Travel to and from Ireland with a dog.

[swanriver]

We don't have a dog at the moment. We spend a large proportion of Spring, summer holidays in Irish countryside, but live in London (near large dog walking park etc). What is involved taking a dog backwards and forwards? Would they hate it? Are there rabies issues, pet passports etc? Can dogs travel by plane nowadays? Southern Ireland.
This has been reason I've never had a dog, but would just like to know whether I'm right in thinking it is an impossibility.

I think there is no rabies in Ireland so no need for passports etc. I think it would just be a case of taking them on the ferry with you (assuming you drive- don't know how it would work flying). The dog can either stay in the car or sometimes go into designated dogs allowed areas. Depends on the temprament of the dog how well they cope or if they need any sedation.

here

I believe Ireland has a longer list of breeds in its 'dangerous dogs' legislation, including some that are common here e.g. GSDs and Rotties. Not sure how that applies to visiting dogs though, or if it affects the breeds you'd be considering.

this might help - a couple of years old but should give you a guide for flying.

Dh was on the Swansea/Cork ferry last year, when a Newfoundland escaped from the kennel on board and came into the bar. There always seems to be a doggy passenger when we are on a ferry; our dog is carsick so we haven't tried his sealegs yet. There isn't a great range of places to stay with a dog either. (He'd love it though...ddog found a dead seal on a beach in Kerry which made his holiday!)

I'm surprised the Newfie didn't decide to hop overboard for a quick swim :)

So was dh!

I used to be involved in the rescue of Irish pound dogs and the transportation of them over to English pounds. The advice here is right, there are no restrictions on shipping a dog over although I don't know about plane travel.

And, as has been said, remember that GSDs, Rotts, Staffies, Dobes, Mastiffs, Ridgebacks, Akitas, English Bull Terriers are on the restricted list in Ireland (as are any cross breed of these, Pit Bulls and Tosas but I guess you don't own either of the latter two!) and must be muzzled, on a lead of no more than 2 metres long and in the care of someone over the age of 16 at all times when in public.

There's no rabies issues and dogs are normally okay but if you plan to sail you may like to start small and see how your dog fares on a ferry crossing first of all. (Isle of wight trip or somesuch for the day perhaps?).

Good luck and happy holidays.

You can take your dogs in and out of Ireland on a ferry no problem, provided they are not, as has been said, restricted breeds.

We always opt to leave our dogs in the car and ask for the car to be below decks as opposed to 'up top'. We leave the windows open a fraction each for air flow and a bowl of water, plus chew toys/kongs. We have done the overnight ferry and they have been fine like this. You are not allowed to check on them during the journey though. I swear, I would have been less nervous if I'd left my baby int he car the first time we did it overnight!

I wouldn't leave them in the 'kennels' as on the ferries we have been on they are just dog crates and I worry about the dogs getting distressed and also being stolen/upset/poisoned/tampered with.