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Original poster

Ferry travel with young dog - advice

43 replies

Twooforjoy · 18/07/2022 13:49

We are travelling in August with our dog, Holyhead to Dublin. We have the option of the kennel or leaving in the car in a crate/travel carrier.

DP is a vet and saying she will be less fearful in the car, windows down, but secure in the crate which we will put up on the back seat. He thinks she might be nervous benign around other dogs and isn’t convinced it will be the cleanest environment to leave her in the kennels facility (in her own carrier).

the dog has done the trip once before but not with me.

inteeested in your thoughts and tips to make this as stress free on the dog. She is still a pup, almost one, small breed. Very car happy.

I think it is very very cold in the car loading area so there isn’t a risk of heating.

the booking form allows for either option for your dog - stay in car or kennels.

Thank you.

OP posts:
Hotenoughtoburnasausage · 18/07/2022 13:57

In an emergency which area would be evacuated first would be my question! We use the ferry to Mull but ddogs are with us at all times..

justasking111 · 18/07/2022 14:06

We live in this area lots of dogs on the ferries daily they won't be cold in August. I would leave in the car.

Mariposa80 · 18/07/2022 14:08

Did the pup stay in the car or go in kennels last time she did the trip?

How long is the crossing? I presume you can't visit the car deck, can you visit the kennels?

Wolfiefan · 18/07/2022 14:12

I once walked past kennels that were being cleaned (hosed out) at the end of a ferry journey. That put me right off.
if you opt for car remember to turn off car alarm. (Others may not though so make sure the noise doesn’t distress your dog.)

Original poster
Twooforjoy · 18/07/2022 14:36

Mariposa80 · 18/07/2022 14:08

Did the pup stay in the car or go in kennels last time she did the trip?

How long is the crossing? I presume you can't visit the car deck, can you visit the kennels?

She was in the car in the carrier that time. It was winter she was about 4 months old. DP did that journey alone with her, he felt she was so wee she might be intimidated by the sounds of other dogs around her and he also felt it was safer to avoid her picking up anything random.

yea I am leaning towards keeping her in the car… but she is bigger now! I might look at a pop up type travel carrier, not really sure. But basically I can’t kill all the boot space with a crate for the whole journey. She generally sits on the back seat between the two kids and gets up to no mischief, so the bit about containing her in the car when we are not there is the next bit I need to figure out. I think the carrier she came over in might be a bit small now (or maybe not) and with a crate I could at least flat pack it back down?

good point on the alarm, yes!

and no you’re not allowed back to your car during the crossing. The crossing is two hours.

thanks all

OP posts:
Original poster
Twooforjoy · 18/07/2022 14:39

Mariposa80 · 18/07/2022 14:08

Did the pup stay in the car or go in kennels last time she did the trip?

How long is the crossing? I presume you can't visit the car deck, can you visit the kennels?

I don’t think you can visit the kennels either, the crossing is too short.

OP posts:
nobabiesyet · 18/07/2022 14:39

We took our pup on a ferry and we were allowed to book a pet friendly cabin and that was fine. We thought he'd be scared in the car.

Original poster
Twooforjoy · 18/07/2022 14:40

Hotenoughtoburnasausage · 18/07/2022 13:57

In an emergency which area would be evacuated first would be my question! We use the ferry to Mull but ddogs are with us at all times..

The options are car or kennel only. Kids are begging to keep her with them, not going to happen!!

OP posts:
Original poster
Twooforjoy · 18/07/2022 14:40

nobabiesyet · 18/07/2022 14:39

We took our pup on a ferry and we were allowed to book a pet friendly cabin and that was fine. We thought he'd be scared in the car.

No cabins left!

OP posts:
Original poster
Twooforjoy · 18/07/2022 14:43

I’d hate to be in a cabin with the kids for the crossing! Think I need the open space! We are booked into the premier lounge so the kids have space to move about but remain close and help themselves to drinks, food etc, toilets are nearby… makes it a lot easier!

OP posts:
Mariposa80 · 18/07/2022 14:51

For just two hours I'd definitely just stick with her in the car.

Witchymcwitch · 18/07/2022 15:00

We did this crossing with our dog, left her in the car with water. She’s happy in the car usually.
when we came back to her she was panting wildly and had steamed the whole car up!
All the car alarms will go off and there’s obviously strange movements.
She was really stressed and she’s not a stress dog.
I wouldn’t do it again.

Also, I’m presuming you’re doing the fast crossing. Bare in mind if the weather isn’t suitable you’ll be on the longer crossing up to 4hrs I think.

