Dogs and France

luena

Hiya, 1st time driving through France to Spain with my dogs. Does anyone have any tips such as dog friendly motorway stops and/or places to walk them. Especially worried about doing anything that might be considered illegal or offensive. Have heard France is dog friendly, is this true.
Thanks:)

PompeyPete

There are over 300,000 dogs living in Paris.

They create an estimated 20 metric tons of les crottes de chien each year.

Window-shop at your peril!;)

bugslet

How are you taking them across? Tunnel or ferry? Just be aware that P&O ask that you leave them in the car and don't allow a return visit during the sailing.

PompeyPete

This is a nice read....

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/expat/expatlife/8615195/The-good-life-or-a-dogs-life-The-great-division-in-France.html

catkins

Well having lived in France for a few years I found it much more dog friendly than England. Dogs are allowed in just about all hotels (if you ask if you can take a dog they query why you are asking, unlike here), they are allowed in most restaurants and lots of shops.


Service areas will allow dogs in and there is usually grassed areas for walking your dog.


I would also ask how you are getting to France. Your best bet by far is Eurotunnel as it is a much quicker journey and your dog will be with you for the whole time. The ferries make you leave your dog alone for the whole of the journey which, with the time it takes to load and unload can be 2 hours (Dover to Calais). Not only are the car decks like ovens and I have heard of 4 dogs that have died on them in the past 2 weeks, but even in cooler weather I am sure lots of dogs suffer distress at being alone with the strange smells, noises and movement of the ship. I would never take my dog on the ferry and never have even when it meant driving much further in France to get to my destination

luena

Thanks for all your replies, really helpful, especially about the motorway services. :T Was especially worried about this. Am definitely going by tunnel, my lot would just freak if I left them in the car on a noisy ferry.

PeteDoff

PompeyPete wrote: »

There are over 300,000 dogs living in Paris.

They create an estimated 20 metric tons of les crottes de chien each year.

Window-shop at your peril!;)

OH, it's the dogs that do it!