Me and My Dog in Europe
Mar 24th, 2005, 10:56 AM
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Me and My Dog in Europe
I recently traveled throughout Europe with my American dog -- and wrote a book about it. ("Ella in Europe: An American Dog's International Adventures".)
It's going to be a show on Animal Planet this fall.
Anyone have any questions?
It's going to be a show on Animal Planet this fall.
Anyone have any questions?
Mar 24th, 2005, 11:31 AM
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I read "Spotted in France" a while back. It was about an American in Paris with his dalmatian taking a road trip with his dog to Provence on his scooter. Lots of descriptions of French cuisine -- made me hungry.
Mar 24th, 2005, 12:40 PM
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omigod Mike! I have read about your book!
I want to get it
I will definitely watch Animal Planet, if I can find it..
How great..I know when I read it, I will weep, it sounds so sweet.
I will read it aloud to Pup and maybe we can do something similar ((&
) Thanks for telling us ~
I want to get it
I will definitely watch Animal Planet, if I can find it..How great..I know when I read it, I will weep, it sounds so sweet.
I will read it aloud to Pup and maybe we can do something similar ((&
) Thanks for telling us ~
Mar 24th, 2005, 12:48 PM
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We took our cocker with us to Paris in 1997. Our current cocker has traveled with us across Europe, through the Netherlands, Germany, France, Austria and now the UK. She even attended a special German/Austrian "cocker camp" in the Austrian countryside.
Traveling with a dog in Europe is remarkably easy!
Traveling with a dog in Europe is remarkably easy!
Mar 24th, 2005, 01:09 PM
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From a dog's point of view i wonder how it is - don't canines like familiar territory - is it stressful on the dog? I'm not dissing taking your dog but wondering how the dog reacts - maybe they love it like some dogs do riding in cars?
Mar 24th, 2005, 01:14 PM
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Here in a bookstore in the Los Angeles area, I had the pleasure of meeting Ella and hearing Mike read a chapter of this wonderful book. So you can be assured that Ella is alive and well!
It is so sweetly written and Mike writes so sensitively that, yes, the audience was in tears (good tears).
It is so sweetly written and Mike writes so sensitively that, yes, the audience was in tears (good tears).
Mar 24th, 2005, 01:16 PM
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PalQ, okay I'm going to pretend to be an expert here. Cats are more into the familiar-territory thing than dogs. Dogs do like the familiar, the routine, but as they were once pack animals, the most important thing to them is companionship, their "pack."
So if you're their owner, they'd rather be in a strange place with you than in their bed at home without you. Of course there are exceptions to this.
I wouldn't take my dog to Europe because she's not small enough to travel in the cabin. And I'd never put her in cargo--that would be stressful for her!
So if you're their owner, they'd rather be in a strange place with you than in their bed at home without you. Of course there are exceptions to this.
I wouldn't take my dog to Europe because she's not small enough to travel in the cabin. And I'd never put her in cargo--that would be stressful for her!
Mar 24th, 2005, 01:26 PM
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Well, our dog loves it. She's always very excited when she sees her crate going onto the back seat of the car. However, we give our dog consideration when we plan our trips, meaning she gets lots of long, off leash walks in the big parks, and lots of onleash walks through town. Perhaps that's why she enjoys it so much. It also means she's with both of us all day long and that is what dogs like best of all--being with their "pack."
Our annual vacation this year will be a week at the Royal Trofana (www.trofana.at) in Ischgl and 4 nights in Bellagio. Both of those will be dog friendly...hiking in the alps and lounging around the lakes trying to make friends with the village cats. What more could a spaniel want?
Our annual vacation this year will be a week at the Royal Trofana (www.trofana.at) in Ischgl and 4 nights in Bellagio. Both of those will be dog friendly...hiking in the alps and lounging around the lakes trying to make friends with the village cats. What more could a spaniel want?
Mar 24th, 2005, 01:29 PM
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Mike - what kind of a dog is Ella? Did she fly on board with you or was she delegated to cargo? I am looking forward to reading your book as well, being the animal lover that I am.
Let us know when you are going to be on Animal Planet.
Let us know when you are going to be on Animal Planet.
Mar 24th, 2005, 01:33 PM
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What more could a person want, let alone a dog? Our dog always accompanies us on road trips but we've never flown with her. Now she's 8 and I wonder how she would adjust. Have you always flown with your dog since she was a pup?
Mar 24th, 2005, 01:44 PM
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Raisin came to us from New Zealand (via Sydney and Singapore) from a breeder friend. That was her only plane trip. We live in Europe, which is why it's very easy for us to cart her along in the back of the Laguna whenever we go anywhere. She's also ridden German ICE trains, French TGV trains and practically every form of mass transit you can think of in Belgium.
However, when we took our previous (English) cocker with us to Paris, she did go in the cargo hold of an AF flight from SF to CDG and back. She seemed to go through it fine and the AF personnel were SUPERB about making sure she was properly handled. They may screw around with human pax, but pets they take seriously!
Sadly, six weeks after the Paris trip, she was killed in a car crash. She was in the front seat of our T-bird when another car hit us and suffered fatal injuries from the air bag (it crushed her liver, among other things). So we strongly urge people to NEVER let their dogs ride in the front seat of a car. And keep them in a crate while they're on the road with you. We still miss her.
