An easy guide to taking your dog to Europe

Dogs are part of the family, no question. Which is why more and more people are opting to take their fur babies on holiday with them than ever before. I’ve written this post to help anyone looking for an easy guide to taking their dog to Europe; what you’ll need, what to expect during the border crossings, as well as some more general advice.

The UK has seen a huge rise in demand for dog friendly accomodation, activities and places to eat. We are extremely lucky in this country that the majority of places do allow dogs, and down here in Cornwall dogs really are welcome almost everywhere.

However, taking your dog abroad is a little bit more difficult. Since Brexit there is a lot more paperwork, plus vaccinations, border checks, and increased costs. But this shouldn’t put you off – taking our dog Merlin across Europe all the way to Norway was a wonderful and rewarding experience for him and for us, and once we had figured everything out it ended up feeling pretty easy.

Disclaimer

PLEASE NOTE! Laws change all the time – please double check the most up to date information on the official government website: https://www.gov.uk/taking-your-pet-abroad

What you’ll need to take your dog to Europe

Before Brexit all your precious pup needed to go abroad was a pet passport (which you only had to organise and pay for once) and a rabies vaccination, which you only had to redo every 1-3 years.

Now to go abroad, all dogs must have an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) – a roughly 20 page document that you have to obtain anew EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. you go abroad.

How to get an AHC

The AHC is relatively easy to get but does require some preplanning – there are specialist companies all over the UK who do them, and this is often the cheapest option. I’ve seen prices range from £80 to £120 depending on whether you are also getting vaccinations done with them or if you are just after the document itself. Either way you will have to travel to pick up the documents with your dog so the vet can scan their microchip.

Some veterinary practices also offer AHCs but not all – it’s worth checking with yours if they do them or if they have recommendations for alternative local companies. We were lucky that just before our trip, we had moved to a new vet who did offer this service, and at a reasonable price.

The requirements for an AHC are simple: the dog must be microchipped, and be vaccinated against rabies. The rabies vaccine has to be administered at least 21 days before the AHC can be issued, and costs an additional £100 or so. Depending on the manufacturer of the vaccine, it can last anywhere between a year to 3 years so you don’t have to keep redoing it if you take multiple trips in that time period.

One of the most difficult things about getting an AHC is the timing – it has to be filled in by a vet no more than 10 days before the date of travel. Book an appointment as far in advance as possible so the vet has plenty of time to get the relevant information from you (they may email you with a form to fill in) and then also create the animal health certificate. It is a long and tedious document and must be in both English, and the language of the country you are entering Europe through (for most people this will be France, but not always).

Your AHC appointment

During your appointment the vet will scan your dog’s microchip, confirm all the information about your dog’s vaccination history and dates of your trip, and then print out the document which you both must then sign, and they must also stamp in several places.

I have heard horror stories of information not being filled out correctly (for example one incorrect digit in the microchip number or date of issue) or a missed stamp on one page, and the dog not being allowed entry across the border. Please double and triple check all information is correct before leaving the veterinary practice!

What else you might need

If you are taking your dog to Ireland, Northern Ireland, Finland, Malta or – like we did – Norway, then you will also need to visit a vet between 1 and 5 days before you are due to arrive in that country to get tapeworm treatment for your dog.

This doesn’t mean 1-5 days before entering Europe, but the particular country on the above list. For example, if you are due to enter Norway on a Friday morning at 8am, then you must have the tapeworm treatment done by a vet no earlier than the previous Monday at 8am, and no later than Thursday at 8am.

This is an insanely tight window for most people, and along with the 10 day rule for the AHC, can get confusing and chaotic. Our vet did our AHC and tapeworm treatment at the same time, the day before we drove to France. This gave us a few days to reach Norway before the treatment expired, but it was a little stressful!

Another way around this…

HOWEVER, there’s a way to avoid the mad dash across Europe. You can get the tapeworm treatment done with a European vet, once you have entered the EU. For example, you could stop in France, Belgium, Germany or Denmark on route to Norway and ask a local vet to administer the tapeworm tablet, and note it in the AHC. The tablet must contain an ingredient called praziquantel, and the make and manufacturer specified in the document.

Once again please double check the information is entered correctly on the AHC, and the vet has signed and stamped the appropriate section. Most vets in Europe are very familiar with this practice, but not all. And while 90% speak English, it can’t be assumed. I like to look up the words for ‘tapeworm’, ‘health certificate’ and ‘stamp’ beforehand, in whatever language I’ll need. Just to make sure we are on the same page.

Read on to find out how to find a vet in Europe!

What you’ll need to come back to the UK

To re-enter the UK after your holiday, you will once again have to visit a vet in the EU to administer the tapeworm treatment, 1-5 days before crossing back into the UK.

This requires a little bit of advance planning again, but not as much as you’d think. Most vets in Europe will give you an appointment on the same day, and some have ‘walk in clinics’ where you can turn up between certain hours to see a vet without prior arrangement. This is helpful if you don’t know exactly where you will be and when.

In terms of prices these vary grately. Generally speaking, the closer you are to the border between France and the UK, the more expensive it is. I guess this is because it’s a ‘last chance’ to get the treatment before crossing and people will pay top dollar!

