Hi,
I will be relocating next month from China back home to the UK. I will be bringing my Bulldog home with me so will be flying into CDG. I was hoping that someone would have some information on the best way to get from CDG to Calais where I will take the ferry.
Are dogs ok on trains on leash or do they have to be in a cage?
Im trying to find the most direct way as i will be by myself and will have a 20kg bulldog plus cage plus whatever luggage i am bringing.
Thanks for your help.

Hi, and welcome to the forum!
There was a similar enquiry some months ago and we found two possibilities. One, take the TGV from CdG to Lille and from there the TGV Lille-Calais.
Or, take the RER from CdG to the Gare du Nord Paris and from there Paris-Calais.
Either way you pay 1/2 fare for your dog which must be leashed and muzzled, but since you'll have his cage + luggage, the first option would be better.
Have you checked all the Pet Passport requirements for dogs entering France from a non-EU country and then travelling to the UK? You should post a separate enquiry about the regulations which may have changed since the other poster's enquiry (who was bringing a dog from India and finally flew to Frankfurt as Paris-Calais-UK was too complicated, Vet-wise).
Hope this helps!

Hello again,
To save you starting a new post,
http://www.douane.gouv.fr/page.asp?id=46#2
gives all the Certificates that your dog needs to have before arriving on French Territory from a non-EU country.
You probably know this already, but the most important time-wise is the anti-rabies test which must be done several months before arrival.
Here are the regulations for admission into the UK.
http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-pet.../pet-owners/#d
AND
I've just recalled that pedestrians can't take dogs on ferries, they have to stay in the owners' cars.
This was another reason for the other poster not to travel via Paris and Calais...

While dmu may well be correct about pedestrians, dogs and ferries, it would be worth contacting the ferry company. Certainly Brittany Ferries require you pay for a 'kennel' when travelling by vehicle, but on board you can opt to leave the dog(s) in your vehicle. The 'kennels' are largely unused from my observation. My point being why would a pedestrian not be able to book a kennel? Just a thought.

Hi, I haven't checked, but do Brittany Ferries do Calais-Dover?

I don't believe so, I was indicating that ferry companies would likely run similar systems for dogs/cats. Poorly worded post, apologies.
Just checked P&O and MyFerries, neither indicate they take animals on their site. Perhaps burbur may have to consider a Chunnel route via coach,if they take animals. There must be a way ....

Need to correct myself. You need to dig sometimes.P&O can do it: http://www.poferries.com/tourist/con...g_your_pet.htm

I haven't understood why the OP is complicating things. Why not just fly into LHR from China?

Hi Thanks all for the info, as for why not fly straight into Heathrow, all animals arriving in the UK must arrive as cargo, where as if i fly into Paris my dog can fly as excess baggage. My dog will still have to fly in the hold but the difference according to the quotes im getting this end is coming up to 1000 pounds.
Im still looking into the ferries, i just checked the link but the P&O ferries is down at the minute.
As far as requirements i have already done the micro chipping, rabies jabs, blood titer tests and such a few months agao, so the only thing we are waiting for now is the 2 months wait to be up and we can do the final health check and leave.
I didnt conside the chunnel as wont be driving but will look into if they have coaches that will take dogs.
Hopefully i will be able to go on the ferry as a foot passenger, will keep checking the website. Thank you.

Hi, I couldn't get into the P&O site either.
Since the Eurostar train doesn't accept dogs, I wouldn't think any coaches would, either, but you can but google and enquire.
Another solution, if you know some one in the UK willing and able, is for them to come over to Calais with their car, and take you back by ferry and your dog will stay in the car....
"Final health check" includes tapeworm treatment? (to be done by an accredited vet 1-5 days before arrival in the UK, according to the new regulations).
P.S. It's preferable to have booked your TGVs beforehand, i) to ensure that there are seats free and ii) to avoid the hassle of queueing up at the TGV station in CdG with a dog and all your luggage....

Hiya,
Yeah, i think the final option will be getting someone to come to Calais would rather not ask as i know its a big hassle.
I was looking at booking tickets for the train in advance as it would proabably be cheaper the only problem is i have no idea how long it takes to collect my dog and get through customs once we have landed, iv never travelled with my dog before and to be honest i am hoping this is the first and last time i have to do it.
I have found an accredited vet in Shanghai so the final paperwork should be no problem.
I looked into an airport pick up service which specializes in transporting dogs but they were looking at around 800 pounds from CDG to Heathrow.
Am looking at all options at the minute, but so far as i can tell i think your right about not being able to take dogs on coaches.

http://www.voyages-sncf.com/
Enter from "Roissy Charles de Gaulle Gare TGV" to "Calais toutes Gares" and see what they propose. I suspect you should go to Calais Ville, as the other one serves the Eurostar.
I've never done it myself, but the change at Lille is apparently relatively straightforward, contrary to getting from the Gare du Nord RER underground station up to the SNCF level, esp with luggage and a dog...
In actual fact, taking the cost of TGV tickets and ferry tickets into account (and the onward journey from Kent), not to mention the time-line and worrying about missing something along the line due to the unexpected, I think that travelling directly to Heathrow with the extra cost might be worth considering....

I wonder if this would help? We have foundseveral times that a private car with driver is the best and cheapest way. I expect they will take a dog - almost everything in France does!!

http://www.parisconnection.fr/paris_...ferry-port.php

But still, assuming that's right, why not fly to CDG then, on a separate ticket, from CDG to LHR?

There are threads all the time on other forums (e.g Canada) about flying to the UK with pets, people do it all the time with minimal trouble.

Hi,
Im looking into the private hire car, that would be a lot less hassle than having to lug myself, luggage, dog and cage around France.
My two reasons for not wanting to fly into Heathrow are the expense of having to fly my dog as cargo but more importantly after a 12 hour flight from China (her first time flying) i dont really want to put her on another flight. Im nervous enough about this one.

Fair enough, although IMO an extra hour or so after such a long flight wouldn't make much difference to her. And travelling in at least two trains in France will also be stressful, not to mention how you intend to continue your journey from the port of arrival in the UK.
But would you hire the car as far as the UK? You've still got the question of pedestrian-with-dog to consider. Would it be an option to hire a car in the UK to drive over to Calais and pick you up, and take you back to your final destination?