What you need to know about taking the dog to France
With a coastline edged by soft, sandy beaches, Alpine mountains for long summer hikes, and a host of chic cities with plenty of dog-friendly terraces to experience a little joie de vivre, France is an intrepid dog’s adventure playground. And with various transport options for getting there now, it’s easy to take a trip to the continent with the dog in tow – it just requires some planning ahead. Here’s what you need to know about taking your dog on holiday to France.
Get your paperwork in order
Unless you’ve got an EU Pet Passport that was issued in one of a limited number of EU countries, you’ll now need to follow the post-Brexit rules for travelling with your dog to France. Your dog will need an up-to-date rabies vaccination well before you travel, and no more than five days before you arrive in the EU they will need to be given a wormer by a veterinary professional. This is usually best done alongside your Animal Health Certificate (AHC) which must be completed within the 10 days before you go. The AHC typically costs between £120 and £200 depending on your veterinarian, and it can only be used for one trip.
Bring the AHC with you in the car so you can show your dog’s paperwork on arrival in France, and bring a spare copy of their vaccination record and microchip number just in case.
Make sure you’ve got the right kind of food
One of the trickier parts of travelling to France with a dog is the food. As a result of post-Brexit rules, we are no longer allowed to bring meat or dairy products into the European Union. Unless your dog is already on a meat-free diet, this means they’ll likely need to eat an alternative while on holiday. Of course, changing their diet needs to be done gradually to ensure they don’t suffer from gastrointestinal issues, so you could either move them onto a vegan dog food in advance of your trip so you can bring it with you, or change their food to a brand available in France, such as Royal Canin.
How to travel to France with your dog
Once the paperwork and food conundrum is sorted, you’ve got plenty of options for getting to France with the dog. Our favoured route is the Folkstone to Calais LeShuttle route: not only is the drive-on, drive-off rail service the fastest and easiest way to get to the continent, it’s also the most pet-friendly. There’s a dedicated pet check-in area, a dog park with artificial grass for pre-trip toilet needs, and you get to stay with your dog inside the car for the 35-minute journey.
There are pet-friendly ferries, too, of course, with the P&O Dover–Calais route equipped with a Pet Lounge on board so you can keep them with you at all times. Brittany Ferries has connections from Portsmouth to Caen or Cherbourg, and Plymouth to Roscoff, all with dog-friendly cabins, though it’s worth noting dogs must be muzzled when in public areas on these ships. Most ferries have onboard kennels which can be booked in advance, too.
How to keep your dog calm on the journey to France
Whether you’re in a pet lounge, in the car on the Eurotunnel or leaving them in kennels for the journey, it’s important to ensure your dog remains calm and happy throughout the trip. Always make sure your dog has had a chance to exercise a little before boarding any transport to France, and that they’ve relieved themselves so there are no accidents. On board, you might want to give them a long-lasting chew or bone while they sit with you in your cabin or lounge. This will give them something to focus on during the journey so they’re less likely to become stressed. If your dog is in kennels, perhaps leave them with a stuffed Kong or Lickimat to help keep them calm, as it’s often noisy down on the car decks where the kennels are located.
Dining with dogs in France
The French love their dogs, so you’ll find that lots of restaurants – unless we’re talking white tablecloths and fancy silverware – will allow you inside with your companion, or on the terrace outdoors to bask in the sunshine. It’s unlikely they’ll be allowed into takeaway places such as boulangeries, but if you can send a member of your travel party into a bakery to retrieve your lunch baguette or pastry, picnicking on benches throughout towns and cities is another lovely option. Just remember that dogs can suffer heat stroke in temperatures as low as 20°C, so be sure to keep them cool in the shade and hydrated with water if dining outside.
Using public transport with dogs in France
SNCF is the main rail provider in France and all dogs are allowed on board trains for a fee as long as they’re on a lead and muzzled. In the capital, the Paris metro, trams and buses generally only allow small dogs in carriers. While lots of locals don’t necessarily follow this rule and you might well see the odd Husky or Labrador making their way across the city underground, if you’re caught breaking the rules you can face hefty fines so it’s best to abide.
Are dogs allowed in parks and on French beaches?
It’s very similar to Britain. Dogs are usually allowed in parks but you should look out for signs specifying any bans. Most guarded beaches in France implement a dog ban during summertime (mid June through September), so you’ll need to seek out “wild” beaches with no lifeguards, or year-round dog-friendly beaches; see some of our favourite dog-friendly beaches in northern France here.
With the exception of Cévennes National Park, most French national parks have a complete ban on dogs so beware that breaking these rules might result in a fine.
Vive la France
This article is part of Vive la France, the home of inspiring itineraries and stories from travel writers and our team, to help you plan your next French adventure.