However, when we took our previous (English) cocker with us to Paris, she did go in the cargo hold of an AF flight from SF to CDG and back. She seemed to go through it fine and the AF personnel were SUPERB about making sure she was properly handled. They may screw around with human pax, but pets they take seriously!
Sadly, six weeks after the Paris trip, she was killed in a car crash. She was in the front seat of our T-bird when another car hit us and suffered fatal injuries from the air bag (it crushed her liver, among other things). So we strongly urge people to NEVER let their dogs ride in the front seat of a car. And keep them in a crate while they're on the road with you. We still miss her.
Mar 24th, 2005, 01:51 PM
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Other than for moving to another country, I can only state that it is extremely selfish to put your pet through such a stressful experience, not once but twice. You as a human being can 'think' out and understand what is happening, but your poor dog will be totally bewildered and frightened to be shut in a crate, handled by strangers, stored in a dark noisy 'moving' hold for hours before (hopefully) being liberated by its 'loving' owner. Ridiculous.
http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer...ame=traveltips
"The ASPCA wants pet owners to think twice about flying their pets on commercial airlines, especially if they plan on checking them in as cargo. The Air Transport Association has reported in the past that approximately 5,000, or 1% of the companion animals that are flown on commercial planes have been injured, lost or killed during transport. Although Congress has passed a law that requires the airlines to establish a separate reporting system if an animal is lost, injured or killed and will investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident, the conditions in which animals are shipped have not changed.
Animals continue to be shipped in cargo holds that are not temperature controlled. "Unless your animal is small enough to fit under your seat and you can bring them in the cabin, the ASPCA recommends pet owners to not fly their animal," says Lisa Weisberg, ASPCA Senior Vice President of Government Affairs and Public Policy. "
http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer...ame=traveltips
"The ASPCA wants pet owners to think twice about flying their pets on commercial airlines, especially if they plan on checking them in as cargo. The Air Transport Association has reported in the past that approximately 5,000, or 1% of the companion animals that are flown on commercial planes have been injured, lost or killed during transport. Although Congress has passed a law that requires the airlines to establish a separate reporting system if an animal is lost, injured or killed and will investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident, the conditions in which animals are shipped have not changed.
Animals continue to be shipped in cargo holds that are not temperature controlled. "Unless your animal is small enough to fit under your seat and you can bring them in the cabin, the ASPCA recommends pet owners to not fly their animal," says Lisa Weisberg, ASPCA Senior Vice President of Government Affairs and Public Policy. "
Mar 24th, 2005, 02:03 PM
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Well, Travelnut, our dog came through it fine. She bounced out of her crate at CDG ready to go.
I must point out that a) we were in Paris for nearly 6 weeks and b) English cockers are highly prone to separation anxiety. We tried putting her in a kennel for a short trip and she was a basket case when we picked her up (and you have overlooked the fact that dogs can also die, get sick or become injured while being boarded). We could not in good conscience put her through that again. A pet sitter didn't seem the ideal solution either.
We feel we did the right thing. We based our decision on what we thought was ultimately based for our individual dog, instead of following a "one size fits all" recommendation of an organization. FYI, on that same SF-CDG flight were two 15 year old greyhounds, one of which was blind. They also came through the trip with flying colors.
Our current cocker came to us when one of the breeders developed meningitis and could no longer take care of her dogs. We had been friends for years and they thought we were the right family for Raisin. We've all been happy with the way things have worked out.
I must point out that a) we were in Paris for nearly 6 weeks and b) English cockers are highly prone to separation anxiety. We tried putting her in a kennel for a short trip and she was a basket case when we picked her up (and you have overlooked the fact that dogs can also die, get sick or become injured while being boarded). We could not in good conscience put her through that again. A pet sitter didn't seem the ideal solution either.
We feel we did the right thing. We based our decision on what we thought was ultimately based for our individual dog, instead of following a "one size fits all" recommendation of an organization. FYI, on that same SF-CDG flight were two 15 year old greyhounds, one of which was blind. They also came through the trip with flying colors.
Our current cocker came to us when one of the breeders developed meningitis and could no longer take care of her dogs. We had been friends for years and they thought we were the right family for Raisin. We've all been happy with the way things have worked out.
Mar 24th, 2005, 02:07 PM
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FYI, Travelnut, the study that the ASPCA cites has not held up to close scrutiny.
And the cargo holds of the AF flights to Europe ARE climate controlled. We spoke personally with the captain on the flights and they explained to us their animal carrying system.
And the cargo holds of the AF flights to Europe ARE climate controlled. We spoke personally with the captain on the flights and they explained to us their animal carrying system.
Mar 24th, 2005, 02:51 PM
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I love my dog, Kiaya, she is my baby and miss her terribly when I travel. Unfortunately she is like her "mommy" and an absolute wreck if you put her in a car to travel! I miss her when I go away, and I know she is p@#$ed off when I am gone because she has actually pulled my clothes off of the hangers and shredded them!! She is really sweet though, seperation anxiety, ya' think?? ((&)
)
