Europe with dogs? Help please
Discussion
Hi,
We are looking to travel into Europe from the UK, route planned is UK – France – Belgium – Luxembourg – Germany – Switzerland – Liechtenstein – Switzerland – Italy – France – UK.
Looking for experience and knowledge into if this will be ok with a Pet Passport? I have checked with my vet, another vet and the Defra website along with many other FAQS are as far as I can see all ok as long as they have the Rabies jab 21 days before leaving the UK and tape work treatment 1-5 days before return. Austria seems to need a blood test done 3 months prior to entry so that’s off the list but not a problem.
Has anyone doesn’t any European trips with dogs from the UK? Is there anything else we need to think of/plan? Going to see the vet again for any European vaccinations that help keep them safe. As they are Rottweilers we need to have them muzzled in public, chipped and on a short lead but no problem with complying with any of that.
How about dog cages do we need to have them in cages? We have a large suv and the dogs lie down in the boot and no one sits in the back so works for us the worry is if any countries are funny about it/legislation.
Obviously biggest fear is having an issue coming back at the UK border.
Thanks in advance
We are looking to travel into Europe from the UK, route planned is UK – France – Belgium – Luxembourg – Germany – Switzerland – Liechtenstein – Switzerland – Italy – France – UK.
Looking for experience and knowledge into if this will be ok with a Pet Passport? I have checked with my vet, another vet and the Defra website along with many other FAQS are as far as I can see all ok as long as they have the Rabies jab 21 days before leaving the UK and tape work treatment 1-5 days before return. Austria seems to need a blood test done 3 months prior to entry so that’s off the list but not a problem.
Has anyone doesn’t any European trips with dogs from the UK? Is there anything else we need to think of/plan? Going to see the vet again for any European vaccinations that help keep them safe. As they are Rottweilers we need to have them muzzled in public, chipped and on a short lead but no problem with complying with any of that.
How about dog cages do we need to have them in cages? We have a large suv and the dogs lie down in the boot and no one sits in the back so works for us the worry is if any countries are funny about it/legislation.
Obviously biggest fear is having an issue coming back at the UK border.
Thanks in advance
We take our dogs to Europe most years. I usually pop across to the vet's about 6 weeks before we go to make sure their microchips haven't moved - less worry on the return to the UK then. Our GSD's chip moved after it was done, so I have a healthy dose of paranoia about that!
Some parts of Germany are quite strict about dogs being kept on leads, although there are usually out-of-the-way places where you can take them for a run if they need some off-lead running.
Consider some kind of treatment for ticks in certain areas, too. (They've been pretty bad in our part of the UK this year, normally we don't use anti-tick measures unless we go to Germany.) We used to use tick collars for our dogs, but they didn't make much difference. They've had Bravecto this year, which has had a certain amount of negative publicity in the US but our dogs have been fine with it. I always carry a tick key on my keyring anyway, just in case.
Our dogs sit in the back of the Range Rover, which has a dog guard but no crates. Nobody has ever said anything to us about it on the Continent.
Other than that, I'd say don't forget to take water bowls for them, and we usually take a supply of their regular food with us as well so that we can switch them over to "foreign" food gradually.
Some parts of Germany are quite strict about dogs being kept on leads, although there are usually out-of-the-way places where you can take them for a run if they need some off-lead running.
Consider some kind of treatment for ticks in certain areas, too. (They've been pretty bad in our part of the UK this year, normally we don't use anti-tick measures unless we go to Germany.) We used to use tick collars for our dogs, but they didn't make much difference. They've had Bravecto this year, which has had a certain amount of negative publicity in the US but our dogs have been fine with it. I always carry a tick key on my keyring anyway, just in case.
Our dogs sit in the back of the Range Rover, which has a dog guard but no crates. Nobody has ever said anything to us about it on the Continent.
Other than that, I'd say don't forget to take water bowls for them, and we usually take a supply of their regular food with us as well so that we can switch them over to "foreign" food gradually.
