Travelling by ferry with our dog

[Davecrawf]

Just wondering if anyone has experience of doing the Portsmouth to Caen crossing with Britany Ferries, and taken their dog.
We understand that our dog must be left in the motorhome for at least 10 hours. This really seems to be a very long time for a pet to be left unattended.

 

[buzz1]

Watch out for the dog cabin weight limits - not sure if BF do this but I was trying to put a trip together, have two dogs - 11kg and 12 kg .. the cabin weight limits were 10kg per dog so I’d have to book 2 dog cabins !! Not sure how rigidly it’s enforced— we went by the tunnel instead- breeze it was !! No ferries for us in future

Really,
I’ve been thinking of using ferries with dog cabins as I’m based in Devon,
so Plymouth would of been a lot easier for me , instead of using the tunnel as it’s a long way round , but if your saying dog weight restrictions for a cabin then that a no good to me , mine dog about 66 kilos

 

[Reallyretired]

I had been considering the Newhaven ferry as not only cheaper but knocks off a fair bit of mileage in uk and in France. However considering the time, possible rough seas and the crappy condition of the 20 year old ferries and possible dog problems I have decided to stick with the tunnel.

 

[wireman]

Watch out for the dog cabin weight limits - not sure if BF do this but I was trying to put a trip together, have two dogs - 11kg and 12 kg .. the cabin weight limits were 10kg per dog so I’d have to book 2 dog cabins !! Not sure how rigidly it’s enforced— we went by the tunnel instead- breeze it was !! No ferries for us in future

As elsewhere chunnel for us too; no more ferries. Sleek it is.

 

[wireman]

I had been considering the Newhaven ferry as not only cheaper but also knocks off a fair bit of mileage in uk and in France. However considering the time, possible rough seas and the crappy condition of the 20 year old ferries and possible dog problems I have decided to stick with the tunnel.

They have updated the ferries but have actually made them worse (see my other post). It's about the same distance for us as we are almost straight on to the A1 instead of the M1. Chunnel from now on.

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[Contisplage]

Just wondering if anyone has experience of doing the Portsmouth to Caen crossing with Britany Ferries, and taken their dog.
We understand that our dog must be left in the motorhome for at least 10 hours. This really seems to be a very long time for a pet to be left unattended.

Several times always with a pet friendly cabin on a daytime crossing. Works well for us. Pooch is settled and we nip out separately - I bring food down to the cabin and there’s a dog walk area on the top deck. If we can’t get on with a cabin we use the tunnel. Both are very smooth with the checking of the documents for the dog.

 

[white elephant]

Just wondering if anyone has experience of doing the Portsmouth to Caen crossing with Britany Ferries, and taken their dog.
We understand that our dog must be left in the motorhome for at least 10 hours. This really seems to be a very long time for a pet to be left unattended.

Hi, Happy New Year, Happy Travels. We travle to France 2 times /yr with our Retriever. I have found the best all round route is Newhaven - Dieppe, 4 hrs in van on his own, low fare cost, good efficient service. If you can get a dog passport in Europeif you intend mulitple crossings, much easier, much less money. I find travel time home to Rouen (france) for me is quickest route ( & I live in the outskirts of Portsmouth) . Good Luck. Get back to me if you need more help.

 

[Bill-H]

My fussy madam insists on some grass or similar before she will deign to offer anything!

After having a dog refuse to even wee for the 30hr crossing to Spain as she would only go on grass, the scond time we went that route I cut a 2x2 ft piece of grass out of my field, carried it on board rolled up in the 'day pack' and unrolled it in the pet excercise area for the duration. When we took the dogs to the excercise area to relieve themselves a little later, there was a small queue of dogs all waiting their turn on the grass.
It did the trick and was the source of much amusement.

 

[Fragle]

Good advice.
I do tend to worry unnecessarily. I think that the familiar surroundings really helps.
Thanks.

We were just the same first time. They do allow you to visit the dog during the crossing and we considered this but decided on the crossing that this would probably be worse for her.
Close the blinds and leave a roof window open for ventilation. It’s quite dark so I’m sure your dog will sleep

Meant to say we tried a pet cabin once and she hated it and couldn’t settle. So stick with motorhome now . She has never messed or caused damage she’s normally curled up in bed in the footwell when we go in

 

[Bill-H]

Watch out for the dog cabin weight limits - not sure if BF do this but I was trying to put a trip together, have two dogs - 11kg and 12 kg .. the cabin weight limits were 10kg per dog so I’d have to book 2 dog cabins !! Not sure how rigidly it’s enforced— we went by the tunnel instead- breeze it was !! No ferries for us in future

when we phoned up to make our first booking with dog friendly cabin, the woman at BF was quite relaxed about my two Bedlingtons of 13kg each sharing a cabin, although I may have inadvertantly told her they were only 11kg each....
The crew on all the boats I've used don't seem very interested in what each dog weighs or how many are in each cabin or whether they are in their allotted kennel or cabin.
We did sneak my friends labrador in as well one year, we had paid for a kennel for her but no one seemed bothered that the kennel was empty for the trip over.
Another year we paid for two pet cabins for the three dogs but only used the one cabin for all of us.

