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Travelling to France
with a dog

Travelling to France with a dog

Those doleful eyes get us every time. The suitcases come out, and he knows. He mopes around looking forlorn, like we are the worst owners in the world, off on another summer adventure to Morzine and Les Gets without him. He usually misses out on long hikes, wildflower meadows, streams, lakes and mountain views… but this time we decided to take Woody along for the ride. It took some planning so, after having driven to Morzine and back, we’ve created a (hopefully) handy guide to travelling to France with your dog.

First off, a few of the questions we get asked the most:

Are Morzine and Les Gets dog-friendly?

Very! There are walks, hikes and dog bowls galore. Most bars and restaurants are dog-friendly in both Morzine and Les Gets, so sunny lunches on a mountain terrace or in one of the local restaurants are not a problem.

Do you offer dog-friendly chalets?

We do! Many Hunter Chalets guests bring dogs with them in both winter and summer. You can visit our availability page and use the filter to select ‘Pet Friendly’ chalets and find one that’s right for you.

How far is Morzine from Calais?

It’s about a nine-hour drive from Calais to Morzine. So add to that the distance you have to travel on the UK side and you can weigh up whether you want to do it in one stint or stay in France for the night en route to break up the journey.

A guide to taking your dog to France

1. Make sure your dog is microchipped

If you haven’t done so already, get your dog microchipped before anything else. That way, all treatments can be traced to your dog’s unique microchip number. It’s worth double-checking that your dog breed is allowed in France. Most are, but some require a pedigree certification like rottweilers, pit bull terriers, Staffordshire terriers and Japanese tosa inus.

Find out about banned breeds and dog categories

2. Book your dog’s rabies vaccination

Before your dog can travel, you will need to take it to the vet to get vaccinated against rabies, which is needed to obtain an Animal Health Certificate (AHC). You should book your appointment well in advance of your trip, as you will have to wait at least 21 days after the vaccination to receive the certificate.

UK rabies vaccinations are valid for up to three years, but some administered in other countries only last one year. Your dog must be at least 12 weeks old to receive the vaccination. If they’ve already been vaccinated, you may need to check if they need a booster.

Most UK rabies vaccinations cost between £50 to £90. You will be given a vaccination card or certificate, which will have important details you’ll need for the AHC later on.

3. Book with Hunter Chalets & Apartments

You can fill out our enquiry form and tell us how many people are travelling, how many dogs are staying and how many parking spaces you will need. We’ll then get back to you with the best chalet or apartment options for your group.

Send an enquiry

Alternatively, visit our availability page and use the filter to select ‘Pet Friendly’ chalets and find one that’s right for you. We’re also available by phone seven days a week if you’d rather chat it through.

4. Choose your travel route to France

There are two main ways to travel with a dog: Eurotunnel LeShuttle, where your dog stays in the car with you for the duration of the Folkestone to Calais crossing, or the ferry, where some routes make you leave your dog in the car while you go up to the upper levels. However, P&O Ferries does have selected Dover-Calais sailings with a Pet Lounge, where you can take your dog on a lead and sit with it in a dedicated lounge area while enjoying complimentary refreshments. There’s an outdoor exercise area for the pups, too.

Calais is the closest port to Morzine and Les Gets, but here are a few of the most popular ferry options you could consider:

• Dover to Calais ferry
• Dover to Dunkirk ferry
• Portsmouth to Le Havre ferry

DFDS, Brittany Ferries, P&O Ferries and Le Shuttle all welcome dogs on board.

Good to know! You will need to know your date of travel to France before getting your dog’s Animal Health Certificate, as it must be issued within 10 days of entry and at least 21 days after the rabies vaccination.

5. Get your dog’s Animal Health Certificate

Pet passports are no longer valid in the EU and Northern Ireland, so you will need to get an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) from your vet instead. Call your vet well in advance to book an appointment, which should take place within the 10 days before entering France. The price for the AHC costs around £100-£300. We paid £164 for a consultation and the certificate at our local vets.

Your vet can issue and sign the AHC, provided there are no health concerns preventing travel. It’s a good opportunity to check that your dog’s other vaccines are up to date, too. An AHC is only valid for one entry into the EU and can only be used within 10 days of issue. You can use it for up to four months within the EU and for your return to the UK.

