Dogs are considered man’s best friend for a reason. They are loyal, loving, and make great companions. However, not all dogs are welcome everywhere.
In fact, some dog breeds are illegal in specific countries or regions.
If you are thinking about bringing a new dog into your home, or wish to travel with your pooch it is important to be aware of which breeds are banned and where.
In this article, we will provide a list of banned dog breeds by country.
Dog Breeds banned in Antigua & Barbuda
On Antigua and Barbuda, pitbulls, their mixes, or other dogs resembling this breed are not permitted to land.
Any dog that physically looks like a pitbull must be accompanied by a certificate from an established kennel club to verify that the dog is not of the prohibited breed (pitbull).
Dog Breeds banned in Australia
The following pure breeds are not permitted to enter Australia under the Department of Immigration and Border Protection’s policies:
- Dogo Argentino
- Fila Brasileiro
- Japanese Tosa (Tosa Inu)
- Pit Bull Terrier or American Pit Bull
- Perro de Presa Canario
Hybrids of different species (such as dog-wolf mixes) are also banned. This includes, but is not limited to, the following:
- Czechoslovakian wolfdog
- Saarloos wolfdog
- Lupo Italiano
- Kunming wolfdog
Dog Breeds banned in Bermuda
There are certain breeds that are not allowed to be imported.
If you can show that you have exceptional reasons to justify the importation of a restricted breed dog, you may submit an Application to Keep Restricted Breeds of Dogs.
Prohibited Breeds:
- American Pit Bull Terrier
- American Bulldog
- American Staffordshire Terrier
- Argentine mastiff (Dogo Argentino)
- Boerboel (South African Mastiff)
- Brazilian Mastiff (Fila)
- Cane Corso
- Neapolitan Mastiff
- Presa Canario
- Tosa Inu
- Wolf
- Wolf Hybrid
- Any Cross of the above
Restricted Breeds:
- Akita
- Australian Cattle Dog
- Belgian Malinois
- Bouvier des Flandres
- Bull Terrier
- Bullmastiff
- Chow Chow
- Doberman Pinscher
- Dogue de Bordeaux
- German Shepherd
- Mastiff – English
- Rhodesian Ridgeback
- Rottweiler
- Staffordshire Bull Terrier
- Any Cross of the above
Dog Breeds banned in Colombia:
Colombia does not grant entry permits for dogs from the following breeds, (including crosses or hybrids):
- Staffordshire Terrier
- American Staffordshire Terrier
- Pit Bull Terrier
- American Pit Bull Terrier
Dog Breeds banned in Cyprus
The following breeds cannot be brought into Cyprus:
- Pit Bull Terrier (American Pit Bull)
- Japanese Tosa (Tosa Inu)
- Argentinian Mastiff (Dogo Argentino)
- Brazilian Mastiff (Fila Brasileiro)
Dog Breeds banned in Denmark
The following dog breeds (and cross breeds) are prohibited in Denmark:
- Pit Bull Terrier
- Tosa Inu
- American Staffordshire Terrier
- Fila Brasileiro
- Dogo Argentino
- American Bulldog
- Boerboel
- Kangal
- Central Asian Shepherd Dog
- Caucasian Shepherd Dog
- South Russian Shepherd Dog
- Tornjak
- Sarplaninac
It’s also unlawful to import these dog breeds, including crossbreeds, for commercial purposes into Denmark. It should be noted that the prohibition of specific dog breeds does not extend to dogs in transit through Denmark.
Dog Breeds banned in Germany
The Dog Transfer and Import Restrictions Act forbids the import or transfer of a number of breeds of dog, as well as the crossbreeding or mixing of these dogs with one another or with other breeds.
There are a few exceptions for tourists who are staying for less than four weeks and for working dogs.
- Pit Bull Terrier
- American Staffordshire Terrier
- Staffordshire Bull Terrier
- Bull Terrier
Dog Breeds banned in Hong Kong
The importation of fighting dogs listed in Schedule 1 of the Dangerous Dogs Regulations, Cap. 167, sub Leg D, are prohibited:
- Pit Bull Terrier (American Staffordshire Terrier)
- Japanese Tosa
- Dogo Argentino
- Fila Braziliero
Dog Breeds banned in Israel
Israel considers the following dog breeds to be dangerous:
- American Staffordshire Bull Terrier
- Bull Terrier
- Duguay Argentine (Dogo Argentino)
- Japanese peafowl (Tosa Inu)
- Staffordshire Bull Terrier
- Pit Bull Terrier
- Brazilian filet (Fila brasileiro)
- Rottweiler
You will need special permissions and licences in order to import your dog if it is one of the breeds listed above.