Original poster
Twooforjoy · 18/07/2022 15:02

Witchymcwitch · 18/07/2022 15:00

We did this crossing with our dog, left her in the car with water. She’s happy in the car usually.
when we came back to her she was panting wildly and had steamed the whole car up!
All the car alarms will go off and there’s obviously strange movements.
She was really stressed and she’s not a stress dog.
I wouldn’t do it again.

Also, I’m presuming you’re doing the fast crossing. Bare in mind if the weather isn’t suitable you’ll be on the longer crossing up to 4hrs I think.

Oh dear, that sounds grim! I wonder is it any better by the kennels??

OP posts:
gogohmm · 18/07/2022 15:03

We got a dog friendly cabin when I took ddog (to france)

Original poster
Twooforjoy · 18/07/2022 15:14

gogohmm · 18/07/2022 15:03

We got a dog friendly cabin when I took ddog (to france)

Not an option on Ireland / wales route.

OP posts:
Witchymcwitch · 18/07/2022 15:16

Some ferries allow dogs on deck if they’re in a suitable carrier/crate. It depends on the company.

Original poster
Twooforjoy · 18/07/2022 16:13

Witchymcwitch · 18/07/2022 15:16

Some ferries allow dogs on deck if they’re in a suitable carrier/crate. It depends on the company.

Not an option offered on this crossing. It’s really down to car or kennel.

OP posts:
Original poster
Twooforjoy · 18/07/2022 16:36

Witchymcwitch · 18/07/2022 15:00

We did this crossing with our dog, left her in the car with water. She’s happy in the car usually.
when we came back to her she was panting wildly and had steamed the whole car up!
All the car alarms will go off and there’s obviously strange movements.
She was really stressed and she’s not a stress dog.
I wouldn’t do it again.

Also, I’m presuming you’re doing the fast crossing. Bare in mind if the weather isn’t suitable you’ll be on the longer crossing up to 4hrs I think.

Now I’m leaning back towards the kennels.

OP posts:
Hotenoughtoburnasausage · 18/07/2022 17:47

Are they supervised at all in the kennels? Personally I would choose kennels. Being left in the car might have a negative affect on them travelling by car in future.

fudfootedfannybangle · 18/07/2022 17:49

I leave my dog in the car for 14+ hr ferry journeys. It can be noisy in the hull - but my reasoning is that he knows the car and knows we’ll come back. We pack the car and we pack him and he sees it all.

MeatballMeatball · 18/07/2022 17:50

We left ours in the car and disabled the alarm. I think she probably just slept. It was a 3 hour crossing. We’d have postponed if it was rough.

fudfootedfannybangle · 18/07/2022 17:51

Always crack the window and never lock your car on a car deck… unless you WANT to wear our your battery with your alarm.

Impossiblepossibilities · 18/07/2022 20:42

We’ve done the Wales/Ireland crossings (Holyhead/Dublin, Pembroke/Rosslare, Fishguard/Rosslare) probably hundreds of times over the 30+ years we’ve had dogs.

We book night crossings so they are already tired/sleepy and leave ours in the car.

Historically, they have had the whole of an estate car boot with dog-guard and tailgate-guard and two no spill water bowls attached to the tailgate-guard. We also bought cheap window grills that allow us to leave all the car windows open without anyone getting their hand in and have a battery powered fan that clips onto the dog-guard. If it’s particularly warm, we put them in a cool vest as well. We can disable our internal car alarm, just leaving the external one active, so that’s not an issue.

We have had all sorts of different rescue dogs over the years, some confident, some nervous, but all have coped with the crossing well. We give them Dorwest Valerian compound while we are in the boarding queue and use DAP travel spray on their bedding while they go for their pre-boarding walk. They’ve all just slept through, sometimes they’ve still been asleep when we arrived back at the car. We make sure one of us is always last off the car deck and first back down, so we can be with them when other people are walking past the car to get to the passenger decks and back.

I now have a toy breed and am planning to get him used to (and loving) being in a large crate before we take him over, as I think he will probably be more anxious with the whole boot.

I have peeked at the kennels a few times and never felt it was somewhere I would want to leave my dogs. Most people tend to leave them in their cars.

If your dp is a vet, ask them about the possibility of using Zylkene for a few days before the crossing. It definitely helped our most nervous dog cope with it.

Perple · 18/07/2022 20:44

The kennels are HORRIFIC - they’re filthy and basically ina cage on the same deck as the cars . Awful.

I think that you need to go on one of the ferry’s that does let you take upstairs in a bag. Means you will have to drive MICH further but I would do it for the sake of your dog (and have done so!!)

SeemsSoUnfair · 18/07/2022 20:54

We took our dog who loves the car on the ferry once to Bute, he was allowed on deck but still found the journey and the vibrations of the ferry stressful. Glad he wasn't left alone and I wouldnt risk it especially if you dont know how he will react.