Where to stay in France (regions)with a dog in August ( and other dog in France advice)

T03b3an5 · 2025-07-28T06:47:24+00:00

Have been to France many many times throughout life but not with a dog. Next year will be the year with a dog so need a fair bit of advice. Most importantly does anybody have advice re good regions to visit with a dog and which to avoid? I’m assuming the South is best avoided. Any dog friendly gite company recommendations ? Any tips on finding a property that is cool enough for a dog. Is taking kibble and treats through customs an issue? What is dog etiquette in France as regards shops, restaurants etc. we don’t take her to either that often but just asking in case if we have to. Any tips on the journey( she travels well).

Scoutingforducks · 28/07/2025 11:02

We are taking DDogs with us to France next year too
We have booked with Simply Owners as they have a number of dog friendly gites. We are staying on the Brittany/Normandy border.

HarlotOTara · 28/07/2025 11:12

I go to France with my dog several times a year and have found dogs are welcome everywhere. Often need to pay extra if in a hotel room, which is fair enough. I have never been turned away from a restaurant with my dog and waiters etc. are always welcoming with water and sometimes treats. I do always check before sitting at a table or booking a room however. We stop every few hours for water and possible wee (dog not us). Easy when using the motorways

AssemblyPoint · 28/07/2025 12:17

What’s the deal with coming back in to the UK with dogs?

KatharinaRosalie · 28/07/2025 12:58

We live in France with our dogs, you can generally take them everywhere, except supermarkets. Even fancy restaurants are dog-friendly.
'cool enough' you mean temperature, I assume? AC is quite common nowadays.

boulevardofbrokendreamss · 28/07/2025 13:01

France is very very dog friendly. Be careful of the heat, don’t take them on sand in the middle of the day, nor let them drink seawater. Get them a haircut before you go.

ALWAYS pick up poo.

I don’t know how it works now with passports / travel papers since brexit and my not getting too old but he did do 24 trips with us before that. He loved it.

HavfrueDenizKisi · 28/07/2025 13:38

We bring our dog with us to France twice a year usually as we have a house here. I’d say that France is really dog friendly actually. Hotels usually happy to have them for a small extra charge. Most restaurants happy to have a dog. Shop keepers generally don’t mind but we usually don’t take her inside with us.

With regard travelling over you will need an Animal Health Certificate and not all vets do them so have that researched before you need to get one. The certificate can only be done 10 days prior to arriving in France. Your dog will need a rabies vaccine that is over three weeks old to have the certificate approved so factor getting the rabies shot in good time. Vets generally charge around £200 for this. When you return from France you need a French vet to give a worming treatment to your dog and record it on the certificate within 5 days of your return date. Luckily we have a French doggie passport now but the animal health certificate is a palaver.

You are not supposed to bring products containing meat from the UK into France so that makes the question of dog food more difficult. We usually come over via the channel tunnel and have often had our dogs food in the boot and we’ve not been asked about it yet. Unusually you can take fish over for some reason and DDog currently has a salmon and trout kibble so that meets the criteria.

Hope that helps.

Rosesandteashops · 28/07/2025 13:42

HavfrueDenizKisi · 28/07/2025 13:38

We bring our dog with us to France twice a year usually as we have a house here. I’d say that France is really dog friendly actually. Hotels usually happy to have them for a small extra charge. Most restaurants happy to have a dog. Shop keepers generally don’t mind but we usually don’t take her inside with us.

With regard travelling over you will need an Animal Health Certificate and not all vets do them so have that researched before you need to get one. The certificate can only be done 10 days prior to arriving in France. Your dog will need a rabies vaccine that is over three weeks old to have the certificate approved so factor getting the rabies shot in good time. Vets generally charge around £200 for this. When you return from France you need a French vet to give a worming treatment to your dog and record it on the certificate within 5 days of your return date. Luckily we have a French doggie passport now but the animal health certificate is a palaver.

You are not supposed to bring products containing meat from the UK into France so that makes the question of dog food more difficult. We usually come over via the channel tunnel and have often had our dogs food in the boot and we’ve not been asked about it yet. Unusually you can take fish over for some reason and DDog currently has a salmon and trout kibble so that meets the criteria.

Hope that helps.

I'm not the OP but I've found this very helpful. Thank you.

Original poster

T03b3an5 · 28/07/2025 19:56

HavfrueDenizKisi · 28/07/2025 13:38

We bring our dog with us to France twice a year usually as we have a house here. I’d say that France is really dog friendly actually. Hotels usually happy to have them for a small extra charge. Most restaurants happy to have a dog. Shop keepers generally don’t mind but we usually don’t take her inside with us.

With regard travelling over you will need an Animal Health Certificate and not all vets do them so have that researched before you need to get one. The certificate can only be done 10 days prior to arriving in France. Your dog will need a rabies vaccine that is over three weeks old to have the certificate approved so factor getting the rabies shot in good time. Vets generally charge around £200 for this. When you return from France you need a French vet to give a worming treatment to your dog and record it on the certificate within 5 days of your return date. Luckily we have a French doggie passport now but the animal health certificate is a palaver.

You are not supposed to bring products containing meat from the UK into France so that makes the question of dog food more difficult. We usually come over via the channel tunnel and have often had our dogs food in the boot and we’ve not been asked about it yet. Unusually you can take fish over for some reason and DDog currently has a salmon and trout kibble so that meets the criteria.

Hope that helps.

Yes Thankyou this is helpful.

How far south would you go?

OP posts:

HavfrueDenizKisi · 29/07/2025 09:30

@T03b3an5 We are in Provence so almost as far south as you can get! No problems with the heat if that’s worrying you but obviously you know your dog best.