Journal of the Charles University Law Faculty
Tristan Florian
Author’s affiliation:
The Supreme Administrative Court
Regulation of Dog Walking in Selected European Countries
Jurisprudence 1/2025 Section: Articles Page: 26-42
Keywords: dog walking, dog, public space, administrative punishment, municipality
Abstract: This article focuses on the legal regulation of off-leash and muzzle-free dog walking in public spaces in municipalities in five European countries, namely Czechia, Slovakia, Poland, France, and Germany (specifically Berlin, North Rhine-Westphalia, Saxony-Anhalt). It compares the degree of centralization in rulemaking, approaches to dangerous and assistance dogs, and the content of regulations. The comparison shows that in Czechia, Poland, and Slovakia, the rules are mainly contained in municipal ordinances issued by local representative bodies. In contrast, France supplements statutory rules by granting mayors broad discretionary powers. German legislation varies among the federal states, and the article highlights North Rhine-Westphalia for providing a satisfactory minimum level of protection (which, however, could be even higher). Slovakia, France, and Germany also have specific regulations on dangerous dogs, unlike Czechia and Poland. Furthermore, Czechia is the only country that does not set exemptions for assistance dogs, thus creating room for discrimination against people with disabilities.
