Category dogs in France: the law, the permit, your duties
"Category" does not mean "dangerous". French law places certain dogs in two categories according to morphology (the "type"), not according to temperament: category 1 (attack dogs, not registered with the LOF) and category 2 (guard and defence dogs registered with the LOF). In both cases: a permit, a muzzle and a lead in public. Risk comes down to context and training, not to breed.
Category 1, category 2: which dogs, which rules
Two categories, defined by morphology 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, whatever the rumours say
The "type" is the dog's morphology as described in the annex to the decree of 27 April 1999, never the breed name. For the American Staffordshire terrier and the Tosa, the very same dog falls into category 1 without a pedigree, and into category 2 once registered with the LOF. The Rottweiler always stays in category 2, with or without an LOF pedigree. The Mastiff type, the "boerbull", exists only in category 1.
The ownership permit
To own a category dog, you need an ownership permit. Apply for it at your town hall, once you have gathered the documents below.
Have the dog identified
Microchip or tattoo: this is the foundation, everything else follows from it.
Rabies vaccination up to date
Compulsory for every category dog, category 1 and category 2 alike.
Third-party liability insurance
It covers the damage your dog could cause to third parties. And do note: here, even members of your own family count as third parties.
Owner's certificate of 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 county-level approved list.
Neutering certificate (category 1 only)
Permanent neutering, confirmed by a certificate from your vet.
File the application at the town hall
With the Cerfa form; the mayor issues the permit by order. Carry it in case you are checked.
Before 8 months, your puppy is not yet old enough for the behavioural assessment: ask for a provisional permit, which expires when the dog turns 12 months. That 8 to 12 month window is when you take the assessment, then turn the provisional permit into a permanent one.
You can own a category dog if
- you are of age
- you have no conviction for a serious criminal offence, and no prison sentence, whether served or suspended, for a lesser offence, showing on your bulletin no. 2
- custody of a dog has never been withdrawn from you
Special cases, subject to authorisation
- adult under guardianship: possible with the judge's authorisation
- custody of a dog already withdrawn: the mayor may grant an exemption if the withdrawal is more than 10 years old
Muzzle, lead, places: life in public
Category 1 in public
- Muzzle and lead, the dog held by an adult
- Allowed on the public highway only
- Banned from public transport, public places and premises open to the public
Category 2 in public
- Muzzle and lead, the dog held by an adult
- Access allowed to public places and to public transport, muzzled and on a lead
- No compulsory neutering, no ban on acquiring one
The behavioural assessment
It takes place during a consultation with an approved vet, at your expense. For the permit, it happens between the dog's 8th and 12th month. At the end, the vet places your dog in one of the four levels below, and sends the conclusions to the mayor of your town and to the national identification database.
The vet picks a level, and that level decides what comes next.
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
A level 4 obliges nobody to do anything: it is the vet's advice, not a decision. Only the mayor, or failing that the prefect, can order a dog to be taken in or put to sleep.
The traps to avoid
If your dog has already bitten
- Law no. 99-5 of 6 January 1999 (dangerous and stray animals) and decree of 27 April 1999 (list of types), Légifrance (1999)
- Law no. 2008-582 of 20 June 2008 (ownership permit, certificate of aptitude, behavioural assessment), Légifrance (2008)
- Category 1 or 2 dogs (factsheet 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)
Going further
Frequently asked questions
What is the most dangerous dog in the world?
No breed holds that title. A 2008 German study found no significant difference, on a standardised temperament test, between golden retrievers and dogs from the "legislated" breeds. What does vary is power, the potential for injury, not aggression. Risk comes down to context, training and socialisation.
"Dangerous" or "aggressive": what is the difference?
"Dangerous" and "aggressive" are not the same thing: dangerous refers to physical potential, size, strength; aggressive is an emotional state, often linked to fear or stress. A small dog can be every bit as aggressive as a big one. The media mostly report the serious cases, which puts the spotlight on the large breeds.
What are category 1 and category 2 dogs?
Category 1 ("attack dogs") covers non-LOF dogs whose morphology matches the pit bull, Mastiff ("boerbull") or Tosa type. Category 2 ("guard and defence") covers the Staffordshire terrier and the American Staffordshire terrier registered with the LOF, the Tosa registered with the LOF, plus the Rottweiler, which is category 2 with or without an LOF pedigree. Classification is based on morphology, the "type", not on the breed name.
Do you need an ownership permit for a category dog?
Yes, since 2010, and it is issued free of charge by the mayor. It brings together identification, rabies vaccination, third-party liability insurance, the certificate of aptitude (a 7-hour course), the behavioural assessment between 8 and 12 months, and neutering for category 1.
Is the Staffie a category dog?
No: the Staffordshire bull terrier is absent from the decree, neither category 1 nor category 2. The confusion comes from the name, close to that of the American Staffordshire terrier, which is indeed covered. A non-LOF dog is categorised only if its morphology matches the criteria in the annex: that is judged case by case.
What do you risk without an ownership permit?
A 4th-class fine, up to 750 €. The mayor gives formal notice to put things right within a month: past that deadline, you face up to 3 months in prison and a 3,750 € fine, and the mayor can have the dog taken in. The sensible reflex: sort it out quickly rather than let it drag on.
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