Search Sort Posts:  Oldest to newest Newest to oldest

10/05/2008, 20:30 Cathy Joined on 07/03/2006 Mostly near Bordeaux; Sometimes near Bristol Posts 1,702 Re: What Dog? Having a dog in France is expensive if you want to return to the UK from time to time.  You have to get it chipped and vaccinated to get its passport (about £180).  Then every time you go back with the dog, you have to visit the vet for worming etc (45 euros), have room in your car and stop regularly (adding time to the journey).  You have to pay for a place on the ferry (there and back) - read thread below.  You can't fly back, of course, unless you leave the dog here when you have to pay for kennels (10 euros per day).  Once here, the dog has to have annual rabies injections to comply with French regulations - my last lot of vaccinations cost 80 euros.  This is on top of the other vets' bills that you face.  My dog, for example, picked up an insect bite on its rear (unusual in the UK but common in France) and that treatment cost 160 euros. I find sacks of dog food expensive here and so buy sacks in the UK twice per year. This gives you some idea of the financial commitment that you son must be prepared to face.  I can tell you, dog owning is not cheap! Here is a thread about taking a dog on a ferry crossing: http://www.completefrance.com/cs/forums/1177518/ShowPost.aspx Good luck! Cathy ----- Your children won't remember you ironing their pyjamas but they will remember you reading them a bedside story.    Report

10/05/2008, 20:45 Frenchie Joined on 31/05/2007 2 Sèvres,79 Posts 3,884 Re: What Dog? Cathy, a bit pessimistic maybe ... ? I have a big dog    Lab X husky    Yearly injections at my vet's = 50 euros I give him friski*s biscuits, I know, it  s not the best but it is not that bad, and he s perfectly fine.. Though being a big dog ( 35 kilos now) , he doesn't eat that much.. The vet says it is due to his Husky origins. Of course there is a cost to oiwning a dog, but I think it is mainly about finding the right doig for the right person here.. Loving them is the main thing I assume. And taking one's responsibilities never to let them down. So yes, one should think twice but not necessarily give up  the plan of owning a dog.  Don't consider a husky, they don't bark ! Happy    Report

10/05/2008, 21:08 louis Joined on 02/01/2008 Posts 25 Re: What Dog? I have a big dog - a standard poodle, you may laugh but he is completely loyal, barks when strangers approach and because of his size nobody comes near him until I assure them he is ok to touch.  The standard poodle is a very intelligent breed, doesn't need hours of exercise, hasn't a big appetite.  The downside of course is that he has to go to a groomer every four months to keep his coat short, but then again he doesn't moult and get hair everywhere.    Report

10/05/2008, 22:34 Cathy Joined on 07/03/2006 Mostly near Bordeaux; Sometimes near Bristol Posts 1,702 Re: What Dog?  Frenchie wrote: Cathy, a bit pessimistic maybe ...? Frenchie - When I had 4 dogs (all Labradors) in the UK and stayed in the UK, it was much cheaper keeping the dogs.  But I have discovered that the cost mounts when you have a dog here in France and regularly take it back to the UK.  That is why I only have one Labrador now.   Cathy ----- Your children won't remember you ironing their pyjamas but they will remember you reading them a bedside story.    Report

11/05/2008, 10:44 Val_2 Joined on 23/08/2004 Posts 3,116 Re: What Dog? Frenchie, my dog dosn't bark either being a Japanese Husky but he screams very high pitched and howls along when we sing songs. Again like yours he dosn't eat much either and is very much like a cat with his washing habits and was house broken completely within a few months of birth.    Report

11/05/2008, 10:58 Frenchie Joined on 31/05/2007 2 Sèvres,79 Posts 3,884 Re: What Dog? What does " house broken " mean please? Happy    Report

11/05/2008, 11:01 Jacqui Too Joined on 23/08/2004 Shropshire / Dordogne 24 Posts 670 Re: What Dog?  Frenchie wrote: What does " house broken " mean please? Means House trained, no toilet accidents in the house. Jackie At least with a spell-checker I can appear somewhat educated!    Report

11/05/2008, 11:08 Frenchie Joined on 31/05/2007 2 Sèvres,79 Posts 3,884 Re: What Dog? Oh our lab X husky was  house trained in less than a week, it was very easy too. I'm crazy about him      Happy    Report

11/05/2008, 12:00 valB Joined on 21/11/2007 Posts 180 Re: What Dog? Hello Richard T Our son and his wife have a Collie X and such an easy breed to train as highly intelligent and they had him as a puppy. He very quickly became house trained, excellent with the children and he does not have an enormous appetite. We have had many types of dogs over the years and although we adore Boxers I would not suggest that breed as the are very demanding and hate being left on their own and can be very destructive with boredom. At present we have a very, very old Cocker Spaniel lady and a French rescue Labrador who has the constant desire to do a runner but fortunately cannot get out of our garden. If vet bills and care of a dog is no problem then I would say to your son go for it as so many dogs needing a loving home here in France. Apart from Christine Animal who always has dogs for rehoming the Phoenix rescue are always looking for new homes for their many dogs and at present have some really lovely dogs. Friends of ours took a dog from them and he is adorable and so eternally grateful for a loving home and will not let them out of his sight. Hope this helps you and your son to try to make a decision on what breed would be best.    Report

Page 3 of 5 (44 items) < 1 2 3 4 5 >

France Forum » Living » Pets » Re: What Dog?

(Quick links) Forums Home |- Search Forums |- Active Topics |- Unanswered Posts User Options |- Sign In |- Join this community |- Forgot Password About This Forum (READ ONLY) |- About This Forum Moving |- Finding/Owning French Property |- Making the Move From Outside the EU |- Long-Term Letting |- Employment Vacancies in France Legal and Finance |- French Legal Issues |- French Finance Building and Renovation |- House Renovations |-- Working with Wood Living |- Earning a Living |- Driving |- French Education |- Pets |- Animal Welfare, Rescue & Protection |- French Satellite TV, French Internet and Telephone |- Health |-- Changes to Healthcare Entitlement, CPAM, CMU and Cartes Vitales |- Swimming Pools in France Owning/Running a Business |- French Artisans |- Gite Owners |- Hotel and Restaurant Owners |- B&B/Chambres d'Hôtes Owners Leisure and Pastimes |- Gardening |- Sport, Leisure and Pastimes |- Shopping |- French Antiques, Arts & Crafts |- Photography |- Motorcycling in France |- Books and Literature |- Getting Married in France |- Pregnancy and Birth French Culture |- French Food and Wine |- French Culture |- French Language |-- French Language FAQs and Useful Links |- Wildlife/Nature/Environment |- French History Travelling to/from France |- Travelling to/from France |- Latest Good Value Deals to/from France Holidays |- Holidays General Discussion |- The Complete France Post Bag |- The Lighter Side |- Other Topics |- Forum Technical Support |- Useful Links About France/French Living Regions |- HOTEL SEARCH |- Central |- North East |- North West |- Paris Ile de France |- South East |- South West |- East |- West |- Corsica and DOM-TOMs