Dogs In Spain [A Complete 2022 English Guide]
We all love travelling with our furry friends, discovering new places and spending more time together. We would also like them to move with us if we are moving to another country altogether. But more often than not, our dogs end up staying at home with someone else if we’re travelling or going to live with another family in case we’re moving. This could either be because of the regulations in the country or sometimes even because we are not aware of all of the options available to bring our pets with us. If your destination is Spain, this guide will tell you all about taking your pet with you and making the experience safe and memorable.
Is Spain A Dog-Friendly Country?
Spain has a number of pet-friendly policies, making it one of the most ideal locations to travel to with your dog. It ranks eighth on the 2022 Dog-Friendly Country Index because of its policies for the protection of dogs and the prevention of any maltreatment. Around 26% of all Spanish households own a dog.
While living here, you’ll be able to find some restaurants and coffee shops that will gladly welcome your dog into their premises. These will mostly be those with open terraces or other areas where your pet won’t bother other customers. For restaurants that say they won’t, you might want to ask them if they will accommodate you. They might actually agree to it!
Spain also has a plethora of parks that are dog-friendly. You’ll find plenty of parks and some dog-friendly beaches in the summers that are favorites with the locals and are hangout spots for both people and their dogs alike. On the weekends, you’ll find lots of people socializing here. Having your dog with you while travelling is not an issue either as long as you avoid rush hours and have a muzzle on your dog. You can take your dog with you on some trains and metros with you so that you don’t have to worry about getting to places.
At the same time, there is legal protection for people around you too. Spain has a directive called Ley de Propiedad Horizontal or the Horizontal Property Law. This protects citizens in shared living from any disturbing, dangerous, unhealthy, or illegal activities. Disturbance by pet dogs is also covered under this. If your dog is dirty or has flees, is very loud or is dangerous, it may not be allowed to live in a shared residential area. And in any case, it is a good idea to see if the place you are moving into will allow you to keep dogs as pets.
How To Bring Your Dog To Spain?
You will need to consider a few important details before you travel with your dog. Your dog must be older than 15 weeks and have been microchipped before arriving. You should accompany it yourself (i.e. the owner must accompany their dog at all times) or it should arrive within five days of your own entry into Spain. Your dog will need their EU pet passport, and they should have been vaccinated for rabies at least 21 days before arriving. Otherwise, if their risk of rabies is high they will need to get a rabies titer test. For all of their health certificates, you will require translated Spanish versions.
Another good idea is to check with your airline (or whichever other means you are using to travel) if they allow pets on the aircraft. Keeping up to date with Spain’s regulations is useless if you can’t travel with your pet in the first place! Some airlines will let you travel with your dog in the cabin while others will need them to be in the hold. If you want your dog with you in the cabin, this will usually be possible as long as they weigh less than 8 kg with the carrier, and the carrier is smaller than pre-specified measurements. This means that the carrier should be able to fit under the seat in front of you, have ventilation and a waterproof bottom. The SturdiBag, Bergan and Sherpa are good brands to get pet carriers since they are all compliant with airlines.
Regardless, check in advance which rules are applicable in your case and get all the necessary documentation ready beforehand. You should also use the time before your journey to get your dog used to the pet carrier, since they will need to be kept inside it throughout your flight. Make sure you choose a suitable carrier which will cover all of your dog’s needs, and have a blanket and necessary medication at hand so you can give it to your dog when needed.
Buying A Dog In Spain
If you have never owned a dog before in your life and just want to try out what it is like to have a pet, some animal welfare organizations will let you foster a pet and look after them in the short run. This can help you decide if you are ready for the commitment.
Where To Buy A Dog In Spain?
Buying a dog in Spain is not a very easy process. To buy a dog you might want to head to a licensed breeder or even get a preowned animal from some online websites like Milanuncios. You should check first whether the breeder has a valid license since you definitely want to steer clear of unlicensed breeding and illegal trading. If you want to get a preowned or abandoned pet, head to your nearest shelter or pet rescue center. This is a more responsible option. The center will vet potential owners through an interview and inspection to determine if your house is a suitable environment for your new dog, and then give you the pet either free of cost or charge a small fee. You will need to provide identification documents, and pet ownership details. Some of the more popular centers include Huellitas Perdidas, Pets in Spain, Adopt a Pet and Animal Rescue Spain. If you are looking for an option closer to your residence, check with your local municipality for a list of animal centers.
Where Not To Buy A Dog In Spain?
Under the new laws, the market has become more regulated and you can no longer buy a dog from a pet shop. In fact, it is outlawed to buy any animal but a fish from a pet store.
You should also be more wary of online advertisements or people who just want to sell a dog without letting you meet them beforehand. In such cases, the chances of phishing or being scammed are much higher. You should also be wary of any breeder who does not have the necessary license, or who is selling dogs that end up being different than what was advertised. These could be imported illegally in which case you could get in trouble with the law too.
