Minnesota protection dog questions, answered briefly
For legal, medical or insurance decisions, ask a licensed professional. These answers point to the sources.
Answers to common questions
When is the owner liable in Minnesota?
Section 347.22 makes the owner liable when the dog, without provocation, attacks or injures a person acting peaceably in a lawful place.
Can I request a protection dog here?
Yes. The form sends your request to a partner company that places protection dogs.
Does this site sell dogs?
No. It is a buyer's guide. Availability and price come from the partner company.
Do I need a license in Minneapolis?
Yes, for dogs over four months old.
Do I need a license in Saint Paul?
Yes, for dogs over three months old, after a rabies vaccination.
Can I take my dog into a state park?
Yes, on a leash of six feet or shorter or in a portable enclosure, but not into buildings or onto beaches.
Do outdoor dogs need a doghouse?
Statute 343.40 requires shelter and bedding for dogs kept outdoors or in an unheated enclosure.
What does a trained dog cost?
Providers say fully trained dogs start around $100,000. Lower ranges exist at lower training levels.
Can a business write off a guard dog?
Sources say a certified guard dog on business premises may be deductible and depreciated. Ask a CPA.
Living in Minnesota and ready to ask about a dog?
Share your Minnesota ZIP code and what the dog would protect. A partner company that places protection dogs follows up.
Request a protection dog