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I know it’s rude to stare, but I can’t take my eyes off what’s happening at the next table. A waiter, wearing a waistcoat and a medallion around his neck, rudely but cautiously explains a barely cooked duck to a table of four Frenchmen to my left. I find myself unable to look away except to check on the dog, who is also – presumably – engrossed in a lesson in waterfowl anatomy.
Dog-friendly Holidays By Train
I kept my grip on Artie’s leash in case he decided to bolt and tried not to worry about the medieval style torture device cast in silver hanging in a nearby cart.
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I never happened to sit down at the butcher shop. I am in Rouen, the capital of the Normandy region in the north of France, where I bow
– A hearty dish of pressed duck cooked in a sauce made from its blood, port and cognac.
While the dog wants to circle the bird, I am less enthusiastic. I return to my bottle of Beaujolais and instead request my itinerary for the next day. I have to plan, because tomorrow we have a train to ride, and then another, and then a few more, because thanks to the new Byway Travel Initiative, I’m going to a completely car-free continent. Dog company – something that until recently was a logistical nightmare.
Traveling in Europe with a dog but without your own car is not as easy as hopping on the Eurostar. Although dogs are allowed on trains across the UK, Eurostar has a somewhat confusing no dog policy. Before the pandemic, dog owners wanting to travel in France and abroad had to either take a ferry or the Channel Tunnel, or book a dog-friendly cabin on the DFDS Newcastle-Amsterdam ferry or P&O’s Hull-Rotterdam route. passenger.
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Not only are the latter options more expensive, but getting in and out of ports can be easy if you tow your dog with you. For dog owners without their own cars, the continent seems much further away than the 21 miles it takes to cross the Dover Strait.
But Byway’s new dog-friendly, car-free, no-fly tours have opened up Europe to travelers on foot and made exploring the continent by rail a real and fun possibility. Our journey began in Marylebone, London, where the Holmes Hotel provided a suitable dog bed and evening boarding before the morning train. Then, after a quick autumn stroll through the leaves of Regent’s Park, we headed to St Pancras to catch our train to Ashford International Airport. This is where Byway gets smart, with a relatively new service run by an American named Brenda: Le Pet Express.
After being stranded in France with her pets while traveling from the US (on her way to move to London for a job in cybersecurity at the London Stock Exchange), Brenda was inspired to create a minivan without a car, which she wanted to travel between Britain and France. In 2021, it finally replaced the computer servers with a specially modified minibus with boxes on one side and individual seats on the other, so that passengers and their pets can sit at any time, and now runs a daily shuttle service between Ashford and Calais.
She picked up a group of us in her red bus outside the station (three dogs, a cat, four people in total), drove us to check in at LeShuttle’s pet reception as if we were on a school trip, then dropped us off at Calais -Frethun station for our next trip to France. It may seem simple, but there is a lot of red tape. Luckily it was Brenda’s job to take care of us – we just had to show our pet passport (or animal health certificate) and relax on the bus.
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This means that you will need to do some of your admin in advance, as traveling in Europe with animals is a bit trickier than it was in the pre-Brexit days. All pets now require a vet certificate or a valid EU issued pet passport (Artie and I went to Ireland to get our passport earlier this year). There are rules about what you can and can’t bring into the country – for example, meat dog food can be confiscated, so you’ll need to switch to a vegetarian or insect-based alternative like Hownd or Grub Club. – Your pet must be given a deworming tablet by your vet within five days of your return to the UK.
Rules also apply to dogs on trains in France: officially they either have to fit in a small carrier, or larger dogs have to wear a muzzle and stay on a leash at all times. In fact, they are rarely enforced, and traveling across the country on a double-decker air-conditioned train is fun whether you have a dog with you or not.
Dog-friendly side streets can use some improvement. We had originally booked a hotel 40 minutes’ walk from the nearest green area – this was changed upon request – and later discovered that our destination Rouen is not the most dog-friendly city, as you cannot travel with dogs. on buses or trams. But it’s still a great way to get to the continent without the hassle. Just choose your destination wisely and leave plenty of time for fun on the ground – the 12 hours it took to get home was a bit excessive for our three-night trip, so next time we’ll stay longer – and I Suspect that Artie will make sure to order the duck.
Lottie Gross was a guest at the Holmes Hotel and Byway Travel. A three-night trip to Rouen with Byway costs £892 including all trains from London St Pancras, the Le Pet Express service and three nights’ accommodation.
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Refresh the page or go to another page on the site to be logged in automatically. Refresh your browser to sign in. We love having your four-legged friends on Northern Trains! If you’re new to traveling with your dog and don’t know where to start, or you’re looking for tips on how to make the most of your trip, you’ve come to the right place.
We’ve teamed up with actress and dog behavior expert Kate Lamb to bring you some great tips for traveling by train with your furry friends.
Bring plenty of water, some snacks and chew toys for your dog, as well as a leash, poop bags, napkins or wipes in case of an accident.
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If your dog is starting to train to travel, start short and sweet – take the train to one or two quiet stations to start.
If you’re on the train, you’ll want to walk your dog at least 15 minutes beforehand so he has a chance to do his business and stretch his legs.
If you are going on a long journey, you should allow time for longer walks so that you and your dog can rest on the train.
Make sure you have enough time to catch the train so you can help your dog without rushing. Use the wide gates for more time and space to navigate the station.
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Make your life easier; Buy your ticket in advance with the Northern app and you’ll be hands-free on the leash, so you can easily grab your phone and strap your dog to tables or chairs when you’re out and about.
Practice “on the spot” with your dog in many different scenarios. You can use a towel or mat that you bring with you and that your dog knows how to sit or lie down on. When you get on the train, you can put the mat on the floor so that your dog understands what to do.
Don’t forget treats and don’t travel with your dog on a full stomach. If your dog gets motion sickness, you can look for over-the-counter and vet-prescribed medications.
If you’re worried about how your dog will act in a cafe, grab a coffee so you can get away before your pup gets bored or exhausted. Use small rewards and gentle praise to keep them calm and always end on a positive note! Go for a nice walk or play a great game.
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Practice before. It’s much easier to ride a train with a dog behind you, and keeping them close helps guide them through stations and busy streets and keeps them safe.
With so many great places to visit by train on the Northern Network, there’s never been a better time to do your thing with your dog.
We’ve also teamed up with Vets4Pets to bring you some great tips for staying safe at the beach or abroad
