AMERICAN AND GERMAN PET CULTURE

Paws Abroad

Disclaimer

Please understand that this presentation is not all inclusive and may not be true for you and your pet. We hope to provide a broad overview of what you might experience while working with American and German pet owners.

We also ask that you understand that all countries and people are different. Be proud of your own culture, but also smile and admire other ways of life as examples of the diversity of the nations and regions that make up this world. We hope that you will embrace these differences and understand we are all human, and we all have our own opinions, habits and ways of life.

Laws

Both culturally and lawfully speaking, attitudes and expectations regarding the treatment of pets are different in Germany.

While most laws regarding pets follow the same basic necessities as those in the USA, (i.e. food, water, shelter, medical care, etc) there are additional features of federal policy in Germany that differ.

The following list only highlights a few of the most common laws that Germans and Americans find different. However, you should ensure you are familiar with and abiding by the German Animal Welfare Act (Tierschutzgesetz).

Behavioral Requirements In America, there are “backyard dogs”

and “couch potato dogs”. These pets are cared for and are provided the legal necessities of food, water, shelter, and medical care. According to the German government, this

treatment is illegal, because they believe meeting the behavioral requirements of pets is just as important as feeding them. In other words, things like daily walks, social interaction, and obedience training are considered necessary responsibilities of pet owners here.

Car Rides

Ensuring your pet is restrained in a car is gaining popularity in America. In Germany, you are required to restrain

your pet in the car. Some of the most common methods are buckling your pet (similar to a seat belt) and metal crate/partition for the cargo area of the car.

Electrical Devices

In America, the use of Electrical devices for disciplinary purposes are allowed (anti-bark collars, electric fences, etc). However, in Germany this is not common

practice. In America, pets can travel freely from

state to state. In Europe, pets can travel freely from country

to country as long as they have their Pet Passport.

Natural Appearance

In America, you are allowed to alter an animal’s appearance (declawing cats, cropping/docking ears and tails, removing vocal cords, etc). However, in Germany this is not allowed.

Training

Germans are proud of their pets and train their pets from a young age in obedience schools. In America, obedience schools aren’t as

easily accessible or prevalent.

Kenneling/Crating

Kenneling or Crating your pet in America is common. It is also required when staying in Pet Lodging on base when your pet must be left alone.

However, Kenneling or Crating your pet for extended periods of time in Germany is considered against the law as it limits the species natural movement. You are allowed to Crate/Kennel your pet for up to

two hours a day. You are also required to have a specific amount of

open square footage for your pet depending on its size.

Grooming

In America, it is commonplace to bring your pet to the groomers or to bathe it frequently at home. In Germany, typically only long-haired pets

are brought to the groomers and rarely are pets bathed at home due to the belief that shampoos/conditioners can destroy their fur.

Collars

In America, most cats and dogs have collars with ID tags on them. In Germany, dogs wear collars but do not

have ID tags on them due to the belief that because dogs have such great hearing, the constant clinging of metal around their neck can harm them. You can find companies that will embroider the

dogs name onto their collar. In Germany, cats may or may not wear

collars, regardless of whether or not they are ‘inside/outside’ cats.

Germany has its own dog culture…

Dog Clubs / Hunde Vereine Many German dog owners belong to a Dog Club where they

work with their pet on a multitude of skills ranging from obedience, sport and agility, tracking, and more. Hunde Vereine can be found in most larger towns.

 Many Germans walk their dogs without leashes All animals have a degree of unpredictability, and so going

leash-free along busy streets or in busy city centers may not always be wise.

They love their animals and take them everywhere  They are allowed at some malls, in restaurants, stores, trains,

buses, and generally any place that a well behaved dog can go. 

They are not however, welcome in certain places like grocery stores.  Just look for the signs.

Military Challenges

Some Germans believe that Americans aren’t really attached to their pets because of the high abandonment rates in overseas countries. There are many challenges that our US Military members face

when it comes to pet ownership that many non-military members do not know. Pets are not paid for when moving and military members

must spend their own money to move their pets. Military members are not required to have advanced notice

before being called to fulfill a service commitment (deployment/TDY/PCS’ing).

In other words, a military member can be given 24 hours notice that they must depart for 6 months.

The military can change where a military member is moving to, even while the military member is en-route to said location.

There are almost no resources for military members regarding their pets through the Department of Defense.

Resources

Pet Passport: http://ec.europa.eu/food/animal/liveanimals/pets/

qanda_en.htm German Animal Welfare Act (English):

https://www.animallaw.info/statute/germany-cruelty-german-animal-welfare-act

German Animal Welfare Act (German): http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/tierschg/

BJNR012770972.html