/or body orifices; wrinkles that impair movement and/or behaviour typical of the species), skin fold dermatitis
• Missing or shortened vibrissae, even after shearing

Teeth:

• Exclude in case of hereditary absence of canini (canine or fang teeth), P4/upper jaw or M1/lower jaw (fangs, together they form the crushing scissors) or if more than two other teeth are missing; except P1 (upper and lower jaw) and M3 (lower jaw). The exhibitor has the option to prove with a veterinary certificate that the missing teeth are due to accident or non-hereditary disease.

• Misaligned teeth, which are associated with injuries/irritation of the mucous membrane of the mouth or loss of tooth substance.

Lameness

Shortened/misshapen tail in association with clinical signs (dermatitis dermatitis on the underside of the tail, neurological deficits, restrictions in hygiene and bodily functions due to lack of mobility of the tail, etc.).

Tail length The tail must, when unrolled, cover the anus. For dog breeds with a high prevalence of the DVL2 gene variant associated with shortened tails and vertebral malformations (Boston Terrier, French Bulldog, and English Bulldog), only dogs whose tail is at least half the distance from the tail base to the level of the knee joint are allowed to participate. Click here for further explanation. 

For the dog breeds mentioned with a high occurrence of the DVL2 gene mutation: exclusion applies if the tail is not at least as long as half the distance from the tail base to the knee joint. The dog in the left illustration is allowed to participate. The dog in the right illustration is not.

Dewclaws:

Dogs that have had one or both dewclaws on the front or hindleg amputated without medical indication are not allowed to participate. Dogs that have undergone such an amputation for medical reasons must carry a veterinary certificate with them at the event stating the medical indication for the procedure.

Vibrissae

We would like to point out that besides the prominent vibrissae on the upper lip (pili tactiles labiales superiores), vibrissae can also be found on the lower lip as well as on the larynx, the cheeks and above the eye. These should also not be shorn off. (see illustration)

Money back guarantee: Should your dog be excluded due to a hereditary trait in the sense of § 10 No. 2 TierSchHuV, you will receive your registration fee back as a gesture of goodwill and without acknowledging any legal obligation. This does not apply in case of shortened vibrissae or non-compliance with the docking ban.

Dogs, in which characteristics in the sense of § 10 TierSchHuV are found during the show, must leave the ring without being judged.

4. Breed Specific Instructions

the breed judges will implement the Breed Specific Instructions (BSI) and pay special attention to health and functionality in the breeds listed therein. The breeds listed in the BSI were selected based on the estimated risk of health-threatening exaggerations of breed characteristics and possible misleading interpretation of the standard.