Edited by SGirl on Wednesday 20th July 13:53
We've done the journey from the UK to Switzerland many times with our dogs (we now live in Switzerland, but have occasionally taken our dogs back when we've gone to visit), either directly through France, or through France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany and once through the Netherlands). We've never had a problem travelling through any of them, we've also been to Germany, Italy and Spain on holiday with the dogs and again never had a problem, this was with a German Shepherd and also with a mini bull terrier. Our dogs either travelled strapped in on the back seat, or in a crate in the back of the car.
With regards to Switzerland, be aware that some cantons have breed specific legislation, which may well affect you as you have Rottweilers, some require dogs to be muzzled, others that the dogs be leashed, if you know roughly where you're planning on going I can check for you what the rules for that area are. Also in Switzerland dogs must be secured in the car so that they cannot interfere with the driver, there are also strict laws with regards to dogs that have been docked or have cropped ears, if your dogs are then you may need a vets note stating why they are docked / cropped.
With regards to Switzerland, be aware that some cantons have breed specific legislation, which may well affect you as you have Rottweilers, some require dogs to be muzzled, others that the dogs be leashed, if you know roughly where you're planning on going I can check for you what the rules for that area are. Also in Switzerland dogs must be secured in the car so that they cannot interfere with the driver, there are also strict laws with regards to dogs that have been docked or have cropped ears, if your dogs are then you may need a vets note stating why they are docked / cropped.
First time EU dog holidaymaker here. (june 2016 to Fance). In France before return: expect a regular vet checkup, not just the tablet - weight, teeth, ears, eyes, microchip scan, quick physical exam for Ticks etc plus Tapeworm pill. EU vet will add stamps & signatures to the pet passports. Cost we paid seemed in line with UK vets, ie flippin extortionate! Had a surprise at Calais Eurostar check-in. There's a pet check-in lane before you line up for the vehicle number plate scan/check-in (look out for signs - a sharp right as you arrive on the main approach apron). You'll need to park up, take dogs & paperwork into an office (it has an exercise area outside) to get the documents checked out (can't remember whether it was just the dogs, or ours too). If you miss this check-in (as we did), your vehicle check-in will be rejected & you'll have to either turn around, or have an operator raise the barrier so you can re-route back to the pet check-in. That office will notify the Eurostar system that you are ok to join the regular check-in queue. You need to allow time for that: it added 10 minutes for us outside of school hols, so worth adding some padding onto your journey time. Worth checking with whatever operator you''ll use on your return. Enjoy the trip!
CardinalFang said:
... Cost we paid seemed in line with UK vets, ie flippin extortionate! ...!
They can vary a lot. We pay €40 or more in France but only €20 in Spain. Still a lot for one generic worm tablet and a bit of ink.Yes they do a general health-check too - I think that dates back to the time when the vet had to confirm the animal was fit to travel, but that's no longer mandatory.
Every vet we've used spoke excellent English, and seemed keen to practise it.
Eurotunnel is the easiest way, we use a harness and dog on back seat. We also take a supply of food, these are great when traveling https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bailuoni-Potable-Feeding-...
Most French Vets charge around 40 Euros for a tablet, except one horse doctor who gave them a jab and charged 10 Euros.
Most French Vets charge around 40 Euros for a tablet, except one horse doctor who gave them a jab and charged 10 Euros.
Only Spain so France and Spain obviously.
Eurotunnel. Easy as can be.
Passport coming back no issues if you have a passport and you dog is chipped. Have to have that worm tablet a day or so before you come back no problem
They hand you the scanner you scan your dog and off you go, if there is a queue it's usually because somebody hasn't read the rules and is making a fuss because their dog has to go into holding for some reason.
We use one of those clip into the seatbelt and Logan's harness I think that is the least that is required in most of Europe that there is some sort of securing, if in the main cabin not that anybody in Europe seams to bother. I can't say for sure but on boot of a 4x4 should be fine *
On thing I noticed in Europe is that they are far far more dog friendly at the Stelvio pass etc a few years ago sat in the cafes/ restaurants at the top people just walk in with the hounds. Cable cars in Austria welcome dogs etc.
Eurotunnel. Easy as can be.
Passport coming back no issues if you have a passport and you dog is chipped. Have to have that worm tablet a day or so before you come back no problem
They hand you the scanner you scan your dog and off you go, if there is a queue it's usually because somebody hasn't read the rules and is making a fuss because their dog has to go into holding for some reason.
