Peak Season France With Dog?

For the OP’s benefit we have holidayed with our dog and grandson together and given you our suggestions for places in France. Personally I think a dog is great for children and need not be restrictive on holiday but that will depend in part on the type of holiday activities you all enjoy. Clearly shopping, museums and art galleries, lazing by the pool will not work for the dog but I guess neither will the children enjoy those. Outdoors can work well for both. Do you all holiday together (dog included) with the Caravan in the UK? If so you know the pros and cons so. My comment about resting is simply how we organise our hols but ‘resting’ for us still means site seeing and looking around, just not involving a hike in the mountains or playing in the river or sea all day.  

Good call Rowena. I forget about the pet section so thanks for the reminder too. 

Paul

We have been taking dogs to foreign parts for something well over 35 years. Initially with two children, then as solo caravanners, now as motorhomers who are often joined by grandchildren. 

Our canine companions have always been working breeds, Labrador and Golden Retriever which apart from being much loved family pets were also very enthusiastic and competent gun dogs. Our children were brought up with dogs and in recent years the grandchildren much enjoyed the company of Mac Mutt the black Labrador though he was often not that keen on young noisy boys.

My dog experience abroad has therefore been with robust medium size dogs that are not worried about new environments and / or new experiences. Our dogs have not had any difficulties with Southern Europe heat - 40c one year in Italy and 42c a few years ago at Le Mans which of course is Northern Europe. If anything the heat was more oppressive at Le Mans because it is inland and no breeze. Spain at early mid 30c just is not an issue. Black Mac would have his walk at an early for Spain 8am - then a swim - then a lie in the sun to dry off - then a lie under the hedge in the shade - mid day ish he would often go inside the motorhome and ask for the aircon to be but on. He would then snooze until the afternoon walk and swim. If we were out and about he would mostly be with us and enjoy the experience - if he could get a swim great - if not he would amble about just pleased with the opportunity of new smells and interests. We always had water with us for him just like we did for the children. Unfortunately Mac died March last year but we will have another dog at the end of this year.

Supermarkets with a dog has never been a problem - one of us would wait outside with the dog whilst the others shopped. Swimming pools with the children (now grandchildren) - dog would stay in the caravan / motorhome with the aircon on and we would regularly check to make sure the dog was ok. In over 35 years never had a moments concern about overheating dog. Easier to check internal motorhome temperature in recent years as we have an app which allows real time access to Moho vitals. 

My experience abroad is dogs are better catered for than in the UK. Stand outside a shop with a dog and often someone will come out with a bowl of water and sometimes a biscuit. Restaurants in holiday areas mostly are very relaxed about dogs providing they are under control. 

I suppose managing children and dogs on holidays abroad is about planning and a bit of organisation. My wife organised quizzes with prizes to keep the children occupied when they they were young during the long runs south. We would also plan our stops for rest areas that we knew had outdoor showers - the children just loved to shower fully clothed - dog as well - and dry out in the car during the next driving leg. Nothing quite like the smell of a slowly drying Labrador in a confined space - ditto young children. The grandchildren of course have iPads / iPhones / DVD players and all sorts of other electronic gubbins but they enjoy the quizzes / prizes and thing that their parents enjoyed. 

My advice would be to select the site you stay on with care to ensure that it ticks as many boxes on your needs list as possible. The more facilities on site the less need to juggle children/dogs etc. Beaches may have a dog prohibition but there will be areas on big beaches where the dog will not present a problem. Early mornings and late evenings it should not be a problem to get a doggy swim in the sea. Remember the further south you go the more likely you are to get “wall to wall” sunshine. West coast can be warm during the day but once the sun goes down it can be cardy land. 

Ian