If you’re a dog owner in Spain, it’s important to be aware of the rules and know when and where you can let them loose to run around.
Spain is home to millions of dogs. According to the latest official stats, it is believed there are around 9.5 million of them.
Whether you’re already a dog owner, are considering getting one or are moving your dog over to Spain from abroad, it’s important to be a responsible pet owner and familiarise yourself with the rules and laws.
One of these is of course when and where your dog must be kept on lead and where it is allowed to run free.
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Some dogs may not like being on lead most of the time, but it’s important that they are in certain situations for their own safety, that of other dogs and people. It also lessens the chance of them peeing or pooping without their owners knowing, or enter areas that they shouldn’t.
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Spain’s Animal Welfare Law states that dogs cannot be off-lead unless they are in certain designated areas.
Article 26 of the Animal Welfare Law states that the person responsible for the dog must “take the necessary measures to prevent its movement from causing annoyance, danger, threat, or damage to people, other animals, or property”.
Article 27 also states that “animals may not roam in public spaces without the direct supervision of the responsible person”.
In addition, it prohibits “leaving animals loose or in conditions that could cause harm in public or private places with public access, especially in national parks, livestock grazing areas, or other protected natural spaces where they could cause harm to people, livestock, or the natural environment”.
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The rules are put in place in order to prevent incidents with other people and to protect wildlife.
There have been various scientific studies which have shown that unleashed dogs can disrupt ecosystems, chase or attack wild animals, and even transmit diseases. There are also more chances of the dog getting lost, being involved in a car accident, or encountering other animals such as wild boars.
Even though many people let dogs run off-leash in city parks and gardens and it’s generally accepted, technically they are only supposed to be let loose in designated dog areas.
The exact rules surrounding this can vary between Spanish municipalities though.
For example, since December 18th, 2023, Barcelona has strictly enforced its animal protection ordinance, which stipulates that dogs must always be kept on a leash in public spaces, except in areas specifically designated for their exercise.
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According to the city council, there are a total of 200 of these zones across the city. Barcelona also has over a hundred designated areas where dogs can be off-leash during specific times, covering a total area of 921,953 m².
Unlike designated dog parks, these are open spaces throughout the city and include squares, certain streets and other public areas, where dogs are allowed off-leash during morning and evening hours. To find out all the hours in different areas, follow this link. Outside of these designated times, dogs must be kept on a leash.
In Madrid, city council rules state that dogs may be off-leash only during between 7pm and 10am in winter and between 8pm and 10am in summer. There are certain exceptions though in some gardens where dogs are not allowed at all.
In Valencia, locals regulations state that dogs must be kept on a lead in public places and may be allowed to run loose in designated areas and at designated times established by the City Council. Check with your local ayuntamiento or town hall to find out when these are.
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When it comes to letting dogs run free on beaches, each municipality is responsible for developing its own specific regulations.
It’s very common for dogs not to be allowed on some beaches at all during the summer months, even if they’re on the lead.
Some coastal areas may have specific dog beaches or dog areas though, or rules which allow pooches to roam free on beaches during the winter months.
It’s best to check local regulations in your area first before letting them run around the beach.
Failure to comply can typically result in fines.
These can depend on where you live in the country as well as the severity of the offence and damage caused.
In some places this could be between €90 and €300, with higher fines for breeds of dogs which are considered dangerous. These include Pitbull Terrier, Rottweiler and Staffordshire Bull Terrier, among others.
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Other places have much higher fines, from €500 to €10,000 depending on what happened and the type of dog involved.
For example, if a dog enters a children’s play area it will be higher or if it’s a dangerous dog that isn’t wearing a muzzle.
In Valencia, there have been several reports of people being fined €150 for letting their dogs loose in parks, without being in specific designated dog areas. Some of them even had to pay an increased fine of €270.
In Barcelona, a TikTok user claimed he was fined €1,000 in a park, which wasn’t a specific dog park.
And in Madrid, the City Council has established fines for violations ranging from €300 to €3,000, depending on the severity of the infraction.
