What paperwork does a dog need on holiday?

For travel within the EU, an EU pet passport with a valid rabies vaccination and a readable microchip. British owners travel instead on an animal health certificate issued shortly before departure. A first rabies vaccination has to be at least 21 days before entry. Some countries also require a tapeworm treatment, and certain breeds carry conditions of their own.

Can a dog run free on a campsite?

As a rule, no. Almost every site requires dogs to be on a lead across the whole grounds, often on the beach section as well. A ground anchor and a long line are therefore the most practical answer for exercise on your own pitch.

How do you protect a dog from the heat in summer?

Shade, plenty of water, walks early and late, and a cooling mat or damp towel to lie on. The dog never stays behind in the car, not in the shade and not briefly — the inside reaches lethal temperatures within minutes.

Should you change a dog’s food on holiday?

No. A change of food is the most common cause of stomach and bowel trouble on a trip. Take the usual food for the whole journey, plus a supply for a few extra days, because the brand is often not available abroad.

What do you do if the dog is unsettled in the tent at night?

A separate, clearly defined sleeping place with a familiar blanket works most reliably. Add a quiet pitch away from the playground and the shower block, and enough exercise during the day — most night-time restlessness is under-occupation rather than fear.

How do you find a dog-friendly campsite?

Before booking, check whether dogs are allowed, whether there is a fee, and whether there is a dog beach or an exercise area. The surroundings matter just as much: a site with woodland or a farm track next door is worth more than any facility on the grounds.

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Camping with a Dog Packing List

From the pet passport to the cooling mat: this packing list for camping with a dog covers the compulsory paperwork, feeding, safety on the pitch and the canine first-aid kit — so the dog arrives as relaxed as you do.

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99 items · 10 categories

Paperwork and preparation

The dog travels on paperwork of its own. Anything missing here shows up at the border, not at the campsite.

EU pet passport, or an animal health certificate for UK ownersCompulsory for any trip abroad, and worthless without a valid rabies vaccination.
Rabies vaccination valid and recordedA first vaccination has to be at least 21 days before you enter the country. Later is too late.
Microchip number written downWithout a readable chip the best paperwork is useless, and the number is what a vet abroad will ask for.
Entry rules for the destination checkedSome countries also require a tapeworm treatment, and some ban certain breeds outright.
A muzzle the dog is used toRequired on buses, trains and ferries in many countries. Getting the dog used to it belongs before the trip, not at the port.
Campsite booked that accepts dogsNot every site takes dogs, and some charge a separate fee per night.
Address of a vet at the destination notedLooking for a practice abroad in the evening costs time you will not have.
Third-party liability insurance for the dogCompulsory in several countries, and the single most important line the day something happens.
ID tag with a mobile numberThe number that is genuinely reachable on holiday, not the landline at home.

On the road

The drive is the hardest part of the trip for a dog. Preparation does more here than any amount of reassurance.

Travel crate or harness restraintAn unrestrained dog becomes a projectile under emergency braking, and a fine on top of that.
A familiar blanket in the crateThe familiar smell noticeably lowers stress on a long stage.
Sunshades for the car windowsBehind glass in the back it gets hot faster than the driver notices in front.
Water and a bowl within reachNot in the boot under the luggage, but where you can reach it from the driver’s seat.
A break planned every two hoursMovement and water work better against travel sickness than any remedy.
Poo bags in the carThe first stop comes sooner than the first bin.
Towel for wet or muddy breaksService areas in the rain are the normal case on a long drive.
Travel sickness discussed with the vetSort it out before you leave rather than improvising on the way.
Lead on before the door opensAt motorway services the first jump out is the most dangerous moment of the trip.

Food and water

Changing a dog’s food on holiday is the most common cause of stomach trouble. That is why everything here stays as it is.

The usual food for the whole tripThe brand is often not sold abroad, and switching on the road upsets the stomach.
A little extra food beyond the trip lengthFor the day of delay that is possible on any journey home.
Food and water bowls with a non-slip baseOn uneven ground a light bowl travels halfway across the awning.
Folding bowl for days outWeighs nothing and turns every stop on a walk into a drink stop.
A water bottle for the dog aloneWater quality at the destination is an unknown, and dogs react to it more readily.
Food container with a tight lidOpen food attracts ants and pine martens, and both are a problem on site.
Treats for trainingOn unfamiliar ground, recall needs more reward than it does at home.
A chew for the quiet hoursIt occupies the dog while the family eats, and that is the most critical moment of the day.
Feeding times kept as they are at homeThe familiar rhythm is the strongest point of reference in strange surroundings.
Somewhere cool for wet foodAn opened tin goes off within a day in summer heat.
Spoon and a tin lidTwo small things you forget exactly once.