We use one of those clip into the seatbelt and Logan's harness I think that is the least that is required in most of Europe that there is some sort of securing, if in the main cabin not that anybody in Europe seams to bother. I can't say for sure but on boot of a 4x4 should be fine *
On thing I noticed in Europe is that they are far far more dog friendly at the Stelvio pass etc a few years ago sat in the cafes/ restaurants at the top people just walk in with the hounds. Cable cars in Austria welcome dogs etc.
Edited by Pesty on Wednesday 20th July 17:56
Thanks for all the information so far, very helpful and very reassuring!
Please keep any info coming it's a useful thread for others and I'll update with our findings when we get back.
We have ours booked in for Rabies Jabs on Friday to start the Pet Passport process.
SGirl - thanks for the idea of checking where the chip is, as for the collars we were looking at Scalibor Anti-Tick Collar 48 cm https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B004L8UPCU/ref=cm_sw_r... as seem to review well and the name popped up on a few sites I looked at. Any good?
Baker77 - Unfortunatly I think Rotties are on breed lists for most of Europe apart from England so we will have to Muzzle and keep on the leads. We are lucky that although ours are rescued they still have a whole tail and non mutilated ears so that's ok.
CardinalFang - Thank you for the comments about the queuing and process at customs, we are going by ferry from Dover to Dunkirk and will Defo email the ferry company for their procedure hadn't thought of that. I had read about the vet, who did you use out of interest? I expect there are specialist vets who speak English and advertise for the business?
Positronicray - Ferry booked Unfortunatly, forgot the train existed! Those bottles are ace, we use those all the time but need to find an XL one if they exist.
Pesty - excellent news about customs being so easy. Did you have to have a rabies blood test to get into Austria I noticed they aren't on the list for no blood test? Next year we were thinking Austria and Slovenia so this was a concern.
Mexican Cuties - thanks might look into one off cover as we don't currently insure we take the gamble with savings etc. Just had a Cruciate Ligament replaced so appreciate the unexpected can happen.
Thanks to everyone else! What a great forum this is.
Please keep any info coming it's a useful thread for others and I'll update with our findings when we get back.
We have ours booked in for Rabies Jabs on Friday to start the Pet Passport process.
SGirl - thanks for the idea of checking where the chip is, as for the collars we were looking at Scalibor Anti-Tick Collar 48 cm https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B004L8UPCU/ref=cm_sw_r... as seem to review well and the name popped up on a few sites I looked at. Any good?
Baker77 - Unfortunatly I think Rotties are on breed lists for most of Europe apart from England so we will have to Muzzle and keep on the leads. We are lucky that although ours are rescued they still have a whole tail and non mutilated ears so that's ok.
CardinalFang - Thank you for the comments about the queuing and process at customs, we are going by ferry from Dover to Dunkirk and will Defo email the ferry company for their procedure hadn't thought of that. I had read about the vet, who did you use out of interest? I expect there are specialist vets who speak English and advertise for the business?
Positronicray - Ferry booked Unfortunatly, forgot the train existed! Those bottles are ace, we use those all the time but need to find an XL one if they exist.
Pesty - excellent news about customs being so easy. Did you have to have a rabies blood test to get into Austria I noticed they aren't on the list for no blood test? Next year we were thinking Austria and Slovenia so this was a concern.
Mexican Cuties - thanks might look into one off cover as we don't currently insure we take the gamble with savings etc. Just had a Cruciate Ligament replaced so appreciate the unexpected can happen.
Thanks to everyone else! What a great forum this is.
Shinobi said:
Pesty - excellent news about customs being so easy. Did you have to have a rabies blood test to get into Austria I noticed they aren't on the list for no blood test? Next year we were thinking Austria and Slovenia so this was a concern.
Unfortunately my boy missed that trip as it was when he hurt his leg. The plan was to take him but had to leave him behind we were going to do similar to you. Probably why I noticed so many dogs out there.Never taken him in the ferry because I couldn't bear to leave him alone in the car so can't comment on those customs but eurotunnel are really well organised instructions very straightforward there is only one problem I can never find the fringing entrance to the pet check in place every time I get it wrong.