Dog Breeds banned in Malaysia
There are restrictions on the following dog breeds
Restricted Breed of Dogs
- Bull Mastiff
- Bull Terrier
- Doberman
- German Shepherd/Alsatian (including Belgian Shepherd and East European Shepherd)
- Perro de Presa Canario
- Rottweiler
Banned Breed of Dogs
- Akita
- American Bulldog
- Dogo Argentino
- Fila Braziliero
- Japanese Tosa
- Neapolitan Mastiff
- Pit Bull Terrier / Pit Bull / American Pit Bull
- American Staffordshire Terrier
- Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Dog Breeds banned in New Zealand
The Dog Control Act of 1996 prohibits the importation into New Zealand of any dog that belongs entirely or mostly by one of these breeds, types, or kinds of dogs.
Prohibited breeds:
- Brazilian Fila
- Dogo Argentino
- Japanese Tosa
- Perro de Presa Canario
Prohibited type:
- American Pit Bull Terrier
Hybrids
No hybrids (offspring of dogs or cats crossed with another species) are eligible for importation, with the exception of Bengal cats. Documentation showing five generations of domestic ancestry must be provided for Bengal cats.
Dog Breeds Banned in Norway
It is against the law to own certain breeds of dogs which are considered dangerous in Norway. This ban also applies to crossbreeds where there are one or more of these breeds in any proportion.
There are currently six banned dog breeds. These are:
- The Pit Bull Terrier
- The American Staffordshire Terrier
- The Fila Brasilerio
- The Toso Inu
- The Dogo Argentino
- The Czechoslovakian Wolfdog
Dog Breeds banned in Puerto Rico
The following dog breeds are banned
- All breeds of Staffordshire bull terrier
- American Staffordshire terrier
- American Pit Bull terrier and hybrids
Dog Breeds banned in Qatar
The following breeds of dogs are not allowed to enter Qatar
- American Staffordshire Terrier
- Boerboel
- Boston Terrier
- Boxer
- Bull Terrier
- Bulldog
- Chinese Shar-Pei
- Doberman
- Great Dane
- Japanese Akita
- Neapolitan Mastiff
- Afghan Hound
- Rottweiler
- Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Dog Breeds banned in St. Kitts & Nevis
The following dogs are not allowed to enter St. Kitts and Nevis:
- Pit Bull Terrier
- Staffordshire Terrier
- Dogo Argentino
- Presa Canario
- Fila Brasileiro
- Japanese Tosa
- American Bull dog
Dog Breeds banned in St. Lucia
The following dog breeds are forbidden from being imported
- Pit Bull Terrier
- Bull Terrier
- American Staffordshire Terrier
- Staffordshire Bull Terrier OR British Staffordshire
- Japanese Tosa Inu
- Dogo Argentino
- Fila Brasileiro
- Crosses of the Above
Dog Breeds banned in Singapore:
The following dog breeds are not allowed to be imported or owned in Singapore:
- Pit Bull, including:
- American Pit Bull Terrier (also known as American Pit Bull and Pit Bull Terrier)
- American Staffordshire Terrier
- Staffordshire Bull Terrier
- American Bulldog
- Crosses between them and other breeds
- Akita
- Boerboel
- Dogo Argentino
- Fila Brasileiro
- Neapolitan Mastiff
- Tosa
- Perro De Presa Canario
- Crosses of any of the above breeds
Dog Breeds Banned in Sweden
The following breeds are not permitted to enter Sweden:
- Czechoslovakian Wolfdog
- Saarloos Wolfdog
Dog Breeds banned in Thailand
Pit bull Terrier or American Staffordshire Terrier are prohibited for importation into Thailand.
Dog Breeds banned in United Arab Emirates
Dogs breeds banned from importing to the state: These breeds are banned pursuant to the Ministerial Decree No. 348/2008 in the article 7, the annex 4 issued by Ministry of Environment and Water, and they are:
- All kind of Pit-bull terrier
- American Pit-bull terrier
- Brazilian fighting dog
- Argentinian fighting dog
- American Staffordshire terrier
- Japanese Tosa
- Wolf dog
Dogs banned in United Kingdom:
In the UK, under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, it’s against the law to own certain types of dog. These are:
- Pit Bull Terrier
- Japanese Tosa
- Dogo Argentino
- Fila Brasileiro