Taking Dogs to Spain on the Pont Aven

[Waddmiester]

Hi there,
It's out first trip to Europe in the MoHo. We are taking two dogs and have two kennels booked on the Pont Aven, Plymouth to Santander.
I'm sure it will all become clear on Sunday when we sail but we were hoping for a bit of a heads up from people who have done this trip before. It looks as if the first job is to get the dogs upto the kennels and get them bedded in, settled in and comfortable. But thats two dogs, feed, bowls, blankets etc. The main question is , is there still time to get back down to the decks to get your cabin baggage before they are shut off? Or , do you need to take everything in one go? Any help greatfully received.

 

[bellabee]

Short answer - We've done it, but I can't remember . We've only got one dog,and have only used the Pont Aven once. The other times we've used ferries with pet-friendly cabins. We take everything up at once. We pack our own stuff into a Lidl bag for life so it's easy to carry.
You definitely need bedding for your dogs, and when we took ours on the Pont Aven, it was very wet in the kennel area, so you'd probably be advised to take old dog beds/blankets that you don't mind leaving behind. That's what we did on the return journey.
Once on board, you can spend as much time as you want on the top deck with your dogs out of their kennels.

 

[Mikeco]

You will not be the last ones on with the dogs so you should have time to pop back down to the car deck if you need to. We used to manage with one trip but only had one small dog. Don’t forget that you will need to have muzzles for them, at least in your pocket just in case you need them.

 

[Waddmiester]

Great thanks guys. Really appreciate the info.

 

[Mikeco]

Great thanks guys. Really appreciate the info.

You will be met by a crew member who will tell you to go to the lift, there is only one that goes up to the kennels and it will be busy. Make sure that once parked up you don’t mess around too much and get to the lift quick, this will give you more time to get back down.

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[DBK]

I've done it a few times. All my stuff was in a rucksack on my back so it came with me to the kennels then less dog to the cabin.

I would avoid having to return to the car deck if you can. You will be trying to get past everyone coming in the opposite direction and it will just be added hassle.

But why two kennels? Unless the dogs are monsters put them together in one large kennel.

You can access the dogs at any time unless it gets very rough when the deck will be closed as the access to the "dog deck" is via an exposed set of stairs.

I wouldn't worry about "settling them down" it will be a pandemonium of barking dogs but after half an hour it calms down. Just leave them, find your cabin then after a glass of something in the bar go and visit them. They will be fine.

 

[Sundowners]

Normally, you go to your cabin with your belongings, leaving the dogs in your vehicle, then are called to reception desk to be taken by a member of staff back to your vehicle to take the dogs to the kennels. We used to go and sit on deck with our dog, even getting our meals from the cafe and eating there.

When you berth, you are called to go and collect your dogs before passengers go to car decks. You get your dogs in your vehicles then go back to get your belongings, have seen some take their belongings with them and stay with their dogs rather than go back to cabin again.

Have a good trip.

 

[olley]

Can you take a cat?

 

[Mark and Mindy]

The information on Brittany Ferries only says that you can't take rabbits, however it does talk about kennels, pet-friendly cabins and leaving animals in vehicles.

Pet Travel

You'd probably be best off contacting and asking them their procedures.

 

[HarryML]

I have travelled on Pont Aven several times taking my dog, as had been said get organised with the dogs bag before boarding, you will be met onboard and taken to the kennels. There is time to return to the car deck to recover your personal gear. On my last crossing there was an issue with non dog owners entering the kennel area, despite the swipe card access it was possible to open the kennel door without a card. I was concerned about a few teenagers loitering around the kennels and voiced my concerns to Brittany Ferries, apart from undertaking to modify the kennel access door BF denied there was a problem with non dog owners entering the kennel area. I shall be taking a small padlock to lock my dog kennel on my next crossing. On disembarkation the procedure does not always go as described by BF , no staff has ever turned up to escort dogs back to the car deck so don’t wait to be called use your own judgement. BF require dogs to be muzzled whilst in transit from vehicle to/from the kennels.

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[Waddmiester]

I have travelled on Pont Aven several times taking my dog, as had been said get organised with the dogs bag before boarding, you will be met onboard and taken to the kennels. There is time to return to the car deck to recover your personal gear. On my last crossing there was an issue with non dog owners entering the kennel area, despite the swipe card access it was possible to open the kennel door without a card. I was concerned about a few teenagers loitering around the kennels and voiced my concerns to Brittany Ferries, apart from undertaking to modify the kennel access door BF denied there was a problem with non dog owners entering the kennel area. I shall be taking a small padlock to lock my dog kennel on my next crossing. On disembarkation the procedure does not always go as described by BF , no staff has ever turned up to escort dogs back to the car deck so don’t wait to be called use your own judgement. BF require dogs to be muzzled whilst in transit from vehicle to/from the kennels.

Great, thanks for the info.

 

[Waddmiester]

I've done it a few times. All my stuff was in a rucksack on my back so it came with me to the kennels then less dog to the cabin.

I would avoid having to return to the car deck if you can. You will be trying to get past everyone coming in the opposite direction and it will just be added hassle.

But why two kennels? Unless the dogs are monsters put them together in one large kennel.

You can access the dogs at any time unless it gets very rough when the deck will be closed as the access to the "dog deck" is via an exposed set of stairs.

I wouldn't worry about "settling them down" it will be a pandemonium of barking dogs but after half an hour it calms down. Just leave them, find your cabin then after a glass of something in the bar go and visit them. They will be fine.

Thanks, need the two kennels, they are Mastiffs and weigh in a 50 60 kg a piece. Would have taken the tunnel but unfortunately the Mastif is not welcome in France.

 

[Waddmiester]

I suppose we

Can you take a cat?

I suppose we could take a cat, do you have one we can borrow? Thanks for the advice.

 

[Waddmiester]

Can you take a cat?

The information on Brittany Ferries only says that you can't take rabbits, however it does talk about kennels, pet-friendly cabins and leaving animals in vehicles.

Pet Travel

You'd probably be best off contacting and asking them their procedures.

Sorry I'm not with you, I don't have a rabbit. Clearly I'm taking dogs, and I know the basics of the procèdures as we have booked kennels. The question was one of logistics more than anything else, seeking advice from those that had done the trip previously. But thanks anyway.

 

[Mark and Mindy]

Sorry I'm not with you, I don't have a rabbit. Clearly I'm taking dogs, and I know the basics of the procèdures as we have booked kennels. The question was one of logistics more than anything else, seeking advice from those that had done the trip previously. But thanks anyway.

The information from me was regarding the cat question...