Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Taking dog to EuroCamp in Italy, Summer Hols

37 replies

Plant2628 · 08/01/2023 16:02

Has anyone done this and how did you find managing the dog around the heat? The accommodation is air conditioned along with our car.
Thanks

OP posts:

AlwaysCountYourPennies · 08/01/2023 16:06

Honestly, I wouldn't put my dog through that kind of journey.

Original poster

Plant2628 · 08/01/2023 16:08

Ours is great in the car by the way - he is very relaxed

OP posts:

AlwaysCountYourPennies · 08/01/2023 16:24

I'm generally relaxed in the car too but a drive to Italy in the scorching heat is something else!

How is the poor dog supposed to spend the rest of the holiday?
Far too hot, why are you even considering this?

gogohmm · 08/01/2023 16:28

It is breed dependent as to whether it's too hot. Chihuahua is probably fine as from hotter climes, border collie would be a definite no as they are particularly susceptible to heat stroke, it's bad enough when temperatures rise in the U.K. (nothing we can do then)

SwingandaPrayer · 08/01/2023 17:03

Definitely don't do it as you will be seriously limited with what you can/can't do whilst you're there. Most beaches in Europe dont allow dogs andany parks etc are the same. Where will you leave the dog when you go supermarket shopping etc? We took our dog with us in our campervan this summer around Spain and Portugal and would not do it again, but mainly as we couldn't go to any beaches as we had him with us.

SwingandaPrayer · 08/01/2023 17:06

Also you won't be able to take him with you when you go to the campsite swimming pool either so you'll need to take turns to use the pool whilst one stays with the dog. Basically a massive pain in the arse and will hugely affect your holiday. If you are just going to sightsee/walking etc might be easier, but you will still find many places like churches, historic buildings etc won't allow dogs.

MatildaTheCat · 08/01/2023 17:13

We did eurocamp in a mobile home at Lake Garda and plenty of other Europeans had their dogs with them. They tended to have them on a long line staked to the ground and the families hung out nearby. However it would be an issue for visiting some places just as it would be in the U.K.

If he’s good in the car and a fairly chilled boy then go for it with al the usual caveats about pet passports, insurance and restrictions. If you want to explore, visit a lot of places, eat out and go out all together then think twice.

Original poster

Plant2628 · 08/01/2023 17:49

Thank you

OP posts:

SisterCassandra · 08/01/2023 17:59

A friend took her miniature schnauzer to Italy euro camping in August a couple of years ago. I had an elderly dog at that time ( since died) and she borrowed his foldable dog buggy from me to take. The ground was too hot to walk her young dog on without burning her feet except at dawn and after dusk. I wouldn’t take a dog myself but if you are prepared for planning and concessions it’s doable.

Busybody2022 · 08/01/2023 18:06

Have you looked at the cost of getting the dog allowed to travel abroad? More expensive than a doggy hotel

hattie43 · 08/01/2023 18:32

I wouldn't do it , you'll be constantly planning your days around managing the dog in the heat . Mine are bad enough in this country never mind abroad .

Railwayroad · 08/01/2023 18:39

I as aghast last year when plodding around Florence in August, the number of tourists dragging dogs round in 85 degree heat. Was horrible to see.

averylongtimeago · 08/01/2023 18:42

We live in France- in an area that has very hot summers (and Italy will be even hotter!).
In the summer our dog spends her days hiding in the shade- we can't walk her during the day as her paws would burn. Going shopping/ looking round a market or brocante are difficult for the same reason.
We have to plan days out very carefully as you can't leave the dog in the car at all.
Luckily we have an older girl who can be left for a couple of hours- few holiday accommodation owners are happy for dogs to be left home alone.

Original poster

Plant2628 · 08/01/2023 18:45

Does anyone know how much the pet passport is?
Can you walk averylongtimeago early morning and late night?

OP posts:

runforyourdog · 08/01/2023 19:01

Not quite the same but we took our dogs camping to Brittany in the heatwave this year. They coped ok, car obviously has air con so not really an issue travelling. It was obviously very hot though and no air con in our caravan but they coped as well at we did.

FurAndFeathers · 08/01/2023 19:11

Plant2628 · 08/01/2023 18:45

Does anyone know how much the pet passport is?
Can you walk averylongtimeago early morning and late night?

