How dog friendly is European beaches in summer?

[Perch]

This should probably be in the travel topic but O thought I’d ask here first...

We were thinking of doing a coastal roadtrip in the summer in France/Portugal/Spain. Only in the very eary stages of planning. Can anybody advise me on how dog friendly the beaches are. Here you can let dogs off lead on year-round dogs-allowed beaches, but from what I read online it’s quite restrictive on the continent and they have to be on lead even if they are allowed on the beach? My dog loves to swim in the sea. Any advice/recommendations? TIA

[amarante]

In controlled/ managed Portuguese beaches dogs are not allowed.

[DogInATent]

What breed of dog? (it can be relevant)

[Perch]

Golden retriever, i know everybody says this about their dogs but he is very very wel trained and I would love to travel with him :(

[DogInATent]

Well you aren't going to fall foul of BSL with a retriever.

Remember that it would be prudent to get the titre test as well as the Pet Passport vaccine, and that needs to be done as soon as possible because there's a 3 month wait between the blood test and an animal being able to travel.

[Wolfiefan]

How well would your do cope in the heat OP? Goldens are hairy!!

[Wolfiefan]

Do?
Dog!

[Notwiththeseknees]

I've never had a problem taking dogs onto beaches in France, but to be fair when I travelled down the coast with my two, we tended to pull over wherever we felt like to stretch our legs and these weren't necessarily resort type beaches. There are miles & miles of empty sandy beaches in Normandy, Brittany and the Vendee.....


Check with your vet the up to date rules on pet passports as I believe they were changed and the rabies vaccination is now assumed to be active shortly after injection with no need to wait & then test.

[DogInATent]

The pet passport rules that apply now aren't necessarily relevant next year.

The current guidance is that if you intend travelling with your pet after 29th March 2019 you can either take a gamble that the UK will get listed status, or go the prudent route and get the titre test.

www.gov.uk/guidance/pet-travel-to-europe-after-brexit