Thread: Dog laws in Spain

General Rules for Pet Owners in Spain
All domestic pets in Spain must be identified by microchip or by a clearly readable tattoo. The tattoo will only be accepted as a means of identification until 3 July 2011.

Vaccination against rabies is compulsory. It is also advisable to have dogs vaccinated against other diseases such as distemper and hardpad. Cats should be immunised against feline gastro enteritis and typhus.

There is no law against dogs fouling public places, however people are becoming increasingly sensitive about it and there are specific rules within certain places, such as urban parks.

Dogs should be kept on a lead in public places.

AND

Dangerous dogs
Any person owning a potentially dangerous dog (perros potencialmente peligrosos) in Spain must have an appropriate licence (by law of article 3 of the Royal Decree 287/2002, of 22 of March 2002) and the dog must be registered with the municipality. Handlers and walkers of dangerous or potentially dangerous dogs must also be licenced (article 1, 2 of Law 50/1999, of December 1999). A licence is valid for five years.
Potentially dangerous dog are identified as being in one of three categories:

1) Breeds and breed crosses classified as potentially dangerous:

Doberman (Andalucia only)
Pit Bull Terrier
Staffordshire Bull Terrier
American Staffordshire Terrier
Rottweiler
Dogo Argentino
Fila Brasileiro
Tosa Inu
Akita Inu
2) Dogs with certain characteristics of these breeds are also classified as potentially dangerous. The characteristics are:
Strong musculature, powerful or athletic constitution, robustness, agility, vigor and endurance
Short hair
Deep chest (60 to 80 cm), height of over 50 cm and a weight over 20 Kg
Big, square, head, with a wide skull and strong jaws
Broad, short and muscled neck.
Straight, parallel forelegs and muscular hindquarters, relatively long back legs standing at an angle
3) Dogs that have a track record of aggression to humans and other animals must also be licenced and registered.

Dog registration
Potentially dangerous dogs must be registered with the municipal registry for dangerous dogs (Registro Municipal de Perros Potencialmente Peligrosos). Registration of the dog must be renewed annually.

Take:

Proof of identification and microchip number's certificate
Certificate from the vet stating that the dog is in good health
Walking a potentially dangerous dog
Dog owners or handlers must carry the licence and dog registration document when out with the dog. The dog must be muzzled and on a lead of no more than two metres long (one metre in Andalucia). Only one dog may be handled per person. In Andalucia, dangerous animals are banned from entering children's leisure or recreational areas.

Taken from this link Essential Animal Information for Pets in Spain - AngloINFO Costa Blanca (Spain)

Thanks very much for the info ValL. I think that will prove useful for other newcomers too. Perhaps it could be made part of a sticky ref. rules for dogs and other important info as Keith suggested.
I was also under the misunderstanding that it was 25 kg for dogs not 20kg so good for me that you found it.
Hope your dog is OK.

Could you print that in Spanish so my neighbours can read it

Nope my spanish is rubbish, might look for it in spanish when I get a minute. Nursing post op dog is all consuming at the minute.

Staffordshire bull terriers hehehe... In one of our local Brit bars lives a geriatric staffy called Harry who has to make an effort to walk never mind attack someone. The local police came into said bar one day and saw him there, cowered in fear, and demanded that the owner register him as a dangerous dog! Owners took poor old Harry to the relevant council department where they fell about laughing. He is now the only registered dangerous dog in the town.

I think that is missing the point, the breed is classed as POTENTIALLY dangerous NOT every dog. If you choose to have a breed that is listed under any of the categories then you should abide by the laws for that breed.


How many times do we read AFTER somebody has been attacked by a dog that ' he/she is such a great dog with kids' or he/she wouldn't hurt a fly.


I personally have had collies a pom and now a 107 variety rescue dog NONE of which were/would ever be left unattended with children even though they showe/show no signs of aggression. Our current pup is only small but is never out anywhere without being on the lead.

Steady on Val!!! It was only intended as a little anecdote about a "dangerous dog" who's so old he wouldn´t have the strength left to harm anyone. Staffies are nice dogs if they´re well trained but I wouldn´t trust them not to snap at someone. Harry is a slightly different case.

I´ve been around dogs all my life and in my opinion, it´s pointless classifying some dogs as potentially dangerous and others not. Alsatians aren't on the list yet I´ve been attached twice by them - totally unprovoked. And some of the worst dogs for biting wouldn´t make the list on grounds of being small in size. I think it´s cocker spaniels who top the list for biting problems and terriers can be little sods. A friend of mine had a westie that snapped at everything in sight. They´re too small to pose a problem for adults but with kids it´s another story.

ALL dogs are potentially dangerous and should never be left with children. It´s the damn irresponsible owners that need to be put on "dangerous" registers.

2) Dogs with certain characteristics of these breeds are also classified as potentially dangerous. The characteristics are:
Strong musculature, powerful or athletic constitution, robustness, agility, vigor and endurance
Short hair
Deep chest (60 to 80 cm), height of over 50 cm and a weight over 20 Kg
Big, square, head, with a wide skull and strong jaws
Broad, short and muscled neck.
Straight, parallel forelegs and muscular hindquarters, relatively long back legs standing at an angle.

I reckon that part would cover GS's.

Steady on hmmmm I was replying to what I saw as poor reasoning for not abiding by law. Being old aint no quarantee of anything.

"Staffies are nice dogs if they´re well trained but I wouldn´t trust them not to snap at someone." Hardly a concrete argument for the breed is it ?

I agree that ALL dogs can be dangerous and that most of the humans I have seen with dogs listed in the 'potentially dangerous' have NOT been able to CONTROL the dog at all, the dogs have always been in control of the human.

They are classed as 'potentially danagerous because of weight/strength, type of bite as in grip and past history of the breed. I agree with that. My little dog now could give a blooming sore bite but is unlikely to attack hang on and rip to shreds and need more than one person to stop her.

Inbreeding, lack of knowlege and proper training by/for dog is a large part of the problem. I personally see no need to have a dog that has more strength than me and the capability to do serious damage to other dogs or humans.

Maybe potentail owners of such dogs should have to pass a test and then renew the licence yearly with their dog.

My spanish neighbour has 2 GS's and both are very aggressive, the male was sent away for training TO BE more aggressive. As an owner he is a total idiot. Two large aggressive dogs, very little space for them exercise, seldoms takes them out ( unmuzzled and in public park sometimes) and has two small children and another on the way ! I hear the dogs reactions to the little ones and wonder what will happen when they are attacked by his dogs.

I think my wife comes under the 'potentially dangerous' part!!!