Has anyone taken their dog on holiday to France and how did you find it?  Are hotels, beaches, towns, countryside, people etc dog friendly?  Would you recommend it or is the whole passport for pets thing not really designed for owners to take their dogs for short trips abroad.  Just wondered if anyone out there had done this and whether it was a good experience for the dog and owner? Thanks

Great question. I'd love to know too..any parts of Europe.

I asked the French on a French forum and they say France is absolutely wonderful with their attitude to dogs. France is recognised ( can't remember by what organisation )  as the most dog friendly country in Europe. 

I've been looking at a  brochure for a company that rents out cottages, gites etc all over france.  One of the search criteria is pet friendly.  There are loads of gorgeous places which allow dogs and having seen how my boy adored the beaches of cornwall etc i thought how nice it would be to take him further afield.  I wonder if there would be a language barrier for the dogs!!

Hi we found this website helpful when looking for somewhere in France but decided it would be easier just to go somewhere in the UK in thend.  http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/pet-friendly-holiday/26/ideas/ Its a site associated with rightmove, so should be trustable.

Thanks for that - did you decide against it because of the passport for pet issues?

Yeah, it would have been fine although hard work until we got to the part that said you have to take your dog to a vet in France before re-entry. For some reason that doesn't sound appealing on holiday. A little thing really. (Personally I'd prefer to take my dog than leave him in kennels, but the family dont agree.)

Never taken any of my own dogs abroad but a friend lives in France and owns Sarloos.  Very dog friendly over there, can take the dogs to restaurants etc.  Only thing to be away of is where my friend lives they do have a hunting season and you have to make sure your dogs are on lead as the hunters are allowed and will shoot anything moving....they have overcome this by purchasing a small wood and the hunters are not allowed in there.

As we are located so close to France it's a place we've visited often. For day trips or longer.
They are the most dog friendly of places I have ever visited! In fact dogs are taken for granted in most establishments.

Karen

Not sure about France, but I can confirm that the Netherlands, Germany and Austria are very dog friendly.  I have travelled through them on numerous occasions with the girls and stopped overnight in hotels/motels on spec and had not problems at all finding a room - some charge a few extra euros for cleaning.  Germany also has many Rasthaus' (service) on the rural parts of the autobahns which have nice walks into the countryside.  They even have bowls of kibble and water put out near the entrances to the Service restaurants in Austria and Germany - well at least at the various ones I have stopped off at.  :D 

Thanks every one for your posts - very tempted now - just need to send him on a language course!

We are taking ours to france this year. They are well seasoned camper van travellers and will love it I'm sure. The passports are expensive and you need to get them blood tested for antibodies 6 months before you travel. They must of course be up to date on their other jabs too. You can take a dog out anywhen after the blood test have come back positive, but can't bring them back in pre the 6 months and they must of been to see the vet in France, not more than 48 before catching the ferry. We are going in June, so ours were jabbed and tested in November.
Hope you have a great holiday.

Oh, and then boosters every 2 years, ON THE DOT, which are a the same kind of costs for other boosters. This will mean that you will not have to plan the trips, but just go, anytime you fancy.

Hi  I live in France and can confirm that on the whole it is a very dog friendly country, most hotels, gites and restaurants will allow dogs!  There are laws here for muzzling dogs when outside the home and some breeds that may not be included in the UK may be included here so might be an idea to check, otherwise I'm sure you'll enjoy yourselves!!

Jan

How do you check that, please Jan?

Checked it on the French Embassy website. Rotties are guard dogs and there are laws for them! Phew, not Dobes though.

Hi Viv

I'm looking on http://www.ambafrance-uk.org/ but can't see anything about dogs - sorry could you poss point me in the right direction.

Many thanks
Liz

Liz,
Your in theright site. There is a link under importation of animals into France on a temp basis and you'll find the information there.
Viv

Brilliant - found it.  Thanks v much
Liz

I appreciate the post might be done with, but I went to Berlin at christmas, and one of the nicest surprises I've ever had was in a big clothes department store when a big lovely golden walked past. (obviously with owner. Not browsing for blouses!)

What could be better? Shopping AND dogs!!!

I've advised my husband that we need to move to germany pronto.

Actually we are going to France in the Summer and have been before (not with our dog though).  Lots of the hotels take dogs, and you can take them in the restaurants.  Quite often there would be a dog seated with their owners.  I know some people don't like it, but the French seem fine!