I would much rather have a *gulp* DOG next to me on a plane rather than the couple who shoulda had a room on my last flight back from Paris!

I would LOVE to take my dogs with us to Paris but wouldn't ever put them in cargo and don't think I could pass them off as service dogs. At 50 and 70 pounds, they're a bit large for the cabin.

By the way, I've been to Paris many times and have never encountered dog waste. Must not be that common or I've been incredibly lucky.

Judy

Judy - I have been to Paris 3 times and have seen doggie poop on the streets a total of 2 times.

I think people grossly exaggerate about all the poop left by dogs. Everyone I saw with a dog picked up after it.

I brought my dog AND cat to France, but I was moving there. No problem, although the regulations coming are are stricter than the regulations bring the pets back to the states, if you can believe that. Just bring the vacination certificate and you'll be fine.

Yes, it really is that common to see dogs in restaurants. More common in Paris, in fact, than seeing small children in restaurants.

>>is it REALLY that common to see dogs in restaurants?>>

Yes, it's pretty common to see dogs in restaurants, but they are also very well behaved. They lie quietly under the table, not moving when waiters walk by. Is your dog well behaved? I have to admit, mine aren't that well behaved. They would bark at everyone that walked by. Therefore, we will not be taking our dogs to Paris :-)

Sandy

I saw a woman with a dog on a leash, shopping in a nice department store in Biarritz once...also rode in a taxi in Paris with a dog in the front seat.

I would never want to take my 90 lb lab on an airplane, he hates even being in the car usually, so no way would he care for being subjected to cargo. I love him too much to do that to him. But isn't it difficult to bring a pet into another country? My friend had to have her cat quarrantined for months either coming to the US from Ireland or vice versa. And someone here last year (was it Mimi?) found it very difficult to bring a puppy home from France. So how do you just pop into Paris with your pooch?

Not all of the above posters had to fly overseas, some were/are living in Europe.

My dogs are a part of our family and I would take them anywhere I could if I could get them there safely. My dogs love riding in the car and can last for eight to ten hours without having to urinate or poop. Unfortunately, they are way too big to take in the cabin of a plane and I would NEVER put them in cargo...not even for a short flight.

I once read in a some publication in Paris that only people who can't afford dogs have children. The French do love their dogs and I love them for that!

Dogs are like kids, just because you love them doesn't mean that we should too.

Leave them at home.

I will vouch for the fact that all the dogs in Paris are NOT perfectly well behaved.

I walked into a bakery that was "staffed" by a Yorkshire Terrier. He hurried over to sniff at me in a fairly friendly manner. I slowly extended my fist for a sniff and he nearly bit my arm off! I have a lot of experience with dogs and would never bolt my hand out to pet a strange dog, so his reaction was a bit of a surprise.)

I actually thought it was sort of funny because I used to own a Yorkie - he would have done the same thing (except he wouldn't have acted friendly even for a second...)

ANIMAL!

The wife had a Yorkie that bit everyone he met.
It was never a real problem because the damn fool dog had no teeth.

Leave the kids & the dog at home.

Frenchie-girl: I am taking my chihuahua to Paris in June and I have researched the requirements extensively. You should call the French Consulate in Washington and they can give you the information about which form you need (France has a specific form). This form must be filled out and signed by your vet and then it must be signed a a USDA representative. I live in New York and there is an USDA office/representative at Kennedy Airport who will sign the form for me. Also, this form must be dated no more than 10 days from your date of travel.

Make you plane reservations as soon as possible as only 2 dogs are allowed on each flight (in the cabin). We are flying Air France and the fee is $140.00 each way (if I remember correctly).

One other thing, make sure that the micro-chip can be scanned by the type of scanner they use in France. The French Consulate can give you the information.

Are you going before June 27th? If so, please post a report.

Charlieg

If dogs bother people so much, they shouldn't go to Paris. Maybe Korea or the Phillipines where they eat dogs would better suit.

Oh no, you didn't just go there.

The eat bunnies, Bambi and Daffy in Paris.

Also Seabiscuit.

Cats are also welcomed in some restaurants. Both cats and dogs are sometimes offered special meals and provided with water bowls. It's very civilized.

If you don't like animals in a restaurant with you, France, and Germany are not places you should visit. It's part of the culture.

I would much rather sit next to a dog or cat in a cafe than next to a person who is hygenically challenged.

I will be there with mine in a few years. Can NOT wait to travel France with my chien!

Hi frenchie girl,

You might want to read a book before you leave called "Ella in Europe: an American Dog's International Adventures" by Michael Konik. (Sorry if I didn't get the title and author's name exactly right, I did it off the top of my head.)

It's all about taking Ella around with him for a 6 week European vacation. She was welcome almost everywhere, including Le Grand Vefour in Paris.

On a side note, I am a puppy raiser for a guide dog school. This means that we get puppies that will be future guide dogs, take them into our homes when they are 2 months old, and socialize them by teaching them obedience and taking them with us practically wherever we go for the length of time that we have them, usually around 1 1/2 years. My dogs have been in numerous restaurants. I can't tell you how many times when leaving a restaurant I will hear someone comment that they didn't even know that a dog was there. You can't always say that about children, ha ha! :)

Have a great trip, and don't forget to post a report when you get back.

We bring our dog and have no trouble in France, but here in the United states, it costs more to board her if we travel.