Peak Season France With Dog?
Hi we're seasoned caravanners with a young family 10, 7 and a 1 year old Golden Retriever Pup.
We usually holiday in France but this year with the young pup we stayed in the isle of Wight to give us all a dose of familiarisation in fairly local circumstances in case of problems.
We have a large vehicle with crate, so she is comfortable and safe on journeys
We would love to take her to France with us and would really welcome some advice please on the following;
- How go friendly are the beaches in peak season? general question I know but we have not decided yet on a region could be 'half way down' on the Atlantic coast - La Rochelle or similar.
- Experiences on either Tunnel or Ferry services - good or bad
- What do people do with their dog when using the pool etc or other facilities on site? site must have a pool regardless of proximity to sea or inland venue. does someone stay behind to 'dog sit'? - not really the idea of a family holiday.
- Does anyone know of a dog friendly site that would suit?
- Are we mad even considering taking her? - but she is part of the family.
Thanks in advance for any advice
Paul.
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As far as the crossing is concerned I would have thought you would find the Tunnel the most "pet friendly" as the pet stays with you. As to your other points lots of French beaches are closed to dogs in the peak season but more remote ones might not have the same restrictions. As to using the pool I imagine you will have to leave the dog in the caravan as it almost certainly won't be allowed in the pool complex.
David
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Can I make a suggestion which will prove much more practical. Look for an inland site on a river, where dogs can swim happily, the kids can enjoy playing, and then when she's cooled down in the river you can leave her under the van whilst you go to the pool and she will probably fall asleep! I'm afraid your dog won't be allowed in the surroundings of a pool anywhere in France (apart, perhaps, from an 'animal-friendly' gite with a very understanding owner).
We took our son's dog to a riverside site in mid-July when it was very hot, and he had a ball in the river running through the site, and in two or three other nearby rivers, cascades and streams. River water is warm enough and clean enough (generally, excepting in storm and flood conditions) and your dog will be a lot happier. Beaches in high season can be very very hot shadeless places - on a riverside site there will always be trees and places for a hot dog to cool down. My son's dog was very uncomfortable on the one day we did take him down to the beach, and thereafter much much happier on the site we chose.
Think of one of the more hilly regions of France, where you get good fast-flowing rivers, with rocky 'rapids', waterfalls, places for kids to jump in off rocks, and I'm sure you, the children, and the dog will be happier.
My sons were not beach people but loved all the riverside sites we visited when they were small and thirty-odd years later are taking their own families (and dogs) back to those sites.
I'd suggest having a look at the Ardeche or Ceze areas, the Gorges du Tarn, the Cevennes around Anduze, the Lot or the Dordogne - and if you fancy any of those areas come back for site suggestions.
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I'll do that Paul. Many of them we've stayed on, some of them I know others who like them, and I'll throw in one or two that are a bit 'unknown' but on beautiful rivers with a lot to offer. I'll do a 'favourite rivers' and a few choices of sites along those rivers.
I'm sure others who have dogs will have suggestions of good places to take them and they'll be along soon to add their suggestions.
One possible problem with my choice of sites is that they are almost all further south than you suggest you want to go. However, from experience rivers in northern France generally don't have the same magic that they do further south. The Loire is a big 'shipping channel' with huge barges, slow flowing and a bit murky - the rivers we like have crystal clear water. The Dordogne has some lovely riverside sites, though, in areas good for rocks and swimming, as does the Lot and neither are too far to travel.
Have you any preferences or dislikes of things like 'entertainment', unisex facilities, plenty of other Brits to make friends with, etc. We've been doing France for so many years that we accept everything much as it is, as long as it's kept as clean as possible! Our children made friends with all nationalities, and one still goes to stay with a friend from Finland that he made in the children's 'play hut' thirty odd years ago! My sons are both boys, and mixed well, and a favourite entertainment seemed to be in exchanging foreign names for bodily functions, etc! Crapeau (toad in French) proved hilarious to most nationalities!
