Backpacking with a dog yes/no?

[Revren]

So i just started planning my backpacking over in Europe. first time over seas, but not the first time backpacking. The trip im planning will be for about 3-4 months maybe longer (depending on budget). My question is basicly do alot of people backpack w/ thier dog's? Is it more of a hasstle than it is fun? how limited am i on travel, places to stay? ect.... the thought of leaving my bestfriend behind is a little hard to swallow
If any could help me with this PLEASE HELP

[WillTravel]

First of all, are there quarantine requirements or anything like that for bringing your dog over from overseas? I think there is for the UK anyway, but I don't know about elsewhere. So determine if it's even possible.

If it is possible, you will be really limited when it comes to hostels and budget hotels. You'd have to carefully plan your itinerary with this requirement in mind. This might work if you focus on camping or mid-range hotels that accept pets. Ibis hotels, for example, allow dogs. But what would you do if you want to visit a site that doesn't allow you to take your dog in with you? I'd be scared to leave him tied up outside in a foreign city.

[Libby]

Be prepared for your dog to be held anywhere from 1 week to several months in the UK. The whole process is an absolute nightmare.

[LHR02]

Unless it has quite recently changed there is a mandatory quarrantine of 6 months for the UK. And YOU have to pay the kennel bills for it. (I recall reading not too long ago about Liz Taylor chartering some huge darn yacht to go to London so she could bring her dogs....as they could not enter the country without the quarrantine but if they stayed 100% on the yacht she could get away with them) ;D Germany requires International Vet certificates but when I took my dogs there they just inspected the papers and had to do a quick health check and we were on our way. Likewise Austria and Czech....needed the offical papers but that was all. I took my dogs everywhere when we lived in Germany....you have to pay half fare on the trains for them but they sat right up in the seat and looked out the windows with us....and they are welcome most everywhere except butcher shops and bakeries. In fact most restaurants would rather you bring your dog than your kids! And most gasthous's will happily accept them along with hotels, but no idea about hostels. Also, no experience with museums or 'tourist sites'. Overall, while I think generally dogs are well accepted in Europe I can't imagine ever trying to backpack with one.

[Eagle]

I can certainly appreciate your reluctance to leave your "friend" for three-four months (I miss my Dog even if I'm just going out shopping for a few hours), but I suspect this would be an EXTREMELY difficult way to travel (especially Backpacking!).

To begin with there will be extra costs for transporting the dog by air (special kennel required, not all airlines will accept Dogs which might limit the cheap tickets you can get from some charter airlines). Also there can be problems with this -- I saw a report on our local news this week about a family that transported their Dog via Air from Eastern Canada (they had done this many times previously). When the flight landed at destination, the Dog was found DEAD!

From the comments made by Dustoffmom, it sounds like Europeans are more accepting of Dogs in public places than here in North America. However, there are likely still lots of places where these won't be allowed (except for Guide Dogs).

Having the Dog might also restrict your sightseeing options or visiting with the locals. Some attractions may not allow Pets? If you decide to leave him in the Hotel for the evening and he makes a lot of noise in your absence, it could create problems for you?

As far as I know, each country has their own regulations for transporting Pets across borders. This is probably easier for EU residents, but might be more difficult for those coming from outside. Some of my relatives are planning to move to the U.K. at some point and have checked out the current regulations for bringing Dogs into the country. There are fairly strict rules that must be followed -- "chips" implanted in the Animals, current Rabies shots, Bloods Tests, Veterinary certificates, etc. It could take a LOT of time to get all this sorted out!!!

I'm sure it would be possible to travel with your Dog, but I suspect this might be more trouble than you realize. The best option would probably be to leave him with a family member or someone that can give him lots of love & attention while you're away. Although I'm sure he would "miss" you, he'd probably be happier in his "home surroundings". You could always take two shorter trips, as this might not be as much of a problem for you or the Dog as the one longer trip???

Hope these few comments will be of some help. Good luck with your decision!

[MuvverRussia]

Check this out:

www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/quarantine/pets/procedures/support-info/rfis.htm

There's a scheme called PETS that you could look into, but it's probably going to be quite expensive- also there's the cost of shipping your dog (it will have to go as freight).

[LHR02]

One last thought....while the countries in which I had my two BIG dogs were so cool about them...and it is so odd for an American to encounter dogs in the department stores, theaters, restaurants, subways, trains, darn near everywhere ....your dog is expected to be extremely well mannered at all times! If he can't interact peacefully and friendly with a wide variety of strangers, both human and canine then you will quickly be advised to remove him/her. Barking, growling, snarling, any such thing will bring both you and he quick rebuke. The Euros love their pets and treat them just like children...and like children they are expected to behave at all times.

[MuvverRussia]

Whilst mainland Europeans are ok with dogs, don't expect that kind of treatment in the UK. If you take a dog (other than a registered help dog) into stores, theatres, cinemas, restaurants etc then expect to get thrown out pretty quickly .

[LHR02]

;D

My dogs in Europe experience is strictly related to Germany, Austria, and Czech....and now that you mention it, I don't recall coming across them in UK like I did/do on the 'continent'.

hmmmmm....why don't the English love their dogs like the Germans or the French do I wonder?

[me]

i remember on my fist Eurotrip, right after highschool; after i met up with my parents, we were in Belgium at a ice café on a sidewalk, when another patron feed her dog some ice cream with her own spoon, then she ate another bite - from the same spoon! my dad just about came unglued. (he was raised on an East Texas farm. to him, animals are animals - people are people)

- d