Taking dog with pet passport to France for the first time

[duchesse]

First time we've got our act together enough to take the hound with us to my mother's.

He's going for his boosters (not rabies, that was done last year) today.

What else do we need to do? We're leaving on Saturday and staying ten days.

ring the rspca they should be able to tell you, or Defra I am not sure its simple though as in laws were going to bring their cat over here and werent able to
here is Defras number this might be helpful as well

Thanks Helen! We went to the vet yesterday as he had squelchy ears, and think I got the information I need from them.

Hi, we've taken our dog several times. Are you going train or ferry?

One thing to bear in mind is that you will need to make an appointment with a French vet in the right time-frame for your return journey...sorry can't remember exact timings....as he worms and provides paperwork for return.

There are some nasty ticks in some parts of France and it is worth making sure your dog is protected before you go, check with your vet, but I think we normally use Frontline.

I presume your dog is micro-chipped? (He has to be for pet passport.) If it hasn't been checked recently it might put your mind at rest to ask your vet to check it. If you have a vague idea of it's location that helps too...

Make sure you have all paperwork sorted and ready to go. Make sure you have plenty of water/food etc for journey.

Umm can't think of anything else...going over is remarkably easy, coming back is the slightly harder bit! Just make sure you understand what is required and have it! We normally go via the tunnel, and at the terminal in France for return journey you go in to special hut before you check in proper to process dog. It's all pretty obvious though.

Good luck!

We're going by ferry, Weymouth to Cherbourg. We saw the vet yesterday, so know that the micro chip is still working. We"re going to my mother's and sister's and will make an appointment with my bil's vet but as we are coming back on a Monday afternoon, we may have to see the vet Saturday morning.

Try not to worry on the ferry...I spent the whole time thinking I could hear woofing...Am sure he spent the whole time asleep in car though! How long is your ferry time? On longer journeys I think they put them in cages rather than leaving in cars. I've only done Dover Calais and that was a leave in car job.

Just be careful you don't see vet too early - you have to get the timing right as if it is too long even by short while (or too short a time!) since vet wormed and gave clean bill of health they won't let dog travel back.

Mine will probably do what he normally does...catch up on his ZZZZzzzs.

He's a bloddy bone idle sedate yellow Lab.