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Dog licence in Lower Saxony

Anyone keeping a dog in Lower Saxony needs a certificate of competence (Sachkundenachweis), often called the dog licence: a theory test before getting the dog and a practical test in the first year. Experienced keepers and some other groups are exempt.

Practise for the competence test

The test at a glance

  • Theory35 questions, single choice, online or on paper with an examiner
  • WhenTheory before you take the dog, practical in the first year
  • PracticalAbout 1 hour in 3 places, possibly with another dog
  • ExaminersOnly examiners recognised by the authorities
  • CostAccording to the state from €40 per test; each examiner sets the price
  • Retakesas often as you like, each test costs again

Who needs the certificate

Under section 3 NHundG, everyone keeping a dog in Lower Saxony must have the required competence and prove it to the municipality on request. This applies to everyone keeping a dog for the first time since 1 July 2013. Family members who only walk the dog need no certificate of their own; if a dog has several keepers, each one needs it.

Who does not need the test

  • Experienced keepers: anyone who kept a dog without a break for at least 2 years in the last 10 years and can prove it
  • Vets
  • Hunting: anyone who examines hunting dogs in field trials or has passed one with a dog
  • Service and assistance dogs: people responsible for service dogs and keepers of guide dogs and assistance dogs
  • Equivalent tests: some dog licences from associations recognised by the state, taken in full in theory and practice

Theory topics

  • Keeping dogs and animal welfare law
  • Social behaviour and breed-typical traits
  • Recognising and assessing dangerous situations with dogs
  • Training and education
  • Legal rules for handling dogs

The practical test

It takes about 1 hour and does not have to be taken with your own dog. It takes place in 3 settings: a calm area, an off-lead area and public streets. What counts is whether you can read the dog, recognise dangers and control it so that nobody is endangered or bothered.

Other duties under the NHundG

DutyWhat applies
MicrochipA transponder for every dog older than 6 months
Liability insuranceAt least €500,000 for personal injury and €250,000 for property damage
Dog registerRegister before the end of the dog's 7th month; online €14.50, in writing or by phone €23.50
FineUp to €10,000, for example for keeping a dog without competence

If the dog is older than 6 months when you take it on, register it within one month.

Good to know

  • No course needed: preparation courses are optional; you can register directly with a recognised examiner.
  • Examiner present: according to the state, an online test without an examiner present is not lawful and is not recognised.
  • Pass mark: the state does not publish one; ask your examiner.
  • Certificate: you do not have to carry it on walks.
  • Holidays in Lower Saxony: visitors need no certificate of competence, but a microchip and liability insurance.
  • Lead requirement: in the open countryside from 1 April to 15 July (section 33 NWaldLG).
  • Other German states: have their own rules, for example North Rhine-Westphalia with its state dog law; this page covers Lower Saxony.

Independent practice

We write our practice questions ourselves from the NHundG and animal welfare law; they are not official exam questions. FreeExamPath is not affiliated with the state of Lower Saxony, LAVES or any examiner.

Official information

Questions about the dog licence in Lower Saxony

How many questions does the theory test have?

It is a single-choice test with 35 questions, online or on paper with a recognised examiner. The state does not publish a pass mark.

How much does the dog licence cost in Lower Saxony?

There is no official price: according to the state, the theory and the practical test should each cost from €40, and the theory can be cheaper online. Registering the dog costs €14.50 online.

Who does not need a certificate of competence?

Anyone who kept a dog without a break for at least 2 years in the last 10 years, as well as vets, keepers of guide and assistance dogs and some other groups.

Are these the official test questions?

No. A body appointed by the state provides the real test; our questions are FreeExamPath's own practice questions on the topics of section 3 NHundG.

Official sources (6) · last checked 18 October 2026