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[Dart]

After having a dog refuse to even wee for the 30hr crossing to Spain as she would only go on grass, the scond time we went that route I cut a 2x2 ft piece of grass out of my field, carried it on board rolled up in the 'day pack' and unrolled it in the pet excercise area for the duration. When we took the dogs to the excercise area to relieve themselves a little later, there was a small queue of dogs all waiting their turn on the grass.
It did the trick and was the source of much amusement.

In a similar vein our male JRT insists on a clump of greenery to raise a leg against or back up to. We resorted to taking on board some good bits of hedgerow foliage in a carrier bag then tie wrapping it to the bottom of the railings in the dog exercise area. We found when we went to remove & discard it at the end of the crossing it had been well and truly used by other dogs so disposable gloves will be added to the kit next time.

 

[Davecrawf]

We were just the same first time. They do allow you to visit the dog during the crossing and we considered this but decided on the crossing that this would probably be worse for her.
Close the blinds and leave a roof window open for ventilation. It’s quite dark so I’m sure your dog will sleep

Meant to say we tried a pet cabin once and she hated it and couldn’t settle. So stick with motorhome now . She has never messed or caused damage she’s normally curled up in bed in the footwell when we go in

Thanks for sharing your experience. As our crossing is overnight, we don't have the option to visit the dog during the crossing. However, I agree with you that it is not a good idea and probably unsettle the dog.
Thanks again

 

[Davecrawf]

Hi, Happy New Year, Happy Travels. We travle to France 2 times /yr with our Retriever. I have found the best all round route is Newhaven - Dieppe, 4 hrs in van on his own, low fare cost, good efficient service. If you can get a dog passport in Europeif you intend mulitple crossings, much easier, much less money. I find travel time home to Rouen (france) for me is quickest route ( & I live in the outskirts of Portsmouth) . Good Luck. Get back to me if you need more help.

Thanks so much for the good advice. This year we will do the Portsmouth to Caen, and Santander to Portsmouth return (with a pet cabin). So all in all, we should be fine.
The short crossing you mention could be an option for next time though.
Thanks again.

 

[Davecrawf]

Several times always with a pet friendly cabin on a daytime crossing. Works well for us. Pooch is settled and we nip out separately - I bring food down to the cabin and there’s a dog walk area on the top deck. If we can’t get on with a cabin we use the tunnel. Both are very smooth with the checking of the documents for the dog.

I agree, that's a good approach. We have used the pet friendly cabin a number of times, and it works well. The tunnel is excellent. However, there's just a bit more winter driving to get through France.
Cheers

 

[Mad dog]

Used Plymouth - Roscoff lots & like the overnight with our Springer. Exercise her well during the day & she's ready for bed. We do have a van based motorhome rather than a car, always close all but one blind. Keeps it dark inside, but crew can look in if necessary. She loves travelling & the van is one of her safe places.

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[Northernraider]

It used to be that after going through the check-in booths and parked up in lanes prior to boarding, you can get out and walk your dogs about, I seem to recall some ports even have enclosed dog walking areas next to the departure lanes.
Newhaven certainly does.

Does it ? I've never seen those and Newhaven is the port I use the most . Where's the dog areas?

 

[Minxy]

Does it ? I've never seen those and Newhaven is the port I use the most . Where's the dog areas?

We did our first trip from there and didn't see a dog area, one poor bloke was walking his dog around for ages trying to get it to perform but without any grass it was having none of it.

 

[Bill-H]

Does it ? I've never seen those and Newhaven is the port I use the most . Where's the dog areas?

Opps, appologies, it's Dover which has dog areas (2 of) I have used several channel ports

 

[LaurenceM]

Really,
I’ve been thinking of using ferries with dog cabins as I’m based in Devon,
so Plymouth would of been a lot easier for me , instead of using the tunnel as it’s a long way round , but if your saying dog weight restrictions for a cabin then that a no good to me , mine dog about 66 kilos

My point wasn’t so much on a weight limit , I meant weight limit per dog per cabin .. if you’ve got two dogs say 15kg , you need two cabins on some routes as their weight trigger is 10kg

 

[LaurenceM]

As elsewhere chunnel for us too; no more ferries. Sleek it is.

Tunnel is brilliant- check in etc so easy … but for us , coming down from Scotland it’s a 2 night stop to get there ( I would never try to book a late pm slot on the Shuttle and try to get there from Doncaster etc on same day - M25 has a mind of its own ! ) we always stop in Folkestone area - some nice sites along the coast - New Romney for example

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[wireman]

Tunnel is brilliant- check in etc so easy … but for us , coming down from Scotland it’s a 2 night stop to get there ( I would never try to book a late pm slot on the Shuttle and try to get there from Doncaster etc on same day - M25 has a mind of its own ! ) we always stop in Folkestone area - some nice sites along the coast - New Romney for example

Depending on where in Scotland you could try the A1 instead. Cuts a few miles off and no going around London. The only minor drawback is Dartford but you just need to choose your times and avoid the pile-ups at the busy times. We used it for the first time last year and avoided both ways,