Potentially Dangerous Dogs
The following rules apply to the import into Spain of potentially dangerous dogs exclusively from the United States or Canada. Please read also the requirements in the section about dogs, cats and ferrets.
Royal Decree 287/2002 of March 22 regulates the requirements to own canine animals deemed to be potentially dangerous, developing the legislation established under Law 50/1999. This page is intended exclusively as a brief explanatory guide on the requirements necessary to own potentially dangerous dogs in Spain. You may read the complete text of Royal Decree 287/2002 here, or read the complete text of Law 50/1999 here (both in Spanish only).
How do I know if my dog is classified as potentially dangerous?
The Royal Decree classifies the following dogs as potentially dangerous:
a. Those belonging to one of the following breeds and their crosses:
- Pit Bull Terrier
- Staffordshire Bull Terrier
- American Staffordshire Terrier
- Rottweiler
- Dogo Argentino
- Fila Brasileiro
- Tosa Inu
- Akita Inu
b. Those animals that have all or many of the following characteristics:
- Strong musculature, powerful or athletic constitution, robustness, agility, vigor and endurance.
- Strong character and marked courage.
- Short hair.
- Thoracic perimeter between 60 and 80 centimeters (24 and 32 inches), height at the shoulder between 50 and 70 centimeters (20 and 28 inches) and weight over 20 kg (44 lbs).
- Voluminous, square, robust head, with a wide and large skull and muscular and pronounced cheeks. Strong and large jaws, robust, wide and deep snout.
- Broad, short and muscled neck.
- Broad, thick, deep chest, with arched ribs and short and muscled back.
- Straight, parallel and robust forelegs and very muscular hindquarters, with relatively long hindlegs at a moderate angle.
c. Those dogs with a record of aggressive tendencies or prior attacks to humans or other animals.
What are the requirements necessary to own a potentially dangerous dog in Spain?
The requirements are:
Potentially dangerous dogs must be identified with a microchip. They also must be registered in the Town or City Registries created to that end. The dog owner must have a license, issued by the municipality, valid for five years. In order to qualify for a license, the owner must meet the following requirements:
- Must be 18 years or older.
- Must have a clean police record showing no convictions for the crimes of homicide, torture, assault, sex-related offenses, drug trafficking, association with illegal armed groups, or otherwise having been banned by court order of the right to own potentially dangerous animals. These requirements must be documented with the appropriate certificates issued by the police authorities with jurisdiction over the owner's place(s) of residence during the two years prior to the application for license.
- Must be mentally and physically able to own and control potentially dangerous animals. This requirement will be documented with the appropriate certificates (certificate of physical aptitude and certificate of psychological aptitude) issued by authorized centers in Spain.
- Must have proof of contract of an insurance policy on the animal(s) with a liability coverage of at least 120,000 euros.
The owner must report any changes to the information included in the license to the Town or City Registry within fifteen days of the effective date of the change.
What are the safety measures required by law?
The safety measures required by this legislation are the following:
When a potentially dangerous dog is in a public space, the owner or person responsible for the dog must carry the owner's license and the certificate of inscription of the dog in the Town or City Registry. In addition, the dog must wear at all times an appropriate muzzle, and must be restrained by a non-extensible leash or chain no longer than 2 meters (6,5 feet). At any given time, one person cannot lead more than one dog.
Potentially dangerous dogs located in an open, delimited space (land lot, porch, terrace, etc.) must be restrained by a chain or leash, unless the space is properly enclosed.
Finally, owners must report missing or stolen dogs to the Town or City Registry within 48 hours after the animal is determined missing.
In summary, following is a checklist with some of the requirements to take a potentially dangerous dog to Spain:
Before you leave the United States:
- Obtain veterinary certificate (see details in the Dogs, Cats, and Ferrets section);
- Obtain certification of owner's police record;
Once in Spain:
- Obtain certificate of physical ability;
- Obtain certificate of psychological aptitude;
- Purchase liability insurance;
- Apply for registration at the Town or City Registry of Potentially Dangerous Animals and obtain the license.
- Comply at all times with the safety measures.
Please see also our frequently asked questions section.