Anyone who wants to have a potentially dangerous dog (PPD) in Spain needs to comply with a series of requirements. This includes being in possession of a PPD licence and having pet insurance. So, in this guide we will explain how to get a licence for a potentially dangerous dog and what PPD dog insurance needs to cover.
Legal requirements to own a potentially dangerous dog
Before applying for a PPD licence, it is important that the individual concerned knows whether they meet the conditions required for this administrative licence. The following requirements are currently in place to own a PPD dog:
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Be of legal age.
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Not have been sentenced for homicide, damage, torture, crimes against freedom or against moral integrity, sexual offences and crimes against public health, association with an armed gang or drug trafficking crimes.
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Not be deprived, by court resolution, of the right to own potentially dangerous animals.
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Not have been penalised for a serious or very serious offence with any of the additional sanctions set out in the applicable regulations.
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Have the physical capacity and psychological aptitude to own potentially dangerous animals.
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Prove that civil liability insurance has been taken out so as to be covered for any damages that the potentially dangerous dog may inflict on third parties.
Anyone considering owning a potentially dangerous dog must know what the requirements are because if they do not meet one of them, they will not be authorised to own an animal of this kind nor to apply for a PPD licence.
Documents needed to obtain a licence for a potentially dangerous dog
Once you have decided who needs to apply, it is useful to know which documents are needed to obtain this administrative licence:
To process the PPD licence application, the relevant individual needs to present their national ID card, tax identification number, foreigner’s ID card, passport or residence permit.
Specifically, this is a certificate of physical capacity and psychological aptitude for owning potentially dangerous animals. Just like the psycho-technical certificate for a driver’s licence or weapons’ licence, it can obtained at specialised medical centres, where the applicant is subject to a medical examination and a psychological assessment.
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Medical examination. The aim of this is to assess the owner’s physical health and to check that they are physically able to take one the responsibility of handling a potentially dangerous dog (PPD). This is essential as these kinds of animals are often strong and physically powerful.
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Psychological assessment. And this test consists of determining the owner’s mental and emotional aptitude.
Another document required to obtain a PPD licence is a criminal record certificate which proves the absence or existence of an individual’s criminal record in the Central Registry of Criminal Records.
This document can be applied for online, in person or by post. All the details about the procedure, form 790 and the payment of fees are available on the criminal record certificate page on the Ministry of Justice website.
And to obtain the licence for a potentially dangerous dog, you also need to present information about the insurance policy. More specifically:
- The civil liability insurance policy.
- The most recent paid invoice issued by the bank or stamped by the banking entity.
It is important to clarify here that you do not need to take out insurance for a specific PPD dog.
What both the Animal Welfare Law and Royal Decree 287/2002, which Act 50/1999 develops on the legal framework of owning potentially dangerous animals, is that the dog owners must take out a policy that covers civil liability as a minimum. Essentially, the insurance needs to cover the personal and material damage that the animal may inflict on third parties.
- SegurCaixa Adeslas makes it easy to insure potentially dangerous dogs with our pet insurance.
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Also, did you know that the civil liability guarantee from the SegurCaixa Adeslas home insurance covers damages inflicted on third parties by your pet? Provided you have up-to-date documentation and pass the necessary health checks, we cover any breed of dog for any damage they may inflict on a third party.
In order to get a PPD licence, you will need to take out civil liability insurance that covers any personal and material damage that your pet may inflict on third parties. In this regard:
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The aforementioned Royal Decree 28/2002 states that the minimum scope of the civil liability insurance must not be below 120,000 euros.
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As regards the SegurCaixa Adeslas pet insurance, we offer two civil liability options for 200,000 euros.
Where and how to apply for the PPD licence
Having reached this point, you may be wondering where and how to apply for the PPP licence. If so, take note:
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You can apply online on the website of the town hall where you live. You can also apply in person at the offices of the town council or other public bodies authorised for that purpose.
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The application involves filling in a form and presenting the documentation mentioned above.
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If you prefer, some consultancies can do the application on behalf of the individual concerned.
Once obtained, the licence for potentially dangerous dogs is valid for five years and can be renewed for the same period once you present the required documentation.
We hope you now understand what the PPD licence is and how you can apply for one. But, remember: to get the licence, you need to insure the pet. So, find out all you need to know about our pet insurance with civil liability cover.
Do you have any doubts?
Get in touch with us and we will help you choose your insurance
Frequently asked questions
Potentially dangerous dogs are those considered more prone to aggressive behaviour or more likely to cause damage. Among other features, they are characterised by their short hair, large head, strong muscles, robust appearance, athletic complexion, etc.
The following dog breeds and crossbreeds are included among PPD: Pitbull Terrier, Rottweiler, Dogo Argentino, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Fila Brasileiro, Doberman, Bordeaux Mastiff, Neapolitan Mastiff, Tosa Inu and Akita Inu. Bear in mind that autonomous communities and town halls may consider other breeds to be PPD as well, so you should always check where applicable.
With the new Animal Welfare Law, both PPD dogs and other dogs must have civil liability insurance for pets.
The cost of the licence for potentially dangerous dogs varies from one town hall to another. For illustrative purposes, it can range between 25 and 150 euros.
Depending on the offence, the fine for not having a PPD licence can range from 2,400 euros to 15,000 euros.