Bringing dogs over to spain - Advice how they cope please? - Page 2

Hi

We bought 3 dogs over beginning of July and it was hot. Pug 8 with epilepsy. Boston Terrier 7 with epilepsy and a French bulldog 1 who is mad.

We went by boat and put them in 2 large ground cages on the boat. It's a 24 hour journey and they weren't happy, but were safe. We then drove to grass area for them to run around on their leads.

They settled well. I didn't take my dogs for a walk until it cooled right down. I left aircon on very low when I went out and at night. I suggest you do the same. 

They love their new life in Spain but I will not take them out in the summer. I put aircon on and throw the ball.

Good luck

We brought our two dogs over in December 2016.  One is now almost 13 and the other nearly 15.  They came over on the ferry with us and traveled really well when we drove from Santander down to Torrevieja.  They cope well with the weather and enjoy the milder winters.  In the summer I walk them at 7.30am before it gets too hot and again much later in the evening when it is cooler.  I also bought them a paddling pool although they have no interest in it.  You can buy cool collars that you put in the fridge but I found they were a waste of money as they didn't stay cool for long.  I also bought them 'cool coats' that you can keep damp but again a waste of money.  They enjoy lazing on the terrace in the sun and if they feel too hot they simply move indoors where it is much cooler.  Just always make sure they have shade if they need it and plenty of water available.  Don't walk your dogs when it is very hot as the pavements and roads can burn their pads.

Hi

We have been here 2 months, having driven through France and Spain, this is the 4th time we have brought our dog over to Spain.  We have a 4.5 year old Black Labrador. He has adapted really well, like everyone else says, try to take him out before the sun gets too hot and once it starts going down and always have water around, we have bottles in the car for when we are out and about.  Also you can buy doggy cool coats if you have to out when the sun is at its warmest, not seen them in Spain we bought ours a few years ago in the uk, you simply keep throwing cool water over it to keep them cool.

We got him jabbed for Heart worm, and also got him a mozzy collar.

Procession Caterpillars generally stick to a certain type of pine tree, so ensure you dont go near them, these caterpillars are also bad for humans. As its been rather warm for Dec/Jan they are a bit early this year and could already be going to ground, so not only important to look for their cocoons in pine trees but also spikey caterpillars on the ground.  Apparently they taste like steak to dogs and a lick or 2 of the spikes makes the dogs tongue swell up which causes asphyxiation - sorry for the detail 

Hope this helps

We brought our2 dogs over in 1998, a collie & a staffie, they survived OK! sadly  they passed away so we adopted 2 more. both mongrels, Dogs cope well in the heat & cold, so long as they  have a home enviroment !! John.

We brought our black Lurcher and tan Sprolly, both 2 years old over last summer by car. If you are driving down, we found this very easy. If you can find an airline which will allow your dogs in the cabin, great, but having worked in export cargo at Heathrow, I would not recommend putting a dog in the hold. My two dogs would have gone mad on the ferry and as it was, we went by Eurotunnel which was a doddle and then kept to the E15 route the whole way down. The service stations have places to exercise your dogs and dog friendly hotels throughout France and Spain were easy to find at a moment's notice, even in late June. The dogs arrived happy, stress-free and eager to explore their new home, as did we.

Dogs adapt. In summer they spend a lot of the day resting in the shade, as do we. They drink lots of water, as should we. Our pampered pooches live outside all year round now and they have a large fenced garden to enjoy. Even on the hottest days our Sprolly doesn't like being sprayed with water but our Lurcher loves it. Night is spent in a kennel on the outside, south facing, covered terrace. They are both very happy dogs.

The Processionary Caterpillers are killers, please don't underestimate these horrible creatures. Yes, they are found only in certain pine trees but these are the very same pine trees that dominate in the area, both inland and coastal and are often protected, meaning that they are there to stay. Their cotton wool type nests, usually on south facing parts of the tree, need to be cut down, undisturbed, with every part of your body covered, and burnt to a cinder as soon as they appear, late winter to early spring. If allowed to mature, later in spring they march from the tree in procession. If your dog is curious, it could be fatal. The trees can be treated and most local authorities treat trees in public areas but not off the beaten track. That said, the local papers are not full of tales of fatalities any more than with risks in the UK.

There are very few places where dogs are allowed on the beach, even in winter, officially. This is understandably more strictly enforced during the long tourist season. If you have a "dangerous" dog, it will have to be muzzled in public and anything more than a small dog has to be separately insured, I believe, for public liability. Small dogs in towns and urbanisations and larger dogs in the Campo is what I usually see. Dogs are widely accepted here in outdoor eating and drinking establishments but I always like to ask, even if there are other dogs present.

You will probably find your dogs adapt quicker than you do and you will find yourself adapting to their timetable. Life here is good!