Pet passports can’t be issued in the UK any more as they’re an EU document and we aren’t in the EU (yet another impact of Brexit!)

you need an animal health certificate AHC for export and you’ll need an Italian vet to issue another one for return.

not sure how much they are but they take ages to fill out so you’ll need to cover a fair bit of vet professional time. They also can only be issued by certified ‘OV’ vets so check with your usual vet early on to make sure you get everything scheduled

info here: www.gov.uk/taking-your-pet-abroad/getting-an-animal-health-certificate

KrisAkabusi · 08/01/2023 19:14

Just put it in kennels. You will all be much happier!

talkingmorenonsense · 08/01/2023 19:19

Our dog has been to France and Spain, many times. I'm sure if you asked her she would tell you that she much preferred coming on holiday with us, rather than being left behind.

Many campsites have dog shower facilities, so it's really easy to cool them off. Failing that, you can cool them off by draping a wet towel over them. Having said that, our dog would just sit happily in the shade to keep cool. As your car and accommodation are air conditioned, I don't think you need to worry @Plant2628 . Enjoy your holidays with your canine companion.

TruffleShuffles · 08/01/2023 19:19

The only way you manage a dog during heat is to not let them in it. Why take a dog all the way to Italy and have to keep it inside all day? We used to live in Spain and between June and September our dog didn’t leave the house between 7am and 8pm apart from quick toilet breaks and she was acclimatised to the heat.

talkingmorenonsense · 08/01/2023 19:30

Plant2628 · 08/01/2023 18:45

Does anyone know how much the pet passport is?
Can you walk averylongtimeago early morning and late night?

You need an Animal Health Certificate, which most vets can provide. Your dog must be vaccinated against rabies. We didn't use our own vet, as they wanted to charge us £250. Instead we used Abbeywell Vets in Folkestone,
www.abbeywellvets.co.uk, as they were much cheaper. I think it cost £99. You forward all the paperwork and fee, in advance, with details of the chip and vaccinations. The day we went from Dover I took the dog to the vets, where she was scanned and then they gave me the certificate.

Your dog needs to see a vet for a tapeworm treatment, between one and five days before you return.

Cheeseontoastyum · 08/01/2023 19:31

A couple of friends of mine took their dog to Croatia this summer when they went for a month with their three kids. It’s a Labrador. They bought it shoes to protect its feet from any hot roads and took it a paddling pool and a UV tent with them if they were going out. Lots of time at the beach, rivers, swimming, walks before/after the sun was, and they also had air conditioning in their car and where they stayed. She said the dog was much more settled than he would have been staying in a kennels for a month - and it was at the time of the UK heatwave so the dog was actually in a cooler place with aircon than it would have been if it hadn’t gone with them.
She said the passport was £120 and they had to take the dog to a vet in Germany on their way back to get him a worming tablet which was £20.
People in hot countries have dogs too, they just keep them responsibly. If your dog is happy in the car and you can meet its needs and keep it comfortable, why not?

Taking dog to EuroCamp in Italy, Summer Hols

Original poster

Plant2628 · 08/01/2023 20:07

Thanks all v helpful to

OP posts:

averylongtimeago · 08/01/2023 21:28

Plant2628 · 08/01/2023 18:45

Does anyone know how much the pet passport is?
Can you walk averylongtimeago early morning and late night?

Yes, we walk her first thing or when it's cooled down in the evening.

You will need an Animal Health Certificate issued by a vet,
1/ microchip (if not already done)
2/ Rabies vaccination
3/ Wait at least 21 days until you can travel.
4/ No more than 10 days before travel, get the AHC which is valid for up to 4 months (one trip only). Shop around as the cost varies hugely-anything up to £300. Abbeywell vets in Folkestone do them for about £100 (I've not used them but others have, you have a phone appointment and the dog is checked when you pick the certificate up )

5/ 24-120 hours before your return, visit a vet for a worm treatment and paperwork signing.

Make sure your accommodation owners are happy with you leaving the dog when you go out, and that your dog is happy to be left in a strange place. We've been to Florence in August (without the dog) and the heat can be brutal.

Yayyayitsaholiholiday · 08/01/2023 21:46

I bring my dog to France with me.
We stay near rivers and lakes and keep them off the tarmac during the day.
Lots of resting for the dog during hot periods unless we’re in and out of a body of water (which we often are).
We took it in turns to go to the pool etc. dog had a fab time and I have a lovely vet who does the paperwork for less than £100.
Convertible car is great for keeping cool while swooshing along the quiet French roads.

Original poster

Plant2628 · 09/01/2023 11:45

Any more experiences to share?

OP posts:

Flip

1 2