Category dogs in France: law, permit and obligations (no sensationalism)
"Categorised" doesn't mean "dangerous". French law sorts dogs into two categories by their build (their "type"), not by their character: category 1 (attack dogs not registered with the LOF) and category 2 (guard and defence dogs registered with the LOF). Both require a permit, a muzzle and a lead in public. Risk comes from the context and the upbringing, not from the breed.
Category 1, category 2: who the law puts where
Two categories, defined by build and by whether or not the dog is registered with the LOF.
Category 1: "attack dogs" (not registered with the LOF)
Category 2: "guard and defence" (registered with the LOF)
Not categorised, despite the rumours
"Type" = build as observed against the annex to the order (arrêté) of 27 April 1999, never the breed name. A non-LOF dog is only categorised if its build matches the criteria: the same dog is in category 1 without a pedigree, and in category 2 once registered with the LOF.
The ownership permit, step by step
The permit (permis de détention) is applied for at the town hall; it is issued free of charge, by order of the mayor. Here are the documents, in the order you need to gather them.
Have the dog identified
Microchip or tattoo: the prerequisite for everything else.
Rabies vaccination up to date
It remains mandatory for category dogs.
Civil liability insurance
A specific policy covering harm to third parties. Worth knowing: family members count here as third parties.
Owner's certificate of aptitude (attestation d'aptitude)
A one-day training course (7 hours) with a trainer approved by the prefect.
Behavioural assessment of the dog
Carried out by a vet on the departmental register.
Sterilisation certificate (category 1 only)
Surgical and irreversible, certified by the vet.
Submit the file at the town hall
With the Cerfa form; the mayor issues the permit by order. To be shown if checked.
A puppy cannot be assessed before 8 months: you then apply for a provisional permit, which expires when the dog turns 12 months. The 8 to 12-month window is there to complete the assessment and then convert the provisional permit into a permanent one. Plan for it rather than be caught out by it.
You may own a category dog if
- you are of legal age
- your criminal record (bulletin n° 2) carries no conviction for a crime or serious offence
- you have never had a dog taken away from your care
- you are ready to keep the permit and each of its documents up to date
Special cases, subject to authorisation
- adult under legal guardianship: possible with the judge's authorisation
- care of a dog already withdrawn: an exemption may still be possible
Muzzle, lead, places: life in public
Category 1 in public
- Muzzle and lead, the dog held by an adult
- Allowed on public roads only
- Banned from public transport, public places and premises open to the public
- No loitering in the shared areas of buildings
Category 2 in public
- Muzzle and lead, the dog held by an adult
- Access allowed to public places and transport, muzzled and on a lead
- No mandatory sterilisation, no ban on acquisition
The behavioural assessment, without the drama
It takes place during a consultation with a vet on a departmental register, on an identified dog, at the owner's expense. For the permit, it happens between the dog's 8 and 12 months. The vet places the animal in one of four risk levels, with the renewal interval getting shorter the higher the level (none at level 1, up to once a year at the highest level).
The highest level is neither automatic euthanasia nor a ban on ownership: the vet advises a suitable rehoming or euthanasia, passes their conclusions to the mayor, and it is the mayor who decides. On the dog's side, a high level is the signal for real work with a veterinary behaviourist and a dog trainer, not a fatality.
Pitfalls to avoid
If your dog has already bitten, or changes suddenly
- Loi n° 99-5 du 6 janvier 1999 (dangerous and stray animals) and arrêté du 27 avril 1999 (list of types), Légifrance (1999)
- Loi n° 2008-582 du 20 juin 2008 (ownership permit, certificate of aptitude, behavioural assessment), Légifrance (2008)
- Chien de catégorie 1 ou 2 (fiche F1839), Service-public.fr
- AVSAB — Position Statement on Breed-Specific Legislation (2014)
- AVMA — Why breed-specific legislation is not the answer
- Morrill et al. — Ancestry-inclusive dog genomics challenges popular breed stereotypes (Science) (2022)
- Ott, Schalke, von Gaertner & Hackbarth — Comparison of golden retrievers and dogs affected by breed-specific legislation (Journal of Veterinary Behavior) (2008)
Frequently asked questions
What is the most dangerous dog in the world?
No breed holds that title. On a standardised temperament test, there was no significant difference between golden retrievers and dogs of the "legislated" breeds (Ott et al. 2008). What varies is power (the potential for harm), not aggression. The risk comes from the context, the upbringing and the socialisation.
What is the most dangerous dog?
"Dangerous" and "aggressive" are not the same thing: dangerous refers to physical potential (size, strength), aggressive to an emotional state, most often fear. A small dog can be just as aggressive as a large one. The media only report the serious cases, which over-represents the larger breeds.
Category 1 and category 2 dogs: what are they?
Category 1 ("attack dogs") covers non-LOF dogs matched to the pit bull, Mastiff ("boerbull") or Tosa type. Category 2 ("guard and defence") covers the American Staffordshire terrier, the Rottweiler and the Tosa registered with the LOF. The classification is made on build (the "type"), not on the breed name.
Do you need an ownership permit for a category dog?
Yes, since 2010, issued free of charge by the mayor. It brings together the identification, the rabies vaccination, civil liability insurance, the certificate of aptitude (a 7-hour course), the behavioural assessment between 8 and 12 months, and sterilisation for category 1.
Is the Staffie a category dog?
No: the Staffordshire bull terrier is absent from the order (arrêté), neither category 1 nor category 2. The confusion comes from the closeness of the name to the American Staffordshire terrier, which is covered. A non-LOF dog is only categorised if its build matches the criteria in the annex, assessed case by case.
What's the penalty for not having an ownership permit?
A 4th-class fine (up to €750). The mayor gives formal notice to put things right within a month; failing that, the penalties rise and the dog may be placed elsewhere. The right move: regularise quickly rather than let it drag on.
Finished this step?