Can anybody tell me what happens when you take a dog on a cross-channel ferry with you?

[PacificDogwod]

DHound is large and has a huge crate which kind of fills the car, so if we took that, then we cannot take much else

Considering a holiday on the Continent with the mutt at some point - no plans yet.

Clearly there would be a difference wether we are on an overnight ferry or just a quick jump from Dover to Calais, but I cannot figure out how any dog could be expected to not need a pee fro 12+ hours?
Is there a dog walking deck? The 'poop deck'?

No. Sorry, I'm being silly.
Please, experienced travelling dog-owners, how does it work?

[fessmess]

Watching with interest as we hope to do this maybe next year. Getting puppy next weekend so not planning on doing ANYTHING for next few months!! (Except replace chewed shoes!)

[LilCamper]

Dover to Calais you have to leave the dog on the car deck in the car and you are not allowed to check on them. A couple of dogs have overheated and died in the summer months.

We are regularly back and forth and use the tunnel. You stay in your car with the dog and it only takes half an hour.

[Whitney168]

Have done various ferries of differing lengths with dogs. Newhaven-Dieppe is only a four hour crossing, which is easy. Have also done overnights and (knowing my dogs well) have walked them before boarding, left them in the car, and walked them when we get off the other side with no issue.

Some ferries have kennels, but personally I know my dogs settle better in the car that they are comfortable in.

However, my recommendation would be EuroTunnel - 35 minutes, dog with you at all times. Can cause a bit more driving the other side, but it's very easy driving.

[PacificDogwod]

Thank you

We'd be travelling from Scotland, so the drive to the south coast is a long one and DHound does not exactly love being in the car. He is ridiculously, neurotically bonded to me (we are working on that) and once peed in the car when I left him for 2 minutes...

Ok, so the tunnel seems like the most dog friendly option if we do want/need to take him.

[GetOutMyCar]

When we did Dover to Calais the dogs stayed in the car alone. The windows were left open slightly and we were directed to park next to an air conditioning vent.

Harwich to Esbjerg (overnight) the dogs stayed in the car with a couple of allowed trips to the car deck, which is open air, to exercise them.

Ferries between Sweden/Denmark dogs stayed with us as there's a designated part of the drivers' lounge for dogs.

Ferries between Denmark/Germany there were dogs all over the place with their owners.

[PacificDogwod]

GetOut, when your dogs took the allowed exercise breaks, did they relieve themselves?
Or was it accepted that they might??

Interesting that there seem to be different policies on different routes/ferry companies.

[Costacoffeeplease]

My husband regularly travels with dogs. It depends on the length of the crossing, he's often on the 24 hour Santander to Portsmouth ferry and they have kennels or pet friendly cabins depending on the ship, and a deck specifically for dog walking/toileting

When we moved to Portugal with our dogs we did the tunnel so we could stay in the car with them, it was fine

[GetOutMyCar]

There was a giant doggy litter tray on the deck. We put them in that first and they seemed to get the idea straight away.

[ChocomelandRinglings]

fessmess - interested to know what kind of puppy you are getting and where from, after your last thread...