How to Post a Dog Wanted Ad and Get Replies in Germany
To post a "dog wanted" ad in Germany that gets good replies, say what kind of dog you are looking for, describe your household, experience and daily routine, and give your area and a realistic budget. Then meet every dog in person before you pay anything, and walk away from anyone who asks for a deposit or courier fee first.
A clear wanted ad brings owners and breeders to you, but it also attracts sellers of illegally imported puppies and scammers. How owners should answer your ad is described in how to respond to a dog wanted ad.
Key points
- Describe the dog you want and the home you offer; owners choose people, not just offers.
- Check your state's rules first, for example the competence test in Lower Saxony or permits for listed breeds.
- Budget for dog tax, liability insurance where it is compulsory, and vet fees.
- A puppy offered from abroad must be at least about 15 weeks old and have an EU pet passport.
- Never pay a deposit or courier fee for a dog you have not met.
What kind of dog should you ask for?
Be specific about what matters and flexible about the rest. An adult or a mixed breed with the right character may suit you better than a puppy of one breed: 43% of German dogs are mixed breeds, according to the trade associations IVH and ZZF.
- Size and energy that fit your home, working hours and the walks you can manage.
- Age: a puppy needs house training and at least four hours a day of company up to 20 weeks, as the dog welfare regulation requires of keepers; an adult has a known character.
- Legal limits: some states restrict certain breeds. In Bavaria, for example, breeds such as the Rottweiler need a certificate that the dog is not dangerous, and Munich does not allow category 1 breeds such as the American Staffordshire Terrier.
- Your experience: in Lower Saxony, most first-time owners must pass a competence test (Sachkundenachweis).
What should you put in a dog wanted ad?
- The breed, mix or type, size, age range and sex you are looking for, and what you are flexible about.
- Your household: adults, children's ages, other animals.
- Your home and routine: flat or house, garden, hours alone, who walks the dog.
- Your experience with dogs and your vet.
- Your area and how far you can travel, without your exact address.
- Your budget, or that you are open to adopting with a protection fee.
Keep your phone number out of the ad and let people write to you first. Read replies carefully and ask follow-up questions through the messages.
How do you set a realistic budget for a dog?
The price of the dog is only the start. Plan the running costs before you choose:
| Item | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Dog tax (Hundesteuer) | Set locally: Berlin €120 a year for a first dog, Munich €100 |
| Liability insurance | Compulsory for all dogs in Berlin, Bremen, Hamburg, Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein and Thuringia |
| Vet examination | €23.62 at the single rate of the vet fee schedule (GOT), up to three times that, before VAT |
| Vaccination | €11.50 per injection at the single rate, plus the vaccine |
| Neutering | €70.60 for a male, €192.00 for a female at the single rate, before anaesthesia and VAT |
| Shelter adoption fee | Berlin's shelter: €350 to €450 for a dog in late 2024, including vaccinations and neutering |
How do you avoid scams when replies come in?
- Deposits and courier fees. A seller who wants money before you meet, or offers to send the dog, is the classic scam. German police advise never paying transport costs that were not agreed beforehand.
- Puppies from abroad. A puppy must have an EU pet passport, a microchip and a valid rabies vaccination, so it is at least about 15 weeks old. In 86% of the 2025 cases of illegal trade where the age was known, the puppies were too young to cross a border legally, the Deutscher Tierschutzbund found.
- Disguised private sales. Traders now often offer one or two puppies at a time with a private story, the Tierschutzbund reports.
- Warning signs from Hamburg's consumer protection office: many puppies of different breeds at one seller, a strikingly low price, a poor state of health and an inconsistent Impfpass.
What should you check before you take the dog home?
- Meet the dog where it lives, with its mother if it is a puppy, and with its owner if it is an adult.
- Check that a puppy is over eight weeks old, and look at the Impfpass, chip number and vet records.
- Ask about health, behaviour, bites and time alone, and get the answers in writing.
- Sign a contract or handover agreement and pay only at the handover.
- Register the chip in your name, free with FINDEFIX or TASSO, and the dog with your municipality for dog tax.
How do you post your wanted ad?
You can post a dog wanted ad for free on PetzLover in a few minutes. While it runs, browse puppies and dogs for sale and save the search so new listings reach you. If you are open to an adult dog, read how to adopt a puppy or dog; if you find a breeder, how to buy a puppy or dog lists the questions to ask.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I write in a dog wanted ad?
Say what kind of dog you want, describe your household, home, routine and experience, and give your area and budget. The more owners know about you, the better the replies.
Should I include a budget in a puppy wanted ad?
Yes, a realistic range helps owners and breeders decide whether to reply. Remember the running costs: dog tax, vet fees and, in seven states, compulsory liability insurance.
How do I know a reply to my dog wanted ad is genuine?
A genuine owner answers questions, lets you visit and shows the Impfpass and chip number. Be wary of anyone who wants money first, offers delivery, or cannot show the dog with its mother or at home.
Is it safe to pay a deposit for a dog I found through a wanted ad?
Not before you have met the dog and its owner in person. Deposits for unseen dogs are the most common pet scam.
Can I post a wanted ad for a rescue dog?
Yes. Say that you are open to an adult or a dog from a rescue, and contact shelters near you too, through the Deutscher Tierschutzbund's shelter finder.
Helpful guides
Pet WantedHow to Respond to a "Dog Wanted" Ad in GermanyAnswer a dog wanted ad in Germany by asking about the person's home and experience, meeting them, checking for scams, handing over in person with an agreement, and transferring chip and registrations.
Pet for SaleHow to Buy a Puppy or Dog in GermanyBuy a puppy in Germany only where you can meet it with its mother, over eight weeks old (at least 15 weeks if imported), with Impfpass, chip number and a written contract, and budget for dog tax and insurance.
Pet for SaleHow to Sell Puppies or Dogs in GermanySell puppies in Germany only when they are over eight weeks old, vet-checked, vaccinated and chipped, ask your Veterinäramt whether you need a licence, write an honest ad, and hand over only once paid.
Pet for FreeHow to Get a Free Puppy or Dog Safely in GermanyGet a free puppy or dog in Germany only after meeting it and its owner, checking the Impfpass and chip, paying no fees up front, and budgeting for vet care, dog tax and insurance.
Pet for FreeHow to Give Away a Puppy or Dog for Free Without Risk in GermanyGive a puppy or dog away in Germany only after a vet check, an honest ad, screening questions and a home visit, with a written agreement, a chip transfer and deregistration from dog tax.
Pet for AdoptionHow to Adopt a Puppy or Dog in GermanyAdopt a dog in Germany through a shelter (Tierheim), a licensed rescue or a private adoption listing; expect a questionnaire, meetings, a home visit, a protection contract and an adoption fee.
Pet for AdoptionHow to List a Puppy or Dog for Adoption in GermanyList a dog for adoption in Germany with an honest profile, clear criteria, a modest adoption fee and a protection contract; screen adopters with questions and a home visit and transfer chip and registration.
Pet for RehomingHow to Take In a Rehomed Puppy or Dog in GermanyTake in a rehomed dog in Germany only after meeting it at home, asking about health, behaviour and any bite or dangerous-dog decision, checking chip and Impfpass, and registering it in your name.
Pet for RehomingHow to Rehome Your Puppy or Dog Responsibly in GermanyRehome your dog in Germany by asking the breeder and shelters first, writing an honest listing, disclosing health and behaviour, screening carefully and handing over with an agreement and registrations.