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Hi Bob, We took our Golden Retriever abroad several times and she loved it. 

You can find everything you need to know on the Defra web site.

Marg.

Hi Bob, and welcome to UKCS!

Marg is right, the DEFRA website's got all the info you need. Just follow this link. Also, don't forget that 48 hours before you leave France, you must have your dog tested for ticks. We have a great English speaking vet in our local village that does this for our puppy, and also pets of campers staying on our campsite too.

If you need anymore info, please don't hesitate to get in touch?

it is treated for ticks and tapeworm, not simply tested, and it must be done between 24 and 48 hours of checking in to the ferry.

our dogs have had passports since the start of the scheme, over 5 years ago now.

They have been all over the place with us, with and without caravan.

The only other thing to point out, is that we are all talking about the regulations for bringing you dog back in to britain, without it having to go in to quarantine.

If all you want to do is take it to france (what you asked about literaly), and not return, then in practice you can forget all the above (from myself and other respondents) because it is only on your return to the uk that anyone will check any paperwork for your dog.  In theory other countries, including france could do, but in the many trips that we have taken, no one bothers, except for entering the uk

Hope this helps

Michael

Just noticed that you live a few minutes away from us Bob.

Here is a picture of Heidi, with Rosemarie, outside our house in Austria, this August.

Go for it, and have fun

Michael

Hi Bob

Michael is right on this one...

Just another reason to keep goverment staff in a job!!!

But that's the UK for you --- glad we left it...

hello Stuart, et al.

normally I would agree with you regarding "red tape" but in this instance we are very glad of the scheme, which alows us to take our pets on holiday with us, and return without quaranteen.

Michael

Hi Bob

Glad you are happy with the site, but beware, it is addictive!

If you need to get a pet passport, it takes a minimum of 7 months to jump through all the hoops, so start now for next summer.

We have taken our dog 3 times since last September. It is lovely not to have to leave her behind.

You might want to be aware of a couple of nasties more common in Europe than in the UK which can affect dogs. The most visible of these is/are processional caterpillars which hatch from nests seen in pine forests. The nests look like spun balls of tennis ball size or larger. The caterpillars have irritant hairs which are bad news for dogs. You should be able to see the caterpillars as they travel in procession along the ground, nose to tail. Found in the spring in Spain, south of France. We saw some when overnighting near Narbonne, kept the dog on a lead.