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That's a good idea AgathaF

I'll post in the doghouse section as I seem to have hijacked my own thread here

If you can give your rough location either on this thread or the doghouse section, you will probably get advice from people who have used kennels or stay-at-home services in your area.

We had a great kennels that we used from time to time, although our dog is very old now so we wouldn't put him in kennels any more. Our friend's dog was left with one of those 'boarding in someone's home' places last year and they were very pleased with it. They received text messages throughout their holiday from the people looking after their dog.

Perhaps you could find a small kennels and do a few practice runs so the dogs are familiar with it and know you will come back for them?
I really think the dogs will stress you out and prob themselves as well if they are anxious types.
I want a caravan. The motorway services called Aires in France are really great, very user friendly.

It's hard isn't it?
But you sound lovely OP, wanting the best for your dogs.

Hope you can sort something that suits you all

No relatives who would take them and I wouldn't be able to leave the Jack Russell for teenagers to look after. The really gorgeous one year old terrier cross would be fine with teenagers but isn't used to being left alone for long periods. She is my shadow.

I have seen some websites where people board dogs in their home which may be an option if they really know what they are doing.

I will have to look into this a bit harder. I know that the journey would be stressful for them and our activities would be quite curtailed but perhaps that is better than spending the whole time worrying about them.

Thank you for helping me think this through

On most ferries you leave the dog/s in the car. Some you have to kennel them (Portsmouth to St Malo is one). We've been taking our dog to France for years, it's really no hassle in terms of travelling if you are used to travelling with your dog anyway. The french are much more accepting of dogs being around than the english are - eating out tends to be outdoors anyway so dogs sitting by the owners table is fine, but we have frequently seen dogs under tables inside restaurants.

Dogs need to be wormed by a vet 1 - 5 days before they enter the UK again, so it is easier to book with a french vet in your locality prior to travel. Our experience is that most french vets are well used to this and speak enough english to enable this to be done easily.

If you would like your dogs to stay behind, what about getting in a pet sitter, or using someone who boards dogs in their own homes? I noticed our local vet had some leaflets for one company in the waiting room, but I think there are lots who offer this service. You may be able to find one who has a home set-up that you feel with be suitable for your dog.

OP I wouldn't bother with kennels.
The few times I've used them my dog had red eyes and was hoarse from non stop barking/crying and was covered in poo.

The cat had a virus too.

Have you any friends or relatives you could ask?

Goldmadra
Go and have a look round some kennels. I did this, and after some "so-so" kennels I found a lovely small kennels
Honestly the kennels were heated, they get walked almond a georgeous country lane 2x a day
My dog loves been groomed, and came back looking like a fluff ball, he'd had so much brushing

Alternatively look round for people who could come to your house and sort the dogs
Any willing teenagers locally?? ( ones you know and trust with parents permission obv)

take them you would only worry when you are away, you take them to your UK holidays so it isn't new to you iyswim

Rescue says they can't take boarders any more

Really not sure about picking a kennels and hoping for the best.

My sister has my dog when we go away.
I just found when we did take her the whole holiday revolved around her. Couldn't go in shops together, couldn't go in nice places to eat, couldn't go on decent beaches., couldn't leave her in the cottage alone. Nightmare.

But saying that I wouldn't leave her in a kennel.

I agree with not taking the dogs we took last dog with us for weekends or a few days in the caravan but not a main holiday it would be such a hassle ,

I have to say u agree with the ditch the dogs idea
As a dog lover myself I've taken to putting my beloved collie in kennels, now I have 3 young dc
You need to enjoy your holiday!

Also it's not a "proper" holiday unless you've built a sandcastle and paddled in the sea - fact

The french take their dogs into shopping centres (in prams) I think they will take them on the beaches,

Oh yes we have been on the tunnel with the caravan takes less than an hour it was fab although i was a bit EEK about being under the sea

Ah yes I understand it might be too traumatic leaving them behind.

I think if you are just going to chill out on the site, go for walks etc it'll work out ok, I was just thinking about the beach. Unless you find one that allows dogs [winks]

I would leave the dogs, if you can. Any decent kennel will keep them separate from other dogs, if that's what they need. I would definitely approach the rescue first, but ring around a few local kennels too and visit if they sound nice.

As for UK or France, I wouldn't be afraid to go to France - it's so easy to get there via ferry or the Eurotunnel (the latter is much quicker and cheaper - but may involve more driving), and the climate in northern France is pretty similar to here. I'd go for the food alone

you have to put them in kennels on the ferry ? have you considered boarding kennels saying that we are putting our rescue in kennels at easter Im bricking it we have just got him calmed down and accepting us, but we used the kennels for our last dog and she was a complete stress head but they were fantastic with her. we havnt had newdog away in the caravan yet we will take him but we are going abroad at easter so need to leave him,

everlong I would quite like the idea of leaving the dogs behind but they are rescue dogs and the Jack Russell is very, very anxious. We've had him for about three years and we've never left him. This is partly because it took him so long to believe he was safe with us and partly because I'm worried that if anyone decided to make him be bottom dog he'd end up biting them out of fear.

I could see if the rescue would have them both for a couple of weeks and ask my parents to break them out now and then because they live very close.

I have been wondering what you do with them on ferries.

Harsh but I'd ditch the dog idea. Too much stress.
Could you leave them with someone nice?

camping and caravan club have sites in France too

oh sorry yes of course they are not far away. we were going to go can't remember why we didn't now

It does look like a lovely site and just what we need in terms of calm and quiet. Dh thinks so too. His idea of going to the beach will be more about the Normandy landings than sandcastles and the girls aren't massively bothered about going there a lot. I may have to get over my desire to be near the sea

the owners*

yes we have been we were only there a few days I loved it was quiet but the owners are fab we were driving down to Brittany we didnt go to the beach sorry, If you go caravaning in the Uk the french campsites are no different really