Follow the paw prints to the car park of the building once in they give you something to say your dogs been checked and you are good to go.
My boy needed to stop every two to three hours or so but he's very high energy. French motorways as you probably know have very good parking spots usually with enough grass for a tennis ball throw or a hundred then off again.
Mexican cuties said:
don't forget your normal uk pet insurance does not normally cover you for when you are out of the country so might be worth talking to them about adding on overseas travel cover.
Very good point - ours didn't cover us & the insurer wouldn't change the policy. OP if you get stuck try E & L (https://www.eandl.co.uk/). They specialise in short term cover for animals travelling abroad - ie show dogs, racehorses etc. £20 for us for a month's cover - existing medical conditions excluded.Shinobi said:
SGirl - thanks for the idea of checking where the chip is, as for the collars we were looking at Scalibor Anti-Tick Collar 48 cm https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B004L8UPCU/ref=cm_sw_r... as seem to review well and the name popped up on a few sites I looked at. Any good?
You're welcome. 
Sorry though, I can't comment on the anti-tick collar you've mentioned because I've not tried those ones. We got the ones you get in a tin from the vet's, can't remember what they're called offhand. To be honest though, we've tried tick collars several times now and we've still ended up pulling ticks off both dogs (although the ticks seem to prefer our long-haired GSD to our short-haired lurcher!). If you decide to go for it, do a bit of research first because I've heard some tick collars can cause skin irritation.
I was hesitant about giving them Bravecto initially because once it's in, it's in and there's not a lot you can do about it! And there have been some cases where bad things have happened. But it's suited our dogs very well - our GSD was coming home with two or three ticks every walk recently until he had his Bravecto, but I haven't seen a tick on him since. (Well, apart from a couple trying to work out how to get down to his skin through the hairy jungle...) Apparently it kills the ticks when they bite.
Hope this helps!
Shinobi said:
I had read about the vet, who did you use out of interest? I expect there are specialist vets who speak English and advertise for the business?
Sorry Shinobi, not sure our experience would help. We were staying in a dog friendly gite, so just asked the owners for details of the local vet. Vets spoke no English but we got by! Maybe whoever is running your accommodation could help? Otherwise Google? Forgot to mention we used the Scalibor collars. No issues, other than handle with care.
Bit of a belated update but I thought it might be useful for people considering Europe with dogs.
First of all thank you to everyone who posted, all very helpful information.
The night before the trip I decided to book tickets on the Chunnel and forego our ferry tickets. Really didn't fancy leaving the dogs in the car and it was the best choice by far. Chunnel was as easy as going without dogs, even on the way back it was only a minor 10 minute stop. If anyone is wondering they have an excellent dog exercise playground on the English side with lots of things to interact with. The French side is just a toilet area but certainly adequate.
As for the trip itself it was fantastic, first night in Belgium (Followed a lovely Viper) , second night Luxembourg which I really wish we had more time in. Discovered a place known as "little Switzerland" which was very scenic with some great walks. We could have easily had 4 days exploring the smallish area.
Then onto Northern Germany, Southern Germany, Switzerland, Lichtenstein, Italy and back through France. Due to the girls being Rottweilers we had a mixed reception in some towns which we are used to. The only real problem we had was a Hotel in "Rottweil" of all places refusing us entry due to their breed. Highly frustrating as I had emailed ahead to let them know we had two Rottweilers also that we were on a sort of "Pilgrimage" to the last breeding pairs town and we followed all local rules and muzzled where necessary including a few public places where we could tell people were wary.
This was the only negative on a long trip, we aren't bothered about people's attitudes towards the breed. Where we can change opinion great we let the dogs do the hearts and mind battle. In Rottweil we had a fair few people cross the road to meet them and lots of people taking their photos especially near the statue.
All the other accommodations were very dog friendly with rugs in the rooms and would recommend most to people.
Chamonix was perfect for wandering around the outskirts with the dogs and the town was quiet off season.
Highlights for us was seeing the dogs discover snow on the Alps, playing with the villa owners Labrador each morning and being able to walk around these great places with our hounds.