Sleeping and rest

A dog with no place of its own never settles — and then nobody else settles either.

Dog bed or travel matA clearly defined place of its own matters more than how comfortable it is.
A familiar blanket from homeThe familiar smell turns a strange tent into somewhere of its own.
Insulating mat underneathEven in summer the ground draws warmth at night, especially in a tent.
A second blanket to cover the dogShort-haired dogs get cold at night earlier than they look as though they will.
Favourite toyA familiar object helps a dog settle in more than any amount of fussing.
A shaded spot plannedThe sleeping place from the morning is in full sun by midday.
Towel for drying off outside the tentA wet dog in the sleeping bag is a mistake you make once.
Site quiet hours notedBarking during the afternoon quiet period is the most common reason for trouble with neighbours.
Crate or a barrier for the awningIt keeps the dog on the pitch even when the tent door is open.

On the pitch

A site has rules you do not have at home. Most of them are about the lead.

Lead and a spare leadLeads break and get lost, and a dog off the lead is not allowed on a site.
Long line for controlled exerciseIt allows movement even where running free is banned.
Ground anchor or tie-out stakeThe only way to secure a dog on the pitch without tying it to the table.
Harness as well as a collarOn a tie-out and on walks, a harness pulls on the chest rather than the neck.
Poo bags in quantityCampsites take this seriously, and you can rarely restock on site.
Reflective or light-up collarIn the evening cars and bikes move around the site, and a dark dog is invisible.
Water bowl set up in the shadeIn the sun, water becomes undrinkably warm within an hour.
Sun sail or a shaded spotA dog cannot retreat into the vehicle the way a person can.
Doormat or towel at the entranceIt keeps most of the sand and grass out of the interior.
A quiet pitch chosenNext to the playground or the shower block, no dog settles.
Site rules on running free readThey are posted at reception and differ considerably from site to site.

Walks and hiking

The real reason camping with a dog works at all. Preparation decides how far you get.

Walking map showing permitted pathsIn nature reserves and national parks dogs must be on a lead almost everywhere, and some areas are closed to them entirely.
Folding bowl and water for the walkStreams run dry or dirty in summer, and dogs drink anything.
Poo bags on your beltClipped to the rucksack, because in a trouser pocket they reliably stay behind.
Paw balm or dog bootsOn hot tarmac, sharp scree and grit, paws are the most vulnerable part of a dog.
Tick remover in the rucksackNot in the tent: ticks are found on the walk, not in the evening.
Towel for a wet dogAfter every stream the dog is wet, and after that comes the car.
Dog carrier or slingFor smaller dogs on long routes, the answer for the way back.
Hi-vis vest during the shooting seasonIn woodland in autumn, a precaution worth taking seriously.
Recall practised againIn strange surroundings, with game and other dogs about, recall works less well than at home.
Breaks in the shade plannedDogs show overheating late, and then unmistakably.
Timing adjusted to the heatIn summer walk early and late, not in the middle of the day.

Heat and weather

Heat is the greatest danger to a dog on a camping holiday, and it creeps up.

Cooling mat or a damp towelMore reliable than a fan, because the cooling works through the belly.
Cooling coat for hot daysAbove all for dark and long-haired dogs on stretches with no shade.
More water than you planned forIn heat a dog needs several times as much.
Shade checked at every time of dayThe shade moves; a tethered dog does not.
Never left in the carEven in the shade with a window open, the inside becomes lethal within minutes.
Raincoat for the dogFor short-haired dogs in cool, persistent rain, not a frivolity.
Towels for dryingOtherwise a wet dog dries itself on the awning cushions.
Warm blanket for cool nightsIn the mountains, nights drop below ten degrees even in summer.
Paw balmFor cracked pads from heat, sand and salt water.
The signs of overheating knownPanting with the tongue extended, restlessness and unsteadiness are warnings, not tiredness.

