Hi All

We are looking to take the dogs on a camping holiday to France early September. Can anyone recommend any areas/places which are dog friendly and with nice walks? We do not want to travel too far into France approx 3.5/4hours at most. So far we have been looking at Champagne region around Saint Dizier as we thought Lac Du Der looked nice, anyone been to this area?

Thanks

I can't help but I am keen to know too.

and with nice walks?

Its a good job you looked into this - It is illegal to let any dog offlead in any public in the entire country (yes parks etc), they are only allowed offlead on private land, and, they do enforce that law.

Its a good idea to look into the dog laws in any other country, I know that in Austria if a dog is offlead in their woods a warden will shoot it no warning, no, questions asked. In Germany around 40 odd breeds come under their dangerous dogs act, stupid things euivilent of Labs etc, what they are like on enforcement I dont know.
.

>Its a good job you looked into this - It is illegal to let any dog offlead in any public in the entire country (yes parks etc), they are only allowed offlead on private land, and, they do enforce that law.<br />

That's really strange as I have often seen dogs loose with their owners in shops.

Hi Hethspaw
Can you provide a source for this information? Would be interested to read. I travel to France every year and was not aware of a blanket law that dogs were not permitted off lead.

Thank you.

Can you provide a source for this information? Would be interested to read. I travel to France every year and was not aware of a blanket law that dogs were not permitted off lead.

It was some French female on another forum, within this past year or so, who came out with it, I asked her if she meant a blanket ban & she said it was & added they had started enforce it everywhere more within the 12 months preceading her post, I never kept a link though.
.

This page about pets in France makes no mention of having to be on a lead all the time.

This page mentions on-lead for Category 1 and 2 dogs under the French DDA, but that doesn't apply to the majority of dogs.

This page about pets in France makes no mention of having to be on a lead all the time.
This page mentions on-lead for Category 1 and 2 dogs under the French DDA, but that doesn't apply to the majority of dogs

I cant remember what breed the person said she had, if she said, I know I was surprised about it but then I was surprised years ago when an Austrian female told me no holds bared shoot to kill dogs offlead in woodland (Austria is full of it).

Maybe DEFRA might be able to give some direction to this question.
.

That's really strange as I have often seen dogs loose with their owners in shops.

Why is it strange? shops are private property.
.

We are looking to take the dogs.....

I think it's probably a good idea to call these, its what came up when I googled 'calais gendarmerie', maybe call them, its crossed my mind that the Calais gendarmerie will probably have english speaking there,

http://bit.ly/1ileLop
.

this is the best place to ask its an expat forum in France

http://riviera.angloinfo.com/forum/index/105/2/pets-and-animals/0/
.

Hi,
I did check a number of forums and with some French colleagues. No such blanket ban exists to the best of their knowledge.

Well I live in France and numerous French people walk their dogs around the local town without a lead. there are certain beaches where dogs are not allowed, sometimes a seasonal thing. There are rules and regs about certain category dogs but that is about having insurance etc but nothing about leads. Also fully agree with Barbara on the shock collars, a very dangerous weapon.

This has not been my experience. I'm travelling to France today with dogs. We have a beautiful forest near us but sadly notices abound regarding the requirement to keep dogs on lead. I queried this a few years ago and was astonished/horrified by the response that this was required to prevent dogs disturbing deer etc which would mean they would be difficult to find and kill during the  hunting season. There are signs quoting a law passed in 1987 regarding the need for dogs on leads.
I rarely see dogs being walked in our area of France. They are normally chained up outside or at best behind bars in dog runs. It can be quite terrifying walking past them as they charge and bark aggressively as me and my dogs walk past.
Crossing Paris with dogs is a nightmare. They are banned from all public transport and, of course, taxis will refuse to take anything larger than a handbag sized dog. They are allowed on intercity trains but at a price.
We are so fortunate in the UK. Let's hope it lasts !

Forest near us don't have any signs, but then I wouldn't walk my dogs in the forest areas when the Chasse is out as they can get gun happy.