Top tips appreciated for taking Ddog to Spain in the car please

[drivinmecrazy]

Going out to see DM in southern Spain at the end of April for six weeks.

We have a 12 month old Weimaraner pup who is currently coming with us.
We're planning on taking 3-4 days to make the journey from Calais (left it too late to book a ferry 😡).
DH and I are hoping to make the road trip into a bit of an adventure

DH will stay at DMs for a few days before flying back for work and will fly out at the end of the trip to drive back.
My head is literally about to burst trying to plan the trip so any and all advice welcome

Have you spoken to your vets regarding the pet’s passport and also what you need to do regards dog leaving Spain and France, I know when leaving France you have to have rabies vaccination before returning to uk. We have friends who took their dog aged 8 months to Poland, stopping twice overnight and their dog was fine, that they now only stop overnight once, but do stop regularly every 3/4 hours for at least an hour.

Following eagerly as I hope to take my dog to Annecy later in the year!

Good luck.

I took my dog from Spain to the UK and back in 2019, before Brexit regs really kicked in. Things might have changed since, but looking at his passport he needed an up-to-date rabies jab (obligatory here anyway), vet-administered tick & intestinal parasite treatment (nexgard spectra), vet-administered tapeworm (echinococcus) treatment and a clinical exam, the last three all within a week or 10 days of travelling. That was going into the UK. There were no requirements on his return to Spain.
I would also give your dog a leishmaniosis jab as it’s rife in the south of Spain (and gradually moving northwards) and once they’ve got it, it’s medication and check-ups for life. Sand flies are the vector, so maybe stay away from beaches. Also bear in mind that it’s now illegal in Spain to leave your dog alone in a car for any length of time or to tie him/her up outside a shop or bar, etc. Where I live, the police seem to have better things to do than check cars for dogs (especially in winter), but they might be stricter down south.
Good luck!

Make sure you read up on vaccinations, rabies etc. and when she needs to be cleared by a vet before departure. The same for her return to the UK.
You aren't allowed to take huge amounts of dog food into the EU anymore so you'll need to think about how you're going to feed her. I think you can take small amounts but it's very limited.
Dogs have to be walked on the lead in Spain and some breeds have to be muzzled in public. I think Weimaraners should be okay though.
Make sure you know the rules re. transport too.

You will need to visit a uk vet and get the pet health certificate paperwork sorted. This costs me about £200, which was free before Brexit.

On the way back you will need to see a vet for a worming tablet. The treatment must have been given no less than 24 hours and no more than 120 hours (5 days) before you enter UK. So you will need to plan your journey. We book a vet mid France, they are usually very helpful and speak English. It will be checked before you can checkin for your train.

We always take our dog to visit family in the EU and find travelling through France very dog friendly.

This is probably obvious but make sure hotels where you stay are genuinely dog friendly. Look on their website and also use any reviews.