Overview
- The new requirement took effect on 1 July 2026 and forces anyone acquiring a dog in Bremen or Bremerhaven to pass a theoretical exam before taking the animal home and a practical test within one year.
- The test model mirrors Lower Saxony: the theory has 35 questions and the practical checks everyday control and obedience; dogs must be at least 12 months old, chipped and vaccinated and owners must show liability insurance with minimum sums.
- Exemptions include veterinarians, hunters and guide dogs and owners who had a dog before 1 July are not required to take the tests retroactively.
- Bremen will publish a list of recognised examiners but officials have not yet settled cross‑recognition rules with Lower Saxony or the detailed enforcement process; breaches can draw fines up to €50,000 and temporary confiscation of the dog.
- Supporters such as PETA and the Deutscher Tierschutzbund back mandatory owner education and point to Lower Saxony’s decade‑long programme with more than 162,800 certificates issued, while critics note there is no central data proving such licences cut bite rates and warn of extra bureaucracy.