We have camped in the UK in small tents & in France C/O Eurosites etcWe are considering Camping next year with our new OES puppy needless to say buying a large tent as well!

For people who have camped with dogs has anyone experience of camping in France with them and if so how was it !!

if not is there anywhere I can locate a list of dog friendly campsites within the UK ?

Thanks

jude

Try http://www.greatcampingspots.com/Directory/Index.asp?Current=Welcome :)

Taylor

Hi Jude,
We've camped with our two dogs in the Loire Valley at a nice campground next to Tours in May-June 2001 :) We had a wonderful time.... we've also camped in Germany down by Breisach, Garmisch, and Chiemsee. No troubles. Everyone behaved :)
I even had a few women who were at nearby sites who told me they were more relaxed just because our dogs WERE with us. They're not guard dogs, but they excell at listening for wandering drunks :)

AA has an excellent book on European Campgrounds. It describes the amenities, provides the addresses/phone #s, and states if dogs are/are not allowed :)
If you'd like, I'll dig up the entire name and publishing info.
regards,
toodles

Hey Jude (Sorry couldn't resist :D)

You could also come over to the Channel Islands (Guernsey, Jersey) we have some fantastic beaches, cliff walks etc .... You could also do an Open Show if you came over to Jersey (if your dog is KC Registered) and if you fancied it .....

Dessie :D

Thanks for the French pointer !Great site !! spent HOURS on there last night and have lots of places to think about !!

the news that dogs are readily accepted is good too!

Now I didnt think of the channel islands!! I thought France as we could use the tunnel and not have the boat trip (dont know what you do with dogs whilst on deck!)

I dont know about ever showing him ! Keeping him clean'ish and tidy at the moment is a handful let alone to the standard for showing !!! unless grubby is in the breed requirementrs for an OES !

Thanks all!

jude minus the Hey !

Actually, I was thinking more along the lines of "Jude the Obscure", but that's a sign of a wasted classical education ;) :D :D

A lot of the campgrounds in Europe have bungalows and trailors to rent and stay in. You just bring your bedding, a grill, and your outdoor lounge furniture-- perhaps a large umbrella. They're not expensive at all -- 12-25 euros a night--usually discounts for longer stays are likely. No worries about rain, heavy winds or setting up/taking down.

Trust me, we've been in some heavy rainstorms on every trip we've been on here. At least once during the 2 week stay. Howling winds and heavy rainstorms very important when you just have a thin nylon skin between it and the elements :) The 'water resistant' tent direct from the factory needs to be gone over several times with spray waterproofer to maintain the protection.

A major suggestion for your trips..... a secure comfy crate for your OES. I'd hate to see a puppy that large trying to escape when you're in the 'bathhouse' or a bad storm. :rolleyes: :) Even if you might not use it, it is a nice insurance to have just in case :)

Have fun planning :) April and early May is still cold, damp and chilly here. A lot of campgrounds are not open until 1 June. Last year, the Loire region completely flooded from heavy damaging rains. The campground we originally planned on staying + 25 others in the region were under 5 feet of water :(

Where we are planning to go this coming summer, Dordogne region, nothing touristy opens until 1 July. I don't know why...it's warm there :)
regards,
toodles

We're going camping for a week in May with the children and the dogs - to be honest I'm dreading it but it's a get together for most of the home ed families in the UK so it'll be great for Jonathon and Ellie to go.

I'm working on the basis that if it all gets too much I'll sleep in the car with the dogs and leave Chris in the tent with the children!!!

Any tips on camping with dogs??? We'll be taking the cages and padlocks and the dogs will be sleeping in the car at night.

Fiona
x x x

Hi Fiona

I would suggest taking some windbreaks etc so that you can make the dogs a little run outside your tent/car ... they can go in there for their wees etc :D

This is what I do when I come over to the UK for Champ Shows.

Dessie

Hi Fiona,
As well as windbreaks I've even seen some people set up a gazebo in front of their tent with wind breaks around the sides of the gazebo to give a type of "awning" to the tent. That would make some difference to liveable or even just "undercover" space. Also good for get togethers of parents at night for a little beverage ;) :p:

Have you got a large tent?
Dot

I know here in Germany and the US, they've been selling "Pavillions". They're absolutely great and we have a couple of different sizes, easy to break down, and relatively lightweight to carry.
They basically have aluminum poles that form 4 posts going up into a pointy frame (3X3 meters) The Awning easily goes on and just make sure you put tentpegs to the feet into the ground and secure the awning by an attached cord. You have a roof and there are attachments for the side to purchase.

We've waterproofed ours and I put out a mat for the ground to keep things clean/dry even during rain. On any thing longer than 3 days, that's the biggest difficulty. No shoes in the tent and wear sandals around the site. It's kept stuff from blowing on us and we've sat outside during rainstorms with a nice cuppa :) We won't go camping without ours :)

That's it Eog :) we call them gazebo's here :)

You can get fancy one's and sides for them etc but some of them are really cheap here and I think they're ideal for camping. At the moment I have a trailer tent but I'm hoping to get a caravan in the spring and I don't really want an awning but I think I'd rather use a gazebo instead of an awning.
Dot

Oh well it was worth a plug ......

