Hi just read Vals post about it being quiet on here. So here is my very first post. We live in Spain and have traveled to England via Calais Dover lots of times in car. This April we are traveling first time with dog, does it get checked at the same check in as we do. Does it take very long will we have to be there earlier than usual. Thanks for your help love reading this forum.
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I don't know about ferries, but on the tunnel, follow the "paw" signs before check in and the dog's documents will be checked and its chip read. You can then progress to check in. The beauty of the tunnel is that the dog stays with you - an absolute boon with nervy mutts!
------------- Freedom is a light caravan and an open road.
At the ferry it's likely that they will hand you a scanner into the car, and you scan the pet yourself, so make sure you know where the chip is located. We had to scan our cat with both Brittany Ferries, and P&O - don't know about DFDS or the other operators.
yes the ferry will check your dog in at the same time as the car and yourselves. Certainly in Calais and Dunkirk, and there's no separate check in lane for people travelling with dogs as yet. I have no experience of any other french ports. They will scan your pet for the microchip (or hand you the scanner for you to do it yourself is what they always do with us) then they will check the microchip number against the passport, check the vet stamps for innocculation and that the treatment dates are within the correct time frame, give you a hanger for your rear view mirror, and on you go. Takes maybe 10 minutes longer and that was with 4 dogs!
------------- Sometimes You're the windscreen; sometimes the fly
Agree with travellinPam, did it two weeks ago and it took less than 5 mins. The vet should scan your dog before doing the passport so eyeball where the chip reading is taken from, saves times when you self scan at the ferry, also confirms the chip is working.
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Quote: Originally posted by Dotto on 11/3/2016
Hi the ferry not keen on the tunnel more nervous than the dog.
For the 35 min tunnel trip you can stay with your dog & hold his paw to overcome your tunnel terror. On the Dover ferry he stays alone & scared in the car...
Yes, Dotto, it does take longer to check in. If you have a dog you may not think it does but when you are in the queue behind someone who is trying to catch their dear little thing which is running around the back of their estate car, it seems to take for ever .
Hopefully the day will come when the ferry companies have dedicated "pet" lanes.
DaveS1
Quote: Originally posted by Dotto on 11/3/2016
Hi the ferry not keen on the tunnel more nervous than the dog.
Close your eyes Dotto, no sooner has the train started moving than it has finished the journey.
Personally I think more for the welfare of my dogs (all 3 of them) than I do about my own welfare.
As soon as we are on the train and parked, I open the back door of the car and sit there in the back cuddling my gorgeous Springers until we arrive on the other side.
------------- There is a great World to be found out there, but by the very day, to find where it is becomes more of a challenge!
we're using the tunnel this year. Although the dogs are used to the 3.5 hour crossing on the Irish sea, and usually sleep until the docking staff start to move around, then they start barking (we sadly watch them on webcam!) we have always felt its unfair to subject them to 2 ferries in a 24 hour period. But the tunnel was always too expensive for our budget and ferry prices previously much cheaper. This year Tesco vouchers and a bit of extra savings (and not much pricing difference) means we can use the tunnel. I absolutely hate tunnels unless I can see daylight at the end of them, so I imagine I will read, play music, borrow one of my emergency diazapam (for in case my back goes), or meditate for the 35 mins to try to forget just where we are. (Must learn how to meditate....)
------------- Sometimes You're the windscreen; sometimes the fly