Grooming and cleaning

For a dog, camping means sand, water and grass all at once. Without grooming kit, all of it ends up in the tent.

Brush suited to the coatDaily brushing keeps most of the sand and loose hair outside.
Dog shampooNeeded after salt water and mud, and human shampoo is harsh on the skin.
Towels for the dog aloneBy the third day nobody else wants to share a towel.
Nail clippersOn soft ground claws wear down less than they do on tarmac.
Ear cleanerFrequent swimming leads to ear infections quickly, especially in drop-eared dogs.
Dental care or dental chewsA trip is no reason to skip three weeks.
Flea and tick treatment topped upApply it in good time before you leave, so the protection is working on arrival.
Flea combQuickly useful on sites with a lot of dogs, and small enough for any bag.
Leftover wet food cleared away at onceOtherwise wasps come to the bowl, and the dog eats them too.
A spare towel for the carThe way back from the beach is always wetter than planned.

Canine first-aid kit

Abroad the vet is further away and more expensive. The basics take up almost no room.

Tick remover or tick cardThe most-used item in the whole kit.
Wound disinfectant for animalsHuman products are partly unsuitable, because a dog licks them off.
Dressings and self-adhesive bandagePaw injuries from broken glass and scree are the most common case.
Protective boot for an injured pawIt is what makes the walk back possible at all.
Tick and flea treatmentIn the south there are sandflies as well, and those need different products.
Something for diarrhoea in dogsUnfamiliar water and unfamiliar food are the rule when travelling.
Rehydration solution for animalsWith diarrhoea and in heat, more useful than any medicine.
Regular medication in sufficient quantityAbroad it is often only available on a local prescription.
Thermometer for animalsThe quickest way to tell exhaustion from illness.
Your own vet’s emergency numberFor an assessment by phone before you go looking for an unfamiliar practice.
A copy of the vaccination recordsKept separately from the original, in case the passport goes missing.

Things to do and rainy days

An under-occupied dog in the awning is louder than any neighbour. Keeping it busy is not a side issue here.

Favourite toy from homeThe familiar object helps with settling in and with being left alone.
Feeding toy or snuffle matIn the rain it occupies a dog for longer than any walk, and it calms rather than winds up.
A chew for the eveningIt keeps the dog relaxed while the humans eat.
Ball or throw toyOnly use it where running free is allowed, otherwise on the long line.
Water toyAt a lake, the simplest way to tire a dog out properly.
Towel for after playingAfter the water comes the awning, reliably.
Training sessions planned inTen minutes of thinking replaces half an hour of running, and in the rain that is worth its weight in gold.
Rest deliberately enforcedSomething is always happening on a site. Without enforced breaks no dog comes down.

Common questions

What paperwork does a dog need on holiday?: For travel within the EU, an EU pet passport with a valid rabies vaccination and a readable microchip. British owners travel instead on an animal health certificate issued shortly before departure. A first rabies vaccination has to be at least 21 days before entry. Some countries also require a tapeworm treatment, and certain breeds carry conditions of their own.
Can a dog run free on a campsite?: As a rule, no. Almost every site requires dogs to be on a lead across the whole grounds, often on the beach section as well. A ground anchor and a long line are therefore the most practical answer for exercise on your own pitch.
How do you protect a dog from the heat in summer?: Shade, plenty of water, walks early and late, and a cooling mat or damp towel to lie on. The dog never stays behind in the car, not in the shade and not briefly — the inside reaches lethal temperatures within minutes.
Should you change a dog’s food on holiday?: No. A change of food is the most common cause of stomach and bowel trouble on a trip. Take the usual food for the whole journey, plus a supply for a few extra days, because the brand is often not available abroad.
What do you do if the dog is unsettled in the tent at night?: A separate, clearly defined sleeping place with a familiar blanket works most reliably. Add a quiet pitch away from the playground and the shower block, and enough exercise during the day — most night-time restlessness is under-occupation rather than fear.
How do you find a dog-friendly campsite?: Before booking, check whether dogs are allowed, whether there is a fee, and whether there is a dog beach or an exercise area. The surroundings matter just as much: a site with woodland or a farm track next door is worth more than any facility on the grounds.

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