The Canary Islands make a surprisingly good holiday for dog owners — mild all year, walkable, and increasingly geared up for four-legged guests. More and more accommodation now accepts pets, several beaches have opened dedicated dog areas, and the gentle climate means your companion can enjoy the promenades and coastal paths for most of the year. Bringing a dog does take a little planning, especially the paperwork for entering Spain and the practicalities of getting there, but it is very doable. This guide walks you through the rules, the dog-friendly beaches and stays, getting around, and — crucially in a sunny place — keeping your dog cool and safe.
Entry rules and pet paperwork
The Canaries are part of Spain and the EU, so bringing a dog means meeting the standard EU pet entry requirements. In broad terms that means a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination and the right travel document — an EU pet passport for pets travelling from within the EU, or an animal health certificate for pets coming from outside it, such as Great Britain after Brexit. Requirements, timings and the exact paperwork change from time to time and differ depending on where you are travelling from.
Pet travel rules are strict and occasionally change. Always check the current, official requirements for your specific route well in advance — ideally months ahead, as rabies vaccinations and some treatments have minimum waiting periods. Speak to your vet and consult the official government guidance for your country before you book.
Airlines and ferry operators each have their own conditions too — cabin versus hold, crate specifications, breed restrictions and booking limits — so confirm your dog's place at the same time as your own ticket rather than assuming there will be room.
Getting there and getting around with a dog
Most visitors fly in. Small dogs can often travel in the cabin with certain airlines, while larger dogs usually fly in a climate-controlled hold section in an approved crate; policies vary widely, so choose your carrier on its pet rules as much as its fares. Once you have landed, the inter-island ferries are a genuinely dog-friendly way to explore, with most lines carrying pets (typically on deck, in a carrier or on a lead and muzzle depending on the operator). For the wider logistics of moving between islands and from the airport, our getting around guide and the route planners at getting between the islands are a useful starting point.
Hire cars are the easiest way to travel with a dog on the islands, giving you the freedom to reach quiet coves and cooler high ground. Check the rental company's pet policy, bring a seatbelt harness or crate, and never leave a dog in a parked car — interiors turn lethal within minutes in this climate. Public buses (guaguas) accept small dogs in carriers on most islands, but rules vary by operator.
Dog-friendly beaches
Traditionally most Canarian beaches banned dogs, but that is changing, and several islands now have designated dog beaches (playas caninas) where your pet is welcome to swim and run. These tend to be quieter, more natural stretches rather than the main resort beaches, and they come and go as local councils adjust the rules, so it is worth checking locally when you arrive.
- Gran Canaria has opened dedicated dog beaches on both the busier south coast and the quieter east, giving day-trippers somewhere to let a dog off the lead near the water.
- Tenerife, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura each have a handful of official dog beaches, often on more remote or wilder coastline away from the main resorts.
- The wild coves of the western isles are so quiet that a well-behaved dog on a lead is rarely a problem, though there are fewer official dog beaches.
On any beach, keep to the local rules, scoop up after your dog, and rinse the salt and sand off its coat afterwards. Hot sand can burn paws just as it burns bare feet — test it with your hand, and walk on the damp sand near the water or visit early and late in the day.
Where to stay with a dog
Pet-friendly accommodation has grown a lot, from apartments and rural cottages to some larger hotels, though many resorts and all-inclusives still do not accept animals. Independent apartments, villas and casas rurales (rural houses) in the greener inland areas tend to be the most welcoming, and they suit dogs better than a busy beachfront tower anyway. Always book a room explicitly confirmed as pet-friendly rather than turning up and hoping — and check for any size limits, extra cleaning fees or rules about leaving a dog alone in the room. Our where to stay guide explains the different accommodation styles across the islands.
Heat, sun and keeping your dog safe
The single biggest issue with a dog in the Canaries is the heat, and dogs cannot sweat to cool down the way we do. A few simple habits keep your companion comfortable and safe.
- Walk in the cool hours. Early morning and evening are best; avoid the midday sun altogether, especially in the hotter south and in high summer.
- Carry water everywhere and offer it often. Dehydration and heatstroke come on fast in a warm, dry climate.
- Watch for heatstroke — heavy panting, drooling, wobbliness or collapse are emergencies. Cool the dog with water and shade and get to a vet immediately.
- Mind the paws. Hot pavement, sand and volcanic rock can blister pads; walk on shaded or damp surfaces.
- Guard against parasites. Keep flea, tick and worm treatments up to date; your vet can advise on the region-specific risks such as sandflies.
Flat-faced (brachycephalic) breeds such as bulldogs and pugs struggle badly in heat and are at real risk of heatstroke. If you own one, think carefully about whether a warm-climate holiday — and the flight itself — is fair on the dog, and take extra precautions if you do travel.
Know where the nearest vet is for peace of mind, and read our general health and safety guide for more on coping with the Canarian sun — much of the advice about hydration and midday heat applies to dogs as much as to their owners.
The bottom line
With the paperwork sorted well ahead, a carefully chosen route and a bit of common sense about the heat, the Canaries can be a wonderful holiday for you and your dog — long promenade walks, quiet coves, dog-friendly ferries and mild weather in the months when home is cold and grey. Do the planning, respect the local rules, keep your companion cool and hydrated, and you have all the makings of a happy trip together.