You may also want to consider getting pet travel insurance if you think it’s necessary.

6. Book an appointment with the vets in France

Before your holiday even starts, book an appointment with the vets in France and put it in the diary!

Your dog must be treated for tapeworm between one to five days before you arrive home in the UK. The two tablets can only be administered by a vet, as they will need to sign and date your dog’s Animal Health Certificate.

We used Clinique Vétérinaire La Garenne in Montriond, just on the outskirts of Morzine. Once you’ve booked your chalet with us, our concierge team can do this for you if you give them plenty of notice.

Clinique Vétérinaire La Garenne, 373 Rte de Morzine, 74110 Montriond, France

We booked our appointment for the day before we were due to leave Morzine. They need to see your dog take the two tablets before they can sign off on the paperwork, so you might want to take something tasty to wrap the tablets up in!

7. Packing for your pet

Don’t forget your paperwork, including your Animal Health Certificate, dog poo bags, water bottle for hikes, dog bed, lead, long lead if needed and a dog towel. The real issue we faced was dog food, as Woody is a fussy eater and likes a certain meat-based brand.

The EU has strict regulations on meat and dairy products, including those used in dog food and treats. You are not allowed to take any meat or dairy-based dog food into France unless you have written confirmation from your vet that it’s for medical reasons. Even then, it’s limited to 2kg.

We recommend feeding your dog at the UK port before you travel and picking up some dog food once you arrive in France. Vegan snacks and food are permitted, so you can always pack some along with a travel dog bowl for the journey. The rule doesn’t apply to the UK, so if you happen to find the meat and dairy-based dog food in France that your dog is used to, you are allowed to take it through on the return journey.

8. Pet check-in

It’s time for your holiday! At the ferry or LeShuttle terminal, you will need to check in at a vehicle booth or reception at least an hour before your scheduled departure.

LeShuttle has a designated pet reception for this. At the check-in booths, you will be given a pet referral hanger to hang in your windscreen. Park up and make your way to the Pet Reception and join the queue with your dog.

The staff will scan your dog’s microchip and assess your Animal Health Certificate. Once that’s done, you can get something to eat in one of the cafes in the terminal (dogs welcome) or, depending on time, make your way to join the queue to board LeShuttle.

It’s a similar process at the ferry terminal, so follow the signs for passengers travelling with pets. There are no border checks once you arrive in France, so you can continue your journey.

9. Drive to Morzine or Les Gets

The drive to Morzine or Les Gets takes about nine hours. You may want to give yourself and your dog a break with an overnight stop en route. Depending on the port you arrive at, Paris, Reims, Dijon, or Nancy are all great options to consider. We chose to stay in a hotel just off the toll road close to Reims.

Remember to stock up on dog snacks and water, and get them comfy with a blanket and toy in a travel dog bed (or their usual one if small enough). Give them plenty of breaks to stretch their legs and strap them in with a dog seatbelt to keep them safe on long car journeys.

The toll roads are fast and easy, with plenty of service stations en route.

10. Enjoy your holiday!

Drop our concierge team a message with your estimated time of arrival, and we’ll meet you at the chalet or apartment you have booked. All of our chalets in Morzine and Les Gets come with a welcome hamper on arrival, so you can enjoy essentials to get your stay off to a great start, including tea, milk, coffee pods, crisps and a bottle of Champagne.

There is a tourist information centre in the centre of both Morzine and Les Gets, so they are a great place to pick up maps and hiking recommendations. If you need anything else during your stay, just get in touch with our concierge team. We’ll give you the details once your booking is made.

11. Visit the vets

Set a reminder for your vet appointment, just in case you get too caught up enjoying your holiday and it slips your mind! You will need to do this to get the paperwork confirming your dog has taken the tapeworm treatment.

12. Re-enter the UK with your dog

Travelling with your dog to the UK is a similar process to your outbound journey. At check-in, you will need to show your dog’s Animal Health Certificate, plus the vet’s signed proof of tapeworm treatment within the last 24-120 hours (1-5 days).

You may also be required to fill in a declaration stating that you won’t sell or transfer your dog to a new owner after you’ve arrived in the UK.

13. That’s it!

Yes, it’s a bit of hassle and money, but so worth it! Woody would agree.

FAQs about travelling with dogs to France

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