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Starting with the Dordogne (all dog-friendly sites):
Domaine de Soleil Plage - expensive but good standards, two areas - one up on a bank, the other riverside. River is lovely there - an island in the middle to paddle/swim out to and rocky cliffs opposite. Eurocamp site with entertainment, but you can avoid it.
La Bouysse - next door to the above - much less expensive, same lovely river, more French feel. French 'entertainment' but much lower key. Absolutely lovely take-away meal of Canard avec Pommes Sarladaise (duck with garlicky roast potatoes).
Both on a 'quieter' stretch of the river on a minor road, but that means a drive to a supermarket or shopping.
Camping Le Perpettuum - opposite bank of the river, nice smaller site, walking distance to bars, restaurants and small shops, supermarket nearby. Nearby Domme (up on top of a steep hill) is absolutely beautiful. Perhaps not such easy riverside access except from a walk up from the site.
All the above are near to the Chateaux, tourist sites, and canoeing operators on the Dordogne.
Camping des Isles - ex-muncipal site, in a different area of the Dordogne. Less 'touristy'. Shops and restaurants within walking distance. River access but not as good as the first two.
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1. Tunnel
2. chateau la foret big lakes for the dog to cool off in, two pools etc. etc.
3. best beach for surf and dogs is les dunes, 15 min drive.
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We have taken our dog to France on several occasions, but would probably not take her again, especially if we were heading further south than Dordogne area. We have air con in the van, and the dog comes everywhere with us in this country, with no problems whatsoever. Abroad we found that whilst she was ok, it was realistically just too hot for her. When we went out to the pool or certain places, we would leave her in van with aircon on, but always worried what if the power tripped, etc. I would never leave her outside in the shade. France is very dog friendly, and dogs are welcome in many more places than the UK, but I was never comfortable in a restaurant with the dog, even though she was under the table and no problem. You tend to find not everyone likes dogs near them when eating, so sometimes a bit awkward. Ultimately we decided the dog would be happier in kennels, which she knows and loves, and we had maximum flexibility when away on our holiday. If you want to take the dog, ValDa is spot on with the river suggestion, we have done Soleil Plage with her and she loves canoeing down the River !!!
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Good Advise ValDa, we have two dogs and some beaches do not allow Dogs not too much of a Problem for us but of course if you have Kids you cannot just go to the beach for an hour can you. You know your own dog and a pup may fret if left for a long time so i would say the Tunnel would be quicker . I am going to look for sites near rivers now and see what i can come up with. France is Great for families and the Dog is part of the family leaving it behind in the Van etc is not really a good option especially if it is Hot .
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Deleted User User,
It is so hard to leave your Dog behind we did it the first time we went to France after that he came with us. We have two dogs now it is expensive with Passports Rabies vaccinations and Insurance but we would rather take them than leave them behind they are part of the family why not take them ..And lets not forget how Dog Friendly France is .
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Paul, if one parent is prepared to take the children to the the beach, or to the swimming pool, or to shepherd them round the supermarket, or to go for any indoor wet weather visit or activity, or if it's the Dordogne to go canoeing with them - while the other parent looks after the dog - then that's how it might turn out.
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We take our cat in our caravan, and we've also had my son's dog! I know the problems of travelling with pets, and whilst non-pet-owners might not appreciate it, France is still relatively pet-friendly compared to a lot of other countries. You might not be able to walk your dog on a beach, but you can certainly have a riverside pitch on a site which welcomes dogs, and he can swim in the river whenever he (and you) want. If you go to the supermarket early morning then pets can stay in the caravan for the hour or so you'll be away (and if you shop quickly you can have a coffee somewhere too). People who don't own pets are quick to point out the disadvantages, but where else might you find a cafe which encourages you to bring your dog in, with his own bowl, some dog treats, and lots of friendly locals to pet him.
From experience, emergency vet bills are a quarter of the cost they might be here. Emergency treatment for our cat (when injured in a contretemps with a feral cat, taking up more than an hour of the vet's time), cost no more than the average check up and fee for a booster injection which takes minutes in this country.
