If you want to travel abroad but don’t want to leave your Staffy behind in kennels or with dog minders, you’ll need to check if there are any countries where Staffies are banned.
Some countries have banned Staffies and others have restrictions in place. To help save you time, I have made a list of countries where you cannot take your Staffy.
What Countries Are Staffordshire Bull Terriers Banned In?
| Bermuda | Restricted breed |
| Colombia | Banned |
| Germany | Banned from importing (for more than 4 weeks) |
| Hong Kong | Statutory Declaration required |
| Israel | Dangerous dog-requires certain conditions |
| Malaysia | Banned |
| Puerto Rico | Banned |
| Qatar | Banned |
| St. Kitts & Nevis | Banned |
| St. Lucia | Banned |
| Singapore | Banned |
| Mauritius | Banned |
| Portugal | Restricted (licence required) |
| France | Restricted (see below) |
| Spain | Breeding restrictions (see below) |
| Switzerland | Banned |
| Romania | Banned |
| Ireland | Conditions (see below) |
| Russia | Dangerous dogs list |
| Chengdu, China | Banned |
Are Staffies on Dangerous Dogs List?
If you check the table above, you’ll see a list of countries where the Staffy is banned. You will also see although the Staffy is on the dangerous dog’s list in Russia and Israel, the dog is not outright prohibited and subject to certain conditions.
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Are Staffies Banned in the UK?
The UK lists five illegal dog breeds, which come under The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. These include the American Staffordshire Terrier and the Irish Staffordshire Terrier; however, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier is not.
Owning any of the five illegal dogs in the UK is a criminal offence.
- American Staffordshire terrier
- Irish Staffordshire terrier
- Japanese Tosa
- Dogo Argentino
- Fila Braziliero (Brazilian Mastiff)
Are Staffies Banned in Ireland? Holiday Rules
The Irish Government has not banned Staffordshire Bull Terriers in Ireland. However, a Staffy needs muzzling on a particular type of lead and be under the control of someone over sixteen.
If you want to visit Ireland and intend to take your Staffy, the rules have changed for UK citizens after Brexit. While you do not need a titer test, the UK Pet Passport will no longer be acceptable, and you’ll need to show a different health certificate.
- To bring a dog with you into Ireland, you must comply with new rules from 1st January 2021.
- Your Staffy must be microchipped (ISO 11784/11785 compliant).
- Each time you enter Ireland, you must present a valid health certificate issued by an official UK veterinarian. If you have previously traveled to Ireland using an EU pet passport, you’re advised to take that with you because it will contain details of previous vaccinations and medical treatments.
- You must vaccinate your Staffy against rabies. Puppies cannot be younger than twelve weeks before they receive their vaccination. The vaccination must be for one year, and you cannot travel before twenty-one days after the vaccination.
- All dogs will need a tapeworm treatment before travel. A qualified veterinarian must apply the treatment one to five days before the trip to Ireland.
- To bring your Staffy into Ireland, you can only do so through Travellers’ Points of Entry: Dublin Airport, Rosslare Port, Port of Cork at Ringaskiddy, Shannon Airport, Cork Airport, and Dublin Port.
Are Staffies Banned in France?
Traveling to France with your Staffy is not complicated, but you need to be careful; I’ll explain why. There are two classifications for what is considered a dangerous dog in France. Category 1 (dangerous) includes American Staffordshire Terriers and Staffordshire Terriers (including crossbreeds). These dogs are prohibited from coming into France that including travelling.
Category 2 dogs can enter France with restrictions. The following are designated Category 2:
Pedigree American Staffordshire Terriers and Staffordshire Terriers (there are other dogs but we’re only concerned with the Staffy). The restrictions are as follows:
- Owners must be over eighteen
- Must not have a criminal record
- The owner must attend a training course
- The owner must have civil liability insurance
- The owner can only walk the dog on the lead and muzzled
- There has to be a behavioural evaluation
Therefore, the French Government does not place the Staffordshire Bull Terrier with the Staffordshire Terrier and is not listed as a dangerous dog. However, the problem arises if you cannot prove your dog is a Staffordshire Bull Terrier. If you travel to France with your Staffy, ensure you have every document necessary that proves your dog is a Staffy.
The rules for travelling to France from the UK are the same for travelling to Ireland and every EU country. To travel into France with your dog, you will need to enter through designated travellers’ points of entry, for example, Dunkirk, Calais.
Are Staffies Banned in Germany?
The Dog Transfer and Import Restrictions Act prohibits importing or transferring certain dog breeds and crossbreeds of those dogs from entering Germany; the Staffordshire Bull Terrier is one of those dog breeds. However, each German state has different rules surrounding the import of dogs on the list, which you can see here.
However, the German Government excludes dangerous dogs accompanying their owners who are not staying longer than four weeks in Germany. This rule is primarily intended for tourists.
Other classes of dangerous dogs are also exempt from this law, including service dogs, guide dogs, search and rescue dogs, etc.
In addition, if you intend to bring your Staffy on vacation with you to Germany from the UK, you will still need to abide by the same entry rules for dogs.
Are Staffies Banned in Spain?
The rules for taking your Staffy to Spain are the same as Ireland and every EU country after the 1st January 2021. However, you will need to check the rules for bringing a Staffy with you.
While Spain does not have breed-specific bans, there are restrictions regarding dogs considered strong and potentially aggressive. Dogs possessing specific characteristics are put into this “potentially dangerous dog” category.
- Muscular dogs that weigh over 20kg
- Short-necked and bulky heads
- Dogs trained to attack people
- Wide-mouthed dogs with strong jaws
So-called “dangerous dogs” in Spain are typically dealt with separately by each municipality and autonomous community. Before you travel, you will need to contact a pet travel expert for Spain and give them the region you’re travelling to, and they will advise you of the current regulations.
Why Are Staffies Banned In Some Countries?
Staffies are seen in some quarters as being dangerous dogs and therefore capable of attacking and biting humans. There is a vast amount of negative information online regarding this topic and Staffies. However, if you speak to Staffy owners, they will tell you how wonderful this dog is with adults and children alike.
Breed-specific legislation attempts to regulate dogs thought to be dangerous by banning them. It places restrictions on ownership of these dogs and even makes it illegal to own one of these breeds to prevent dog bites.
While dog bites are a significant health risk for adults and children, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), there are 4.5 million people bitten by dogs in America.
There’s no definitive evidence that breed-specific legislation will curb this health issue.
All dogs are capable of biting and often do if they are provoked or ill-treated. In addition, it’s notoriously difficult to determine the exact breed of some dogs because of cross-breeding.