The dogs stay in the car on the car deck so no probs with them on the deck !!!

Dessie :D
Glorious Guernsey

In the Uk if you belong to the Carvan Club their sites are clean dog friendly and all over the Country. We belong to them and take off in our Motorhome to lovely places and Molly is more than welcome. Julieann

Hi Julieann,

I LOVE the Caravan Club sites :) Excellent quality.
Dot

Dot they are great. We love just taking off and having long weekends or mid week breaks (as hubby is a shift worker). so clean and tidy. Molly loves it sniffing all the diffrent smells at each place. Ooo want to go away again!!! :rolleyes: Julieann

Julieann you're making me wish it was time to start going away again too :( Maybe see you on one of their sites next year :)
Dot

Genuine question :) (seems difficult to ask a question without upsetting someone !!) Is it worth the hassle of the dog-passport thing just for a holiday ? Last time we went to France we put our dog in kennels. We are thinking about going again next year - but is it to late ? And is it worth the hassle ?

Daisy

Daisy,

I can't answer your question as I don't know? But we are thinking of saving up and getting Molly a passport so we can go abroad to France in our Motorhome and she can come with us. I wont leave my Molly (no offence to anyone who does use kennels) just she has been through so much before I re homed her it would not do her much good. But we are lucky and can take her with us everywhere we go. :) I would love to take Molly to France as we have family there. I think you should go for it? ;) Julieann xx

Personally I don't have a problem with kennels. Our older dog was a stray from Battersea and I was very worried about leaving him the first time. He doesn't get on well with strangers (only when we are with him !) and taking him on holiday then wasn't an option. However, the kennels that we use are run by the instructor of our training club and she kept an eye on him and said that he was fine. We did take him with us this year as the holiday was suitable for him and we have much better control over him now. I would love to take them both to France but have heard that you must visit the vets in France to get clearance to bring them home again. Seems a lot of hassle and cost to add to the holiday.

Daisy

Daisy

I got Molly from Battersea too!

Julieann :)

I can't answer that for you. From the time you get your titre results back, I think you have a six month wait..... Oops, not sure of what the policy is if you're Leaving/returning to UK.
You could check with the Defra website to see if they address it :)
For me, I LOVE France. The food makes it worthwhile :)

That is a good question! I think if we were to go further afield we may consider leavinghim with friends but camping, kids & dogs seem to go together.....I may be proved wrong here!!
The first time hubby PROUDLY announced he had booked 3 weeks camping in France for us and the 3 kids I almost fainted at the prospect ! we had a week near Paris then 2 ont he South coast and we all agreed it was the best holiday we have had!!

Our vet told us it takes up to 6 months to get a pet passport for the first time !

Never thought of taking his crate with us for the tent! thats a good idea!

jude

oo yes the food um yes going to sort out the passport!!!!!! :p Julieann xxx

You will need to start the pet passport procedures at least 7 months before you aim to return, after that you only need to keep the Rabies jabs up to date, and do the required tick and taqpe procedures before return trip, and get the certiificate. the Pets passport form lasts fro two years once issued, so you only later need the re-entry forms. Also you will need to check which countries require an Export Health Certificate fror dogs visiting or passing through their country. You usually need to get this from the vet day before leaving, and of course the dog has to pass fit to travel!

Hi Jude
We belong to the 'Camping and caravan club'. It allows you to camp on memebers only sites which are fantastic:D You get sent a brochure which lists all sites and ammenities. The dogs love it:D
Vickie

That's the fun part about camping ...the dogs REALLY love it!!!!!!! :D :D :D

been to the club website and ordered the joining form ! this seems to be the way to go !!!!

jude

Another important thing to take on a camping trip is some type of tether that can either wrap around a tree or stake into the ground, something to lay on, + a body harness for the dog since hooking to the collar is not advised by manufactures (or me ;) ) .
This way, your OES can sit outside with you, but not necessarily have to be on leash or attached to you....important for eating at the table :) :) :)
It also gives extra area to get up, sniff, change spots to shade or sun etc.....
I've had two tie-outs for years.... I just wash them everytime we get home :)

And yes, when we go camping, it's similar to a major military movement with the stuff we take --- but gosh darn it, we're comfy, clean, and dry!!!!! Oh and warm because we have a tent heater---great for the damp mornings/achy bones and drying clothes :P :D :D

I belong to both camp clubs. They are both brillant. Our motorhome is home from home and we love going away in it Molly adores it she just loves going to all the diffrent places long walks new doggie friends to make wish we could go now!!! :rolleyes: !! Julieann

Jude,
The Caravan club also allow tents on quite a few of their sites so you should look at it too. I think the Caravan club have more sites in total but both clubs are said to be really good :)
Dot