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# I did try to post this before but it's gone missing..
Has anyone taken a dog on a [Partial] MTB holiday, but not had the luxury of a partner to look after the 4 legged one whilst out on the bike for a few hours. Does dog sitting/boarding exist in resorts like Morzine etc, has anyone ever done it? Do I need to find a random person to come on holiday with me? There's an odd appeal to walking a dog in the mountains, but I'll always be looking at MTB lines/segments which is hard enough when just with the family as we drive past the mountains on the way to beaches ?
Edit to add , this would be for non family holiday obvs.
Errr could you not just do the same as what you do now at home? If I want to ride on the weekend when my husband is working, I get up at 7am like I do on week days and take him for his usual 4 miles and then I go straight out with my bike and I'm back within four hours to carry on with the rest of our day together. It's even easier if the riding is right from the door too and is also one of the main reasons I got my lightweight ebike so I can cover as many miles in my four hours as I can. I do similarly in the van when I move about, get up walk him, out the door while he's in the van fast asleep and then back to carry on. I mean crikey some people leave their dogs for 8 hours every single day so I don't see an issue with a few hours to ride your bike?
Id feel way too bad leaving him that long on his own, plus if I'm in a holiday home I don't want to risk boredom/anxiety turning into destruction. Anyway, mountain rides last ages + got to plan for the inevitable crash/ puncture..
It's a bit moon on a stick probably.
I walked the gr5 with my dog, it was flippin ace. Everyone loved it, I really enjoyed the change from riding. The dog loved it, out all day with us. It was a really immersive and enjoyable holiday, one of my favourite trips.
It started as a plan to ride but we realized the pooch wasn't as strong as he used to be so we switched to walking instead. Very glad we did
I'd be keeping mind just how hot it gets in places like Morzine during the summer.
What travel and accommodation types are you considering?
e.g. Flying and staying in fancy hotels or driving and camping?
One place or moving around? Duration of holiday?
As much as I love our Bella, I'd be finding a home boarding facility at home and focusing on my holiday, or taking a holiday with her where it's all just dog walking. I think the logistics of one person one bike and one dog abroad just get a bit too involved.
Car to get there, and stay in one location - maybe odd day trip out. Just the week, but if family around (which fixes the "me" issue) then 2.
Have you taken a dog to Europe before, (well since Brexit anyway)? The paperwork and vaccination/worming rules are a right pain in the arse. More in line with your original question, accommodation rules wherever we've been universally say you're not to leave the dog unattended in the property.
never taken a dog abroad, but have spoken to a few people who regularly do and they seem to have a system that works well. I happened to come across a FB page for a lady that does day care/walks in Morzine -so have dropped her a line. this is all just pie in the sky at the moment, but cant harm to look into it.
sui
to look after the 4 legged one whilst out on the bike for a few hours. Does dog sitting/boarding exist in resorts like Morzine etc
I'm not sure you are clear what you actually want...
Anyway, mountain rides last ages + got to plan for the inevitable crash/ puncture..
That sounds like you need all day doggy day care rather than a few hours... but also makes me think - why take the pooch at all.
I wouldnt be out all day (possibly the odd excpetion), so would still look to get a good walk in most mornings or afternoon + a few all day hikes with the dog. The bike thing is just to fulfill my fix of getting out for a ride 3-4 times over the course of a week.
I've taken dog on many adventure holidays to Europe and I was brilliant BUT they were trips of 2 months or more and our accommodation was a motorhome and she had an EU passport to make life easier. No way I would go through the current expense and faff of importing a dog for the sake of a week. What system did your friends tell you about? The most annoying part even after a long trip was having to take the dog to a French vet a set number of hours before your return for a worming treatment that had to be documented.
No way I would go through the current expense and faff of importing a dog for the sake of a week.
We did it for a long weekend in Belgium! Or rather my missis did. It was such a short trip we were actually able to get one of the steps done while still in the UK, though you're right, it was an expensive ball ache, but her choice, (and money) to do it
On the upside the dog got to sniff some European arse, so he was happy with the arrangement.
We were considering going away to Europe in the car for a couple of weeks with the dog but decided against it.
I spoke to a guy who works at an animal reception centre where his day job is importing and exporting animals. He told me that he doesn't even take his own dog when he goes to Europe post-Brexit as it's such an expensive ball ache with the new paperwork requirements! I figured that if it's too difficult for him then I couldn't be arsed with the hassle.
The paperwork seems daunting at first but we’ve done it maybe 5 times now and going again in March.
It costs us about £70 per trip now for the paperwork and then between €30 and €50 for worming before travelling home (plus the 3 yearly rabies jab). It works out a lot cheaper than dog boarding and we get to hang out with our dog, which is good.
If you want to do it don’t be put off by the paperwork.
Going via the tunnel is a breeze. We’ll find out soon how using the Newcastle - Amsterdam ferry with the dog goes.
As for the actual holiday we go riding (or snowboarding), he sleeps in the van then gets his decent walk in the evening. Some of our rides are shorter than we’d like, so that’s the compromise. The heat can be an issue too.
If you can find suitable accommodation and / or doggy daycare then I say go for it. Just be aware of the compromises you might have to make. We’re lucky that our dog is older and lazy these days so he is more than happy with the arrangement, YMMV depending on your dog.
Also what dog doesn’t love a ride in a gondola?!
Mine! He was shitting himself (luckily, only metaphorically) when I took him in a gondola...and he doesn't like (regular) lifts either.
We taken our dog on holiday numerous times but usually I'll ride solo whilst Mrs Vlad hikes or hangs out with the mutt.
Accommodation can be a pain in the arse, particularly when you want to eat out though, but it does depend on local attitudes to dog (eg can you take them to pubs when you want to eat out or can you eat in a pub garden/patio).
I've had phone calls from supposedly "dog friendly" hotels when eating out asking me to get back to hotel as my dog is barking and the other occupants are complaining....
The Hull/Rotterdam ferry has around 10 dog friendly cabins. Works great for us.
Our little fella always comes with us but we have a place in Austria so he’s comfortable there, plus he’s an Austrian dog now complete with passport.
In Winter I take him out on my ebike for an hour or so in the morning then he’s fine for 4 or 5 hours if I go out boarding.
In Summer as someone mentioned, you need to get out early as it will often get too hot for them. If we’re out for a big walk I plan it around a route with lots of streams or lakes.
He’s fine in the apartment in Summer as they are generally well insulated so stay reasonably cool.
I’ve had phone calls from supposedly “dog friendly” hotels when eating out asking me to get back to hotel as my dog is barking and the other occupants are complaining….
As I said above, most places stipulate you don't leave them unattended in the T&C's. As a dog owner, I'd be moaning to the front desk if I was in a hotel room next to a noisy hound, I'm not sure why you'd be surprised by this.