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It depends where you are travelling from however we now use the ferry with our dog. He is fine being left and it allows time for us to get a meal and fresh air. We have taken our dog to Germany, Austria, Italy and last year France. Whilst I am not remotely a Francophile I will say it is even more dog friendly than any other country I have visited with our dog. In our experience the UK is very unfriendly compared with anywhere we have been in Europe so far.
We always stay outside Calais on our way to/from Europe and last year we headed for Camping Beau Rivage at Navarrenx on the French side of the Pyrenees. The site is CMC ‘approved and owned by a British familywho have a retriever. It sits next to a river which our springer absolutely loved and is 5 mins walk into town. The only drawback for us was the clique of Brits who were a bit stuck up their own posteriors. The pitches are however all shaded with a number fully serviced. Has a swimming pool and is a lovely site. Our dog is a very good traveller and we can cover 400 miles in a day so we did the journey using autoroutes in one stop over. Yes it is expensive for tolls but we don’t eat out too much and if we do France (or anywhere) doesn’t have to be expensive. As examples of friendliness, on our first day walking around the town on a Sunday afternoon we were accosted by some local youths in a typical youthMobil who screeched to a halt insisting on making a fuss of the dog. And a small greengrocers shop insisted we take the dog inside rather than tie him up outside.
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But did you take three young children as well?
I am sure that many people do successfully take dogs on holiday, but having had several Caravan holidays in France with three of my own grandchildren - now aged 5, 7 and 9 - I can see that those holidays and the things the children and their parents did would simply not have worked if there had been a young dog as well as young children.
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Paul
Had you thought of getting a bit further south and heading into Spain. The site we have been going to on the Costa Brava [El Delfin Verde] for over 35 years allows dogs post 17th August - its on the beach where if you go a little off "piste" no one worries about dogs having a swim and enjoying the sand. Lots of things for the children to do including children clubs and some really great dog walks around and about. Huge swimming pool with a smaller one for the little ones and mostly a cooling sea breeze to stop the mutt from overheating. Some great evening entertainment for the children [Lion King etc] and a really nice ambiance around the bars and restaurants. The site wont suit every one because its big and not cheap but our children loved it and now bring their children for an uncomplicated sea side holiday - no need to move off site but if you do lots to do around and about including a bit of culture if that's your bag. Barcelona is around an hour away. El Delfin Verde is about 830 miles from Calais and if you use the autoroute it's under a two day run without "pushing".
Ian
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We have had many holidays in France and used to take the dogs. I suggested a few years ago to leave the dogs behind in kennels so we were not so restricted. We couldnt even grocery shop without me fretting about the dogs in the car (under cover) for 15 minuets. We both love having the dogs with us but I must say leaving them home was the best decision we made.
IMO France in the height of the summer is too hot for dogs in caravans, we used to go in September and that was too hot at times.
whatever decision you make enjoy
Kevin
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Agree the heat may be an issue but plenty of French have dogs and they survive but from our research Spain is most definitely not dog friendly. To me a dog and children makes for a great holiday but dont over tire the dog if the holiday routine is significantly different. If one day is active the next needs to be rest day for the dog (and probably the children too!)
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Or saying to the children, "Let's not go the fireworks tonight, the dogs won't like it".
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So that's where the expression 'dog tired' comes from.
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Paul, I can offer no advice but congratulate you on being so considerate of your dog which was the main thrust of your post.
Whatever you decide, I hope you have a good time.
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So yet again a poster gets ridiculed just because they are asking advice about taking their pet overseas
, I know that you non-dog owners don't get it , so why get involved in the discussion, it doesn't do you any favours This is when CT is not at its best !!!!!
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Far from it Husky. Two of us are simply saying that overseas holidays for parents with younger children are different from holidays for older people with a dog. Different in every way.
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To be honest, I can’t see saying "I would choose a holiday with the childrens needs as a priority and if it didn't suit the dog then I would leaver it at home." is in any way helping the OP who is asking for constructive advice about the prospect of taking his dog abroad.
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