I've just bought a dog, do I have to insure it?

Dogs can cause a whole host of claims, in general owners only think of the injuries they may cause to other people, but they can also lead to death or even damage to property, as for example in traffic accidents when they run out in front of a vehicle on the road. For all these reasons, the main risk to insure is that of Third-Party Liability, i.e. dog-owners may be asked to compensate the damages arising out of the actions of their dogs.

To prevent unpleasant situations stemming from bodily injuries or material damage our dogs may cause to other people, the solution would be to take out a specific third-party liability policy to provide cover for the dog, or else a comprehensive household policy which usually includes a guarantee for third party liability cover as the owner or user of a home and as the head of a family. In principle, this would cover our liability for the dog.

However, it must be remembered that, for certain breeds of dog, due to their characteristics or dangerousness, the Regional Governments in Spain may require their owners to take out compulsory third-party liability insurance. In those cases, dog-owners should consult with their insurer whether the dog is already covered by their comprehensive household policy or if it is necessary to take out, in addition, an extra policy or pay a premium supplement on the normal policy.