We had Merlin’s done in Germany for 30 euros (roughly £26) on the same day, which we thought was reasonable, but I know there are vets charging upwards of £100 (NEVER pay that unless you have to!) and some who are happy to do it for free. A little bit of shopping around is encouraged – send a few emails and make a couple of calls before deciding where to go.

Probably the most helpful resource I found for this is a Facebook group called ‘Map of recommended vets for tapeworm treatment’ (catchy, I know) which has a list of vets that people have used, along with the prices they were charged, whether or not the practice spoke English, and how easy it was to get an appointment. This list is by no means comprehensive, but it’s a good starting point if you are feeling a bit overwhelmed by the prospect.

Ferry or train?

When we were deciding whether to take the ferry from Dover or Le Shuttle (formerly known as Eurotunnel) from Folkestone, it was a no brainer.

The ferry takes around 1.5 hours, while the train just 35 minutes! Apart from that it’s a lot quicker driving on and off the train, and there are twice as many crossings a day via Le Shuttle (up to 76, whereas there are only 34 ferry crossings).

In terms of price both the ferry and train vary greatly depending on the time of year and how far in advance you book. However, as Le Shuttle accepts Tesco clubcard vouchers, we ended up paying significantly less, despite travelling in June.

In terms of comfort, some ferry providers offer ‘pet lounges’ on board, where your dog is able to stay with you rather than remaining in the vehicle on their own. Others offer options of either kennels, or for your pet to stay in the car for the duration of the crossing. You are unlikely to be able to visit the car deck whilst at sea, so if it’s particularly hot, if the sea is particularly choppy, or if your dog gets anxious, I wouldn’t recommend this.

As Le Shuttle only takes half an hour, you and your dog remain in your vehicle the whole way, which – in our campervan – suited us great. We could all could relax in familiar surroundings, and there wasn’t any stressful walks between the car deck and the lounge like on the ferry.

Ultimately it is possible to take your dog on both modes of transport, and you know yourself which would suit you and your pooch best. But personally we will always use Le Shuttle going forward.

Le Shuttle – what to expect on the day

Our train to France was booked for 4:30am. Matt and Merlin were both understandably cursing me when our alarms went off at 2:30am, but if you can handle the early start I really do recommend it: it is so much quieter, and therefore quicker, if you go at an unsociable hour! In fact it was so quiet that they put us on an earlier train, which made the drive through Europe go more smoothly too (we whizzed through France and Belgium before the rush hour had even begun!)

When you arrive at Le Shuttle you’ll follow signs to check in, where your hangar ticket will be printed via an self service machine. You’ll then follow further signs to the Pet Reception. This is open 24/7 and the staff are surprisingly chipper and friendly for people working in the middle of the night!

They’ll scan your dog’s microchip, and stamp page 8 of the AHC to show that you have entered the EU via France. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT: If you do not get this section stamped then you may be refused entry to Norway, or any of the other countries on the above mentioned ‘non-EU’ list.

Once all your paperwork is in order, you have the option to visit the dog exercise area (highly recommend for that final pee and case of zoomies) as well as the passenger terminal where you can grab a coffee and chill out in the pet friendly lounge.

Boarding

When you’re ready for boarding, you’ll follow signs to go through both the British and French border controls, so have your passports ready.

If you are in a campervan you will likely get pulled over for them to check your gas is disconnected, so allow a few extra minutes for this. Then you are ready to board the train.

There are no border controls on the other side; you drive off the train in Calais, straight onto the motorway. It’s as easy as that!

Here is the link to their site if you are ready to book: https://www.leshuttle.com/uk-en

Things to consider when taking your dog to Europe

First off all, every country in Europe is different when it comes to dog laws. This will not only vary by country but also specific area and time of year – for example France has dog bans on certain beaches, either year round or only during the summer months. Other beaches have dedicated areas for dogs, away from families and holiday makers. It’s important to do your research thoroughly for each spot, and adhere to signs when you arrive.

Leash laws

Most places in Europe are strict on leash laws. In fact, don’t be surprised if your dog has to be on a lead the entire holiday. There are dog parks in most cities and some countries, such as Denmark have what they call ‘dog forests’ – areas in woodlands which are fenced off so your dogs can run freely without disturbing protected wildlife.

Eating out

Many cafes and bars allow dogs to sit outside, but it’s rare to find places where they are allowed indoors, especially if the establishment serves food. In the summer this isn’t much of a problem, but in colder or rainier months its worth thinking about before you go.

Accomodation

All campsites we came across allowed dogs, and some hotels allow furry guests at an additional fee, much like the UK. I always double check before booking a hotel just how ‘dog friendly’ it really is – namely are dogs allowed in all areas of the hotel, including the restaurant? Are dogs allowed on the bed/on furniture in the room? Does the hotel provide any additional products for dogs such as water bowls, treats or blankets? Are dogs allowed to be left alone in the room? Different things are important to different people and their pets so it’s worth asking to ensure you get the best experience, and avoid any fines!

So there you have it – an easy guide to taking your dog to Europe. If you have any questions about the AHC, Le Shuttle, or anything else, please feel free to drop me a message. I’ll be happy to help if I can. Otherwise I hope you and your pooch have the BEST time abroad!