For the return trip we used http://www.vetocapvert.fr as a vet. Effortless, I emailed from Italy and booked an appointment for the day before we travelled back. We supplied the tablets and she gave the girls a good check over and the tablets. Would thoroughly recommend, a personal service and wasn't expensive about £40 for the two. She liked the scalibor collars.
Leaving France we had to get out and get the dogs chips and passports checked which took about 5 mins so with a bit of exercise for the girls was about 20 minutes. So easy, thanks for the tips about locating the chips and also the Chunnel.
Finally thanks again, we will definitely be travelling Europe again with the dogs using the Chunnel. Luxembourg and the Black Forest will be where we spend our time I think.
P.S Has anyone headed north? Interested in Finland and the Arctic circle but will have to be over a longer period.![](http://thumbsnap.com/sc/1OQ2bUPK.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="http://thumbsnap.com/zwQKKZ4B" Target="_blank" rel="nofollow">[img]http://thumbsnap.com/sc/zwQKKZ4B.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="http://thumbsnap.com/QTjPNFSb" Target="_blank" rel="nofollow">[img]http://thumbsnap.com/sc/QTjPNFSb.jpg)
First of all thank you to everyone who posted, all very helpful information.
The night before the trip I decided to book tickets on the Chunnel and forego our ferry tickets. Really didn't fancy leaving the dogs in the car and it was the best choice by far. Chunnel was as easy as going without dogs, even on the way back it was only a minor 10 minute stop. If anyone is wondering they have an excellent dog exercise playground on the English side with lots of things to interact with. The French side is just a toilet area but certainly adequate.
As for the trip itself it was fantastic, first night in Belgium (Followed a lovely Viper) , second night Luxembourg which I really wish we had more time in. Discovered a place known as "little Switzerland" which was very scenic with some great walks. We could have easily had 4 days exploring the smallish area.
Then onto Northern Germany, Southern Germany, Switzerland, Lichtenstein, Italy and back through France. Due to the girls being Rottweilers we had a mixed reception in some towns which we are used to. The only real problem we had was a Hotel in "Rottweil" of all places refusing us entry due to their breed. Highly frustrating as I had emailed ahead to let them know we had two Rottweilers also that we were on a sort of "Pilgrimage" to the last breeding pairs town and we followed all local rules and muzzled where necessary including a few public places where we could tell people were wary.
This was the only negative on a long trip, we aren't bothered about people's attitudes towards the breed. Where we can change opinion great we let the dogs do the hearts and mind battle. In Rottweil we had a fair few people cross the road to meet them and lots of people taking their photos especially near the statue.
All the other accommodations were very dog friendly with rugs in the rooms and would recommend most to people.
Chamonix was perfect for wandering around the outskirts with the dogs and the town was quiet off season.
Highlights for us was seeing the dogs discover snow on the Alps, playing with the villa owners Labrador each morning and being able to walk around these great places with our hounds.
For the return trip we used http://www.vetocapvert.fr as a vet. Effortless, I emailed from Italy and booked an appointment for the day before we travelled back. We supplied the tablets and she gave the girls a good check over and the tablets. Would thoroughly recommend, a personal service and wasn't expensive about £40 for the two. She liked the scalibor collars.
Leaving France we had to get out and get the dogs chips and passports checked which took about 5 mins so with a bit of exercise for the girls was about 20 minutes. So easy, thanks for the tips about locating the chips and also the Chunnel.
Finally thanks again, we will definitely be travelling Europe again with the dogs using the Chunnel. Luxembourg and the Black Forest will be where we spend our time I think.
P.S Has anyone headed north? Interested in Finland and the Arctic circle but will have to be over a longer period.
BOR said:
IIRC, they are classed officially in Germany/parts of Germany as Class 2 Fighting Dogs, which can mean restrictions on ownership/higher Dog Tax, which means people are wary of them.
I think in Bavaria that might be the case but Germany was ok where we went, France and Italy they were classed as Class 2 working Guard dogs so we needed muzzles. Got around this pretty easily with a bit of peanut butter on the inside. By the end of the second day they were excited to get the peanut butter haha.Gassing Station | All Creatures Great & Small | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff