Niko’s tips on travelling to France!

Hello, everyone! We have had a very busy month indeed, spending our Summer holidays in France and, for the first time, we took Niko abroad with us using the Eurotunnel! Many people have asked us: how easy is it truly to take your dog to Europe with you? So, as promised, here is our short piece explaining all the ins and outs of taking your pampered pooch on your European adventures…

1. Vet check!

Okay… so, you’ve decided to take your furry friend on holiday with you. How exciting! In that case, the first thing that you need to do is make sure that your dog’s vaccines are all up-to-date. Your dog will also need to be vaccinated against Rabies if you plan to travel overseas so, if they aren’t already, then get this organised. Niko had this vaccine alongside his usual annual boosters and it lasts for 3 years.

Once you have ensured that your pooch’s vaccines are in check, book an appointment with a vet to obtain an Animal Health Certificate. (As the UK is no longer part of the European Union, this document has replaced the pet passport.) Make sure you book with a vet who is licensed to carry this out – the head vet at our local practice was able to organise ours! The cost of the AHC is in the region of about £100 (which we didn’t consider to be too steep, considering the cost of boarding kennels and the enjoyment of being able to bring Niko along with us.) The AHC appointment must be carried out no more than 10 days before you plan to leave for your holiday and it can be valid for up to 4 months for onward travel within the EU. The appointment was super easy and essentially just involved a quick routine health check, scanning of his microchip and then signing of paperwork. I think we were in and out of the consultation in less than 10 minutes!

2. Folkestone

On the day of our travels, we drove down to Folkstone to take the Eurotunnel, with Niko comfy and secure in his car hammock on our back seats. When we arrived at Folkestone, we were provided with a car label at the drive-through check-in that clearly showed we were travelling with a dog and then we followed the signs to the Pet Reception. The lovely assistant scanned Niko’s microchip and checked his Animal Health Certificate. Then, within 5 minutes, Niko had been given the go-ahead and, after a quick visit to the Walkies Area, we made our way to the train!

3. On the train…

We swiftly boarded the train and got comfy in our car for the 35 minute crossing. Niko had another drink of water and some special treats. Then, before we knew it, we were in Calais, France!

4. Making memories!

We had an awesome holiday, staying in a dog-friendly Airbnb in Normandy with a swimming pool that Niko very much enjoyed! If you do visit this region, we would recommend visiting Rouen, Bernay, Chateau Gaillard (Les Andelys) and Omaha Beach, all of which we explored happily with Niko.

5. Quick vet visit in France

Before you return from France with your gorgeous pooch, the UK’s only extra requirement is that a tapeworm treatment is administered to your dog 1-5 days before you travel home. This was super easy and cost us around 20 Euros. We found a local vet, only 10 minutes away from our Airbnb. He administered Niko with one tablet and signed our Animal Health Certificate as evidence of this. Then, we continued with our holiday!

6. Calais

As our trip came to an end, it was time to drive back to Calais to board the Eurotunnel back to Folkestone. Once again, bringing Niko along on this journey was incredibly smooth. In Calais, you visit the Pet Reception first before you check-in and, once again, this took all of 5 minutes. Niko’s microchip was scanned again and his Animal Health Certificate was checked, including the section to confirm his tapeworm tablet. Then, we were on our way home!

So, there you have it. Our tips on how to take your dog on holiday with you to France! Personally, we had a fantastic time with Niko there and it really made our trip extra special. We have already agreed that we wil definitely be taking Niko to Europe with us again in the future! I hope this explanation has been helpful to anyone who is considering taking their furry friend with them on their holibobs.

Things to remember:

• Make sure your dog’s vaccines are up-to-date (including Rabies)
• Ensure your dog is microchipped and correctly registered to you
• Get your Animal Health Certificate within 10 days of travel
• Don’t forget to visit a vet in France before you return to the UK, for your dog’s tapeworm tablet
• Ensure you don’t leave for your holiday without your Animal Health Certificate and also your dog’s vaccination record (just in case)

If you are tempted to take your snoot away with you but still have questions, please feel free to get in touch through our Contact Page.

Until next time…

Love and snoot kisses,

Berry x