Dogs on Santander Ferries (1 Viewer)

[DBK]

Does anyone know how the kennels on the ferries to Santander work, in the sense of can you access your pooch during the trip or do you lock it up and then collect it at the end? Whatever they system any tips on reducing stress for the mutt?

 

[Yorick]

We saw folk on top deck walking their dogs in a closed off area.

 

[lesleyjean]

Hi

Yes you can go up to top deck whenever you want to see your dog.

Mind you, on entering the kennels you upset all of the dogs
All quiet until you go and see them, then all hell lets loose

Only if the crossing is really really rough are you advised not to visit dogs.

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[lesleyjean]

my 2 Bichon Frise have only been on the Santander ferry once.

Tiny the girl was ok with it..........

........but Buster the boy would not go to the toilet when we went up several times. After about 20 hours of no weeing I was very concerned, I think he was just terrified, he didn't have his sea legs

I thought we would have to find a vet in Santander but after 20 hours....

.... He let it go on top deck and very nearly sunk the ship

We always use the tunnel now and drive through France.

 

[Teasy2007]

Does anyone know how the kennels on the ferries to Santander work, in the sense of can you access your pooch during the trip or do you lock it up and then collect it at the end? Whatever they system any tips on reducing stress for the mutt?

We were concerned as well, so we decided to have a pet friendly cabin and they are with us all the time.

We only hope it is a reasonable crossing!

Ginny

 

[Hollyberry]

I was talking the other day to a couple who are off on Santander ferry with dog.
There are some dog friendly cabins but very few, and get booked up very far in advance, they said.
Kennels are on a deck and I would assume they are covered in some way. There is a deck area for exercising and visiting the kennels seems to be freely available. By that I took to mean you don't have to be escorted like on the Channel ferries.
Although my dogs would be together they would be freaked out by a kennel that moved, and would not urinate on a deck surface. I personally think it would be too stressful for them, and me.

To reduce stress, make the area the dog is in is as dark as possible, make sure he/she has their own blanket, duvet or bed that they know the smell of. Keep their food and bowls the same.
Sedatives reduce blood pressure so you'd have to get them from a vet and check the dog frequently for any problems. ( cats are more badly affected by sedatives than dogs, most dogs would be fine after a vet check)

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[Mikeco]

We have done the dog cabin and kennels on the Crap Finistre and also the kennel on the Pont Aven and all have been okay, access at all times but if extremely rough you may think twice about it.
Having said that we are going Dover Calais next week and driving down, I don't do rough seas.

Mike

 

[Janine]

We saw folk on top deck walking their dogs in a closed off area.

Would that be the poop-deck?

 

[dippingatoe]

Would that be the poop-deck?

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[DogShowDiva]

Having traveled on both the Pont Aven & Cap Finistre my advise is take plenty of bedding and a padlock !!!

I found to many people lurking around the kennels esp on the Cap Finistre... also it seems although the so called dog walking area is used as a sunbathing area !!!... traveling back to Spain in October had 2 incidences.. one man tried to kick my dog away and then got told to F off by some one because I had to point out it was a dogs walking area not a picnic sunbathing area !!!! not a nice experience...:Sad:

The large kennels are fab but the small ones are very small..... The Cap Finistre is by far the better ferry, only 4 large and 8 small kennels and also 14 pet friendly room ... as said earlier they get booked up very quickly ...... The Pont Aven is not as good, far to many kennels... very noisy and cold !!!! also trying to cram 10 dogs and there owners in at a time to get them from the car deck to the kennels is an accident waiting to happen.... hardly anyone muzzles there dogs !!!!

Out of the two I will now only travel in the Cap Finistre..... just have to put up with the idiots sunbathing !!!!!:thumb:

You can visit them anytime. My lot love it in there and sleep most of the time... some dogs do not like it and get very stressed but after they are left alone they do calm down .... There is a locked coded door to the kennels which should be closed at all times... this is to stop non dog owners going in there and upsetting the dogs...

Have a safe journey

 

[DBK]

Many thanks for everyone's replies. It sounds better than I had feared. Rabies injection on Monday - for the dog I should perhaps point out. I just had a blood test today, routine thing but I am not sure what they will make of the sample collected. It certainly won't freeze if they put it in the fridge with the amount of alcohol that's probably in it after Christmas. However, Mrs Beekeeper and I have now started a "Dry January". Going OK so far, only another 4 weeks to go...

 

[malheg]

Dog on ferry

We have sailed to Santander several times.
The Pont Avon & Cap fiinister have kennels on the top deck with free access to the exercise area.
We have sailed on the Bretange, I do not know if this ship is still running but if it is it is not very dog friendly. So avoid.
Make sure you get the right size kennel for your dog. the small kennels (cages) are on top of the large kennels at about shoulder height, so only suitable for small pouches.
We have a collie dog and he is OK in the large kennel.
Go for it.
Malc:thumb:

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