What Dogs Are Banned In Spain?
Spain does not impose any bans as such on any dog breeds, and it allows all dogs into the country. However, it does have certain restrictions on dangerous breeds. The Spanish perros potencialmente peligrosos is a list of all dangerous dog breeds like the Pit bull terrier, Staffordshire Terrier, Tosa Inu and Rottweiler. Apart from these, any large dogs with strong jaws are also considered dangerous. You must register these breeds, take out liability insurance for them and they should wear a muzzle and leash whenever they are out in public.
What Are The Most Popular Dogs In Spain?
There are a number of breeds of dogs you will find in Spain, some of them being native to the country. The most popular breeds include the Papillon and Phalene, the Ibizan Hound, Catalan Sheepdog, and the Spanish Mastiff.
Owning A Dog In Spain
Owning a dog comes with a great deal of responsibility since you are responsible for your pet’s wellbeing in all aspects of life. In some cases, you could be required to take some formal training and pass inspection to ensure that you are able to take care of your dog adequately without putting it or people around you in any sort of unnecessary risk.
Dog Rules In Spain
Register Your Dog With The Relevant Authorities
In Spain if you want to register your dog, you will need to go to your veterinarian. They will be responsible for everything from giving them the necessary injections, a passport with all the relevant descriptions, and putting a microchip under their skin. This microchip is needed in case your dog is lost or runs away, when the chip will be used to track it and bring it back to you. The microchip will cost you 40 to 50 euros. Each state in Spain will have its own register but the Spanish Company Animal Identification Network (or the Red Española de Identificación de Animales de Compañía – REIAC) coordinates all of these on a national level. If it is one of the dangerous breeds, you will also need to add your dog to the Dangerous Animals Register.
Get The Necessary Vaccinations
Vaccinations against parvovirus can cost 40 to 50 euros, while the rabies vaccination will cost 20 to 30 euros. You will also need yearly booster shots. Other vaccines that are usually recommended for dogs include Hepatitis, Distemper and Parainfluenza vaccines. You might also want to consider a treatment for tapeworms in dogs, which can cost around 15 to 25 euros.
Have The Necessary Training To Handle A Pet Dog
Under recent legislation, if you wish to adopt or buy a dog, you will need to take a special training course beforehand. This will guarantee the welfare of all dogs and promote more responsible ownership while reducing the chances of animal abuse.
Dog Insurance In Spain
Dog insurance is not compulsory in Spain for most breeds. There are two types of insurance you can get: health and liability insurance for your dog. While both are not necessary to have in Spain in most cases, they can certainly help with any unexpected expenses that can arise with having a pet.
Dog liability insurance covers all damages caused by your dog to a third party. This could be anything from medical costs due to a bite, lost wages and other financial repercussions due to the injury or any other sort of damage that the third party had to face to their property or person. No matter how well your dog might be trained, accidents can happen, sometimes even in your absence. For most dogs, liability insurance will not be a requirement. However, there is a list of dangerous dogs in Spain for which you must get this insurance. These include Doberman, Pit bull terrier, Bullmastiff and Rottweiler to name a few. Some regions might also have stricter regulations in place and require liability insurance regardless of the breed. You should keep in mind that this kind of insurance does not cover any damages caused to your own property by your dog! A few companies could even refuse to insure your dog if they are a particularly dangerous breed, used as a guard dog or used in racing.
You should also consider health insurance for your dog. The cost of emergency care and regular treatments can quickly stack up and get very steep. Opting for the right insurance plan can help you save a lot in the long run and not have to compromise on the care for your pet because of the prices. If you want your pet to get the treatments they need at the right time, taking out insurance can help a lot. Typically, health plans will support surgeries, consultations, emergency appointments, cover for accidental death and over-the-phone advice. At additional cost, you can also include various other services depending on your provider. You should be mindful that if your dog is old or has a pre-existing medical condition, the yearly premium could be high for you.
How Much Does It Cost To Have A Dog In Spain?
Spain is known for its affordable cost of living compared to many other Western European countries. This is true for pet costs as well, with the prices being favorable compared to say, the United Kingdom and France. Average costs will be somewhere between 800 to 1,200 euros for a dog, with metropolitan cities being more expensive.
If you own a dog, there are several costs that you should expect to pay every year. These can include:
- The cost of purchase
- Dog license (in case of certain dangerous breeds)
- Equipment needed to make your home inhabitable for your pet (e.g. bed, bowls for food and drink, litter boxes etc.)
- Insurance costs
- Healthcare bills
- Supplementary care products
- Toys
You can find plenty of websites that can give you good estimates of owning a dog in Spain.
Conclusion
Regardless of where you go in Spain, there are plenty of landscapes and scenic places you can enjoy with your dog in the country. We hope the information above was useful and will help you live comfortably with your dog in the country while abiding by all the rules.