Travelling with pets can be a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. Becky, a dog lover and owner of four furry friends, Pretzel, Crumpet, Strudel, and Waffle, shares her experience travelling to the EU with her dogs. Becky and her pups have an Instagram account, @pretzel.crumpet.strudel.waffle, where they share their travel adventures.
In this post, Becky provides detailed information on the requirements for travelling to the EU with dogs, the process of obtaining an Animal Health Certificate (AHC), and the necessary steps for returning to the UK. Her experience is centred around using the Eurotunnel, and she shares tips on how to make the process as stress-free as possible.
Hi there! I’m Becky, and I love travelling with my dogs. I know that travelling with pets can be stressful, but it doesn’t have to be. In this post, I’ll share my experience travelling to the EU with my four furry friends, Pretzel, Crumpet, Strudel, and Waffle. Here’s everything you need to know to make your travels with your furry friends as enjoyable as possible.
Before You Go
To travel to the EU, your dog needs to be microchipped, vaccinated against rabies, and have an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) issued by a vet. When you read all the information online, it can seem daunting, but it is actually a straightforward process. The rabies vaccination needs to be done at least 21 days before you travel. It’s also worth noting that some countries require a rabies titre test, such as Turkey, or worming treatment, such as Norway, to enter, but generally, this isn’t necessary. The AHC is a document that confirms that your dog meets the entry requirements for the EU. You can get one from any vet, and the cost can vary from £99 to £300 for one dog, with a discount for additional dogs. We found the best price for our AHC by phoning around other vets. Alternatively, you can book with Abbeywell vets in Folkestone and pick up on the day you travel. It’s essential to get the AHC within ten days of your travel date, and you can use it for four months of onward travel within the EU. Once you return to the UK, if you want to travel again, you will need to get a new AHC for each trip.
Using the Eurotunnel
We chose to use the Eurotunnel to travel to the EU. The journey is from Folkestone to Calais, and the crossing takes only 35 minutes, during which you stay in the car with your dogs for the full journey. The cost is £22 each way per dog. The check-in process is simple – you go to pet reception, where they scan your dog’s microchip against your AHC and give you a hanger to put on your car.
Arriving in the EU
Once you drive off the Eurotunnel, there are no further checks, and you can drive straight through. You cannot take meat products, such as raw food, meat treats, or kibble, into the EU. We recommend looking for a pet shop to buy dog food from, rather than risking taking your own. You can use the same AHC to travel easily between other EU countries – there are no hard borders, so you can just drive around with no further checks.
Returning to the UK
To return to the UK, you need to ensure that your dog has received worming treatment administered by a vet no less than 24 hours and no more than 120 hours before your return. This treatment needs to be recorded in the AHC, so it’s not something you can do yourself. We were worried about finding a vet in Germany to do this, but we had no issues finding one. To save stress while you’re travelling, we recommend trying to sort this before you start your trip. There is a very helpful Google Maps feature that has been created that shows vets that other people recommend that offer this service.
Conclusion
Travelling to the EU with dogs can be a simple and stress-free process, and our experience shows that with the right preparation, it’s possible to have an enjoyable trip with your furry friends. Obtaining an AHC, using the Eurotunnel, and ensuring that your dog receives the necessary treatment before returning to the UK are essential steps in the process.
I hope that our experience and tips have been helpful to those considering travelling to the EU with their dogs. We’ve found that the process is much simpler than we initially thought, and it’s worth it to have our furry friends with us on our travels. It’s important to note that each country may have different rules and regulations, so it’s best to research and prepare accordingly. Travelling with our four dogs has been an incredible experience for us, and we’ve made unforgettable memories together. We hope that this guide encourages others to embark on similar adventures with their furry friends. If you have any other questions, feel free to reach out, and we’ll be happy to help. Happy travels!
