Dog travelling from U.K. To SJDLT - Page 3

Out of season they are. Nothing better than having a swim with them.  We also bought a little paddling pool for them as we have not been able to source pet friendly products for the swimming pool, so before they go for a walk when it is really hot and when they come back they get in it to cool down lol (living the doggy dream).  You just have to be very selective when you take them for a walk, either early morning or late at night when it is really hot, especially as the pavements can burn their paws.  Its suprising how they adapt and will stay indoors in the air con when the weather is too hot. Enjoy your adventure

Hi,

I am looking for a good vet to sort out my dogs passport on the way home and I hear there is an excellent one in Aguadulce. Can someone pass on the address and telephone number, as this would be very useful for us.

Regards,  Graham.

We where making arrangements to bring our dog over earlier this year by a company that we googled it was going to cost just over £600 flying with tui to Alicante we also looked into booking it directly with tui ourselves which would have been a lot cheaper unfortunately it wasn't to be our dog got very poorly and passed away. Just google your question and a lot of companies will pop up

Good Luck

Hi Jen,

I have two dogs and have made the trip with them by car for the last three winters before buying a house and moving to Almeria region only a few months ago, I have never used any of the Spanish ports because you seriously have to book well in advance to get a dog friendly cabin and sail time is around 23 to 24 hours, I also have heard bad reports of rough crossings and irresponsible ferry companies still making the trips in really bad seas (the bay of Biscay can be bad), I have done the Plymouth Roscoff ferry (71/2 hrs) the channel tunnel but have just done the Poole Cherbourg  ferry which is only a 41/2 hour crossing, I have just arrived back in the UK for three weeks to attend my daughters  wedding and will now be using this everytime, I have never considered flying with the dogs because I feel its too stressful for them. If you drive, firstly do not worry about the roads in France or Spain, If you can drive in the UK then you can breeze either of these because the worst part of your journey is the UK part, you will hardly have to leave the motorway network all the way to your destination, in France you will only usually encounter traffic jams around the cities and on the route to Almeria this will only be Bordeaux which is a bit like our                     Birmingham with a bit of a bottle neck, n Spain sometimes its a bit like you are the only person on the road you can drive for miles without passing or being passed, by the way in Spain its 80 and France 85mph limits and you can do it too because the roads are so good. I have made the trip back to the UK from Almeria region this time with only two overnight stops, one in Irun (Spain) virtually on the France border then in Cherbourg before an early morning Ferry to Poole and the drive to Lancashire in the same day, I have always stayed three nights previously and maybe you should on your first trip but I am now fine with the two, I stop at least three times per day for half an hour at picnic spots and services that have grassy picnic areas and there are loads that are great for the dogs. I don't know from Where in the UK you may be coming so obviously this has to be in the equation but the other things are balancing ferry journey time with drive journey time and road tolls, Spain is OK but get it wrong in France and you can pay in excess of £100 to get across France from Poole to route will be nearer £50. To where I live in Almeria it is 1410 miles to my Lancashire home town which coming back was 575m day one 560m day two and the rest in the UK which is the worst part of the route. Sorry for the long reply but I hope it is useful and can I emphasise please do not worry if you consider yourself a half decent driver its a breeze!!

P.S you may want to consider wintering in Almeria I left 36 degree temperatures on Sunday and when I arrived in Lancashire on Tuesday evening my dogs came alive again, in Almeria the winters are great during the day, in July my dogs hardly leave the house and only come out to play in the early evenings as it cools.

Enjoy, David

Please also familiarise yourselves with potential health problems in southern Spain relative to dogs.  I don't wish to be alarmist, but I have found that many British dog owners are unaware of some of these dangers, so it's wise to be informed.  This article is useful:

https://andaluciarealty.com/en/pets-in-spain-diseases-and-dangers-for-pets-in-spain/

Leishmaniasis is a nasty disease caused by sandflies, so do avoid walking your dog on the beach during dawn or dusk when the flies are most active.  I would also strongly advise that you invest in a  Scalibor or Seresto collar.

Also something to be aware of is the rule of having to restrain your dog whilst travelling in the car, or risk a fine.  We have a harness that clips into the rear seat belt.

https://n332.es/2016/04/28/carrying-animals-in-cars/

Ready to return to SJDLT from UK but confused now about my wee dogs travel documentation this year. He has an EU passport and all his vaccs in there from Aguilas vet, valid till December. Can anyone advise what else is required?  An Animal Health Certificate is £200 but I've been told that's not necessary, only required if he doesn't have an EU passport but I'm getting conflicting information. Help!!! 🙏