As soon as you bring a new four-legged friend to Luxembourg, the first step is to have it microchipped for identification purposes. Also remember to register the dog with your municipality within four months of its birth or adoption. If you move house or if someone else becomes the dog’s owner, you have one month to declare it.

Here’s what you need:

• A certificate issued by your regular veterinarian, giving details of your dog’s breed, electronic identification and vaccinations;
• A certificate of civil liability insurance covering any damage caused by your dog.

In addition to registering your faithful companion, you will need to pay an annual fee of at least €10, which may vary depending on your municipality. Please note that guide or service dogs (such as police, army or customs dogs) are exempt from this tax.

Fines apply if you forget to comply. So it is best not to take any chances, and do what is necessary to ensure everyone’s safety and well-being.

When you own a dog, it is important to have third-party insurance so you can have peace of mind in the event of a problem. Imagine your dog digging up the neighbour’s garden and damaging their plants, or worse, causing an accident by chasing a local cat. In situations like that, you could be held responsible for the damage caused and have to compensate the people concerned. This is where compulsory Civil Liability insurance for dogs comes in. It covers incidents where your dog causes damage to property or bodily harm to others, whether by knocking over someone on a bike or biting the postman. So, to avoid financial surprises and protect your liability, good insurance is essential!

If your LALUX contract covers Family Civil Liability, as is usually the case with your easyPROTECT Home insurance, your pets are automatically included. You can easily request the insurance certificate in your easyAPP. If, for instance, your dog bites another dog during a walk, your civil liability insurance will cover the veterinary costs.

If you have a dog in a high-risk category, there are a few extra rules to follow in addition to the usual formalities.

This applies specifically to breeds such as Staffordshire bull terrier, Bullmastiff, American Staffordshire terrier, Tosa, Pitbull and Boerbull. To own a dog of one of these breeds, you need to obtain authorisation from the Ministry of Agriculture.

For full details (in French), go to the Legilux website.

To obtain the necessary authorisation, you must present:

• A diploma proving that you have completed specific training courses at an approved dog school, such as the Hondsclub Gasperich or the LAK;
• A veterinary certificate stating that the animal has been castrated;
• Another certificate proving that the dog has successfully completed training courses (at least 24 hours of lessons);
• And a clean criminal record if you are over 18.

Dogs considered potentially dangerous must be kept on a leash at all times.

It is also a good idea to tell your LALUX agent that you own a pet, especially if it is a dog breed that is considered as “dangerous”. This will enable your agent to examine your contract and, if necessary, offer you an extension of cover for optimum protection of your faithful four-legged companion.