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Hi there, thinking of trying Brittany Ferries this year for the first time, Poole to Cherborg.  (Tired of the big drive to Dover).  Their early booking prices don't seem too bad, especially as we're heading to Brittany anyway and taking in the cost of fuel from Poole - Dover, Calais - Cherborg and then back again. and the time involved in that journey too will give us an extra day in France.

However I've noticed in the small print on their website that dogs must wear muzzles while booking in at both outbound and inbound ports.  Has anyone had any experience of this? Or seen the process for booking in with dogs?  We've travelled to France with our dogs for 5 years, via Norfolk Line, Sea France and P&O and  none of these carriers have ever required this.  During the journey our guys stay in the car and will do this time too.  On the outboard jouneys at check in the clerk only ever looks in the back, waves to the dogs and give us a sticker.  Inbound they hand us the scanner and we scan the dogs chips and they check the passports. My dogs don't have muzzles, have never worn them, and would never dream of biting anyone anyway.  It would mean buying muzzles for them and getting them used to wearing them before we go.  Do you think it might be something Brittany Ferries has put on their website and doesn't impose? 

Sometimes You're the windscreen; sometimes the fly

Sounds like it's worth a phone call to them. Could be for foot passengers only & they haven't made it clear. ?

We have had the same experience as you with Sea France & P&O. Never travelled with the dogs on Brittany.

Suzi

with ref.to suzis post, I didn't think foot passengers were allowed to take pets.

And with ref,. to Florence I'd suggest you don't do anything yet other than the routine jabs. The rabies jab will be better done next year when she won't need the blood test...and she'll be that bit older. NEVER let your vet give her a rabies jab within a fortnight of any other jab. The drug data sheet states this clearly but some vets do both jabs together for convenience and because of this we nearly lost our dog last year.

 Oh sorry, am I talking bollocks  I though they had deck crates for them, could be thats only on the longer trips then.

Agree with Jaymac about the jabs, our vet always wants to do them all together, I have to put my foot down & say no, we will come back in a couple of weeks. ( Doogles get the rabies every year in this area).

Wait for next year & save your self a lot of time & money.

It's not that confusing, just read this http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-pets/pets/travel/pets/pet-owners/

What you need to do if you are entering the UK from the EU and listed non-EU countries.

Suzi

I didn't know that about the rabies jabs.  Ours always got theirs done when due with the general boosters, eeek. I know the parvo jab is quite a nasty one on their system so maybe a very old/young or fragile dog could be brought down by the combination. How awful.  My take on the Passport now is that from Jan 12  no blood test is required to prove rabies vaccination has 'taken'. We have a new first time traveller (Little Harry) for next year.  He has had his rabies and microchip already and vet now says hold off and apply for the passport on 1st Jan and he will stamp up, saving us the cost of the blood tests.   Also the rabies jabs last for 3 years instead of 2 now I believe.  There is talk of extending to 5 years which has already happened in Ireland (south)  They are also from 1 Jan 2012 relaxing the laws on tick treatment for pets re-entering UK, but not for worming, so a visit to a French vet will still be necessary for worming treatment (we take our own along to save money, the vets don't mind) and passport check/stamp.  I would still treat for ticks before going though and check regularly throughout the holiday if you're in a tick-y area.  Always carry a pair of tick tweezers. I Had to use ours on husband two years ago in the Charente when he went walking in long grass beside a lake.  I could hardly remove it for laughing.  Now he gets Frontline on the back of his neck before every trip hehe.  Oh and re Brittany Ferries; apparantly the dogs have to go into the passenger terminal in Cherborg to have their passports checked on return, hence the muzzle rule which is a safety precaution for staff.  Staff on UK side are unsure whether rule is strictly adhered to so no real answer as yet. May have to phone Cherbourg

Sometimes You're the windscreen; sometimes the fly

Our dog usually had her jabs at separate times but I sent OH off alone with her last year to get the booster done, the rabies jab still had 18 months to run but the silly vet persuaded him it was necessary. She had an allergic reaction, a huge abcess which burst requiring two operations to remove dead flesh and an open wound  the size of a saucer. Once I'd spotted the Data sheet I contacted the drug company and sent photos of the wound to their vet. Within five minutes of them contacting our vet he was on the phone offering us the appointment we'd been asking for for several days. He also agreed there would be no charge for any of the treatments...I think he was relieved we weren't going to sue!

I know it was a rare reaction but it was dreadful and that's why the drug company states the jabs shouldn't be given together.

I've crossed with Brittany ferries 5 times in the last 2 years and have never bothered with a muzzle and never been challenged.

Saxo1

One more thing.

Don't get hung up about how long the rabies jab lasts. It varies from country to country & manufacturer to manufacturer even vet to vet ( over here).

Just make sure the Vet writes the expiry date in the passport ( check it) & get the booster just before it expires... Simples..

Suzi