Ferry travel with a dog
hi all, thinking of taking the van to France for the 2nd time but this time taking our dog. Looking at Dover/Calais, she travels well in the van but was looking for advice, feedback on the process. Was considering taking a crate for her to stay in for the crossing?
Any advice/input would be gratefully accepted
happy travels Steve
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Hi Steve,
To get you started with some advice and information please see our Overseas Holidays Section. I am sure lots of Members will give you lots more advice but this will give you a start.
Kind Regards
Tracy
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If your going Dover/Calais use le tunnel it costs a bit more but the poch stayes's with you, we've nearly always use le tunnel but last year due to booking late used the boat and the other half spent the crossing worried about the poch due to the bad weather and if you have tesco tokens use them.
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We are taking our dog on the channel tunnel, what we have saved in kennel fees, if we left him at home, has just about covered the cost of the crossing.
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Dont forget you can also use Tesco vouchers on DFDS and according to the DFDS website you can visit your pet during the crossing with a member of the boats crew. Based on a recent booking we made DFDS worked out way cheaper than the Eurotunnel.
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My vote for the Tunnel when with a dog.
Only a short crossing, the dog with the owners all the time meaning less stress for you and the dog and what would you do with the crate whilst away?
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By your post it seems you have a preference for the ferry, that's fine and your choice
We are only about 10 miles east of the Hull ferryport, but travel down to Folkestone and use the tunnel. Our dog is not quite laid back around strange noises and I sit with her with the rear car hatch open during the tunnel ride, its less stressfull for her on the short 35 minute journey and worth the extra in cost, which although I have never compared I'm sure there is one.
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Hi Steve,
We tow with a Skoda Superb Estate and our Springer cross is very happy in the back of that. We have used the Dover-Calais route with P&O many times with no problems. We normally stay with the vehicle until the surrounding vehicles have parked and their passengers have left, so she is not bothered by them. Thereafter it will probably be just over 90 minutes before you return to the vehicle at the destination port. If your dog is happy to be left in the vehicle for that time, then you should have no problems at all.
You will have read up about the Pet Passport scheme, which again has given us no problems. On the return journey, the pet passport etc is checked at the ferry check in (not at the passport check point). Happy to recommend some vets near Calais (and one in Laon), which we have used for the return journey.
Cheers
Paul R T
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I'd take the Tunnel. How could you know how stressed the poor dog has been, left alone in the depths of a ship?
They are a dark, noisy, scary, hot place......not at all pleasant.
On the Tunnel the dog would stay with you and it's only 35 - 40 minutes.
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Yet another dog has roasted to death on a ferry crossing DFDS this time.The decks where the traffic are are not fully they are quite ventillated and when they say you can not take your dog out of the vehicle for ANY reason they are quite serious.DEFRA are unhappy at their practices.I have heard some dreadful stories.
Red Funnel ferry to the Isle of Wight let you take you dog to a dog friendly deck/cafe or leave your dog in the vehicle on a fully ventilated deck which is frequently patrolled.The charge for this??? l.Nothing.Thats right Nothing.The only charge you pay is if your dog fouls on the ship and you pay £10 clean up fee.Entirely reasonable to me.If they can do it why can't the others? We always use the tunnel.
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We have used the tunnel as we have a very nervous dog who would get very stressed if left alone in the car with all the strange noises and movement. For us, it's worth paying the extra.
It would be great if the Dover/Calais ferries would have an area on deck where we could go with our dogs.
David
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There are dog friendly areas on the ferry from the Orkneys but mine are perfectly happy in the car for most trips - the longest I would do and have done is Plymouth Roskoff preferably the day crossing but have done the night one too when no choice. They go in the caravan if I have it with me or the car if solo.
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IanH,
As an owner of two small dogs i leave mine for the 6 or so hours on the Ferry they normally go in the Caravan but as we have changed over to a Motorhome they will hopefully lie on the bed and sleep. As for pointing out the Ferries are dark and Noisy some of us may not live near to the Tunnel and have to use the Ferry.We only do the day crossing as we have the dogs and have never had a problem with them . Its bad enough leaving them for that time but once we get back to them give them a fuss its back on the Road and for the rest of our Holidays they enjoy lots of fresh air walks and treats . I do not like the ferry if its rough either I would rather take my Dogs with me than put them in Kennels and i am sure they prefer to be with us as well.
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