Dog Friendly Countries

    • Gold Top Dog

    Dog Friendly Countries

     I was in Germany last week and really noticed how dog friendly they are there.  People take their dogs everywhere.  They were in the tourist areas, city center, subways, stores and restaurants. I saw so many people walking their dogs.  Every dog I seen had impeccable leash manners. Maybe because they are used to all the people?  They also have a good portion of flats or apartments above all the bar/restaurants so i guess you kinda have to walk your dog in the crowds.  They would have their dogs laying nearby if they were at the restaurant (outdoor patio bars) but I also seen some people take their dogs inside the little pubs.  Anyway, I thought it was great and got to wondering....are most countries more dog friendly than we are?  I've only owned dogs for two years now and although I have been to many countries....I've never noticed dogs until I got one.  So, I've only been to Germany and England since owning a dog but did not notice a big difference in England, like I did in Germany. 

    • Gold Top Dog

    Yes, Germany is really dog friendly, one of the things I like about that country......we lived there for quiet some years due to military and we saw dogs everywhere, even on busses........Alles ist gut mit einem Hund.......

    • Gold Top Dog

    Germany was great. I would love to be able to spend a week or two in Munich with the dogs. Too bad its such a long flight.

    Holland and Belgium were pretty dog friendly as well. Dog's on the train, in restaurants, just everywhere. Almost every hotel I stayed at was dog friendly as well. My experience in the UK was that it is about as dog friendly as the US.

    I also found Montreal to be very dog friendly, but I haven't traveled in Canada much so I can't speak for the whole country.

    • Gold Top Dog

    That's funny, when I first read the title, I thought of Germany. I haven't been there, but my aunt just moved there, and wow, all she can talk about is all the dogs, and how well-behaved they are. Although..now in Wiesbaden...there's at least one dog who is NOT well-behaved.

    My aunt got her boxer mix Jack from a shelter at like 8 weeks, but didn't socialize him really at all... This dog is kind of an unpredictable little terror. I really don't know how they got him into Germany (yeah I do..apparently he was supposed to have some temperament test with people and dogs, but he didn't for some reason..and as my cousin said "Thank the German Gods because he would have failed big time!";), but I feel bad for all the Germans! LOL

    • Gold Top Dog

    When we were stationed there, there was no behavior test, just all shot and health records and 24 hour quarantine in Frankfurt.....but, things could have changed by now......

    • Gold Top Dog

    Ohh, I just looked it up, and apparently if they label your dog a pit bull or pit mix (which Jack certainly appears to be..I think he's mostly boxer, but he's most likely part pit), you either have to muzzle them in public, or you can opt to do a temperament test, and if they pass they get treated like any other dog...or something along those lines.

    I guess my cousin misunderstood that, or assumed they'd call Jack a pit mix.

    • Gold Top Dog

    Germany rocks.  The Netherlands seemed to be pretty dog friendly too, from what I saw while there.  I don't really know about any other countries though.

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    • Gold Top Dog

    SalemsMom
    Holland and Belgium were pretty dog friendly as well. Dog's on the train, in restaurants, just everywhere.

    My sister lived in Belgium and found the same to be true.  I recall a beautiful Ridgie joining us on the train to Amsterdam, too.  But with such privileges came very well-behaved dogs.  It was a pleasure!

    • Gold Top Dog

    I don't recall seeing even one poorly behaved dog on any of our trips through Europe. All seemed to have perfect manners. It was actually pretty strange seeing as most dogs around here are pretty wild and ill-mannered.

    Dh and I went to a Monestary near Munich called Andeck (sp?). They brewed fabulous beer and we had dinner and drinks there, and walked the beautiful property. When we took the train back to Munich we shared the car with a gsd mix named Mo-Mo who was an absolute doll. His owner had taken him out to the country to go bike riding. It was actually a great memory from the trip. We had a really nice conversation with Mo-Mo's owner, and I got to pet Mo-Mo for the whole hour back to Munich which was great since I missed Salem so much.

    I wish we were allowed to bring dogs on trains and in restaurants here, but it probably wouldn't be as pleasant as it was there. Here there would be dogs running loose through the train cars and jumping on tables eating food.

    • Gold Top Dog
    Here in calgary dogs are allowed on buses and trains, you just have to pay extra for them. Smaller dogs usually get on for free on buses, though... cause you can carry them without them touching the seats. But otherwise, .. aren't allowed in any other places like restaurants.. and the renting community doesnt like any pets, here.
    • Gold Top Dog

    Okami
    Here in calgary dogs are allowed on buses and trains, you just have to pay extra for them. Smaller dogs usually get on for free on buses, though... cause you can carry them without them touching the seats. But otherwise, .. aren't allowed in any other places like restaurants.. and the renting community doesnt like any pets, here.

     

    Yeah. I found that out on my last visit to Calgary. It was the weirdest thing. Sitting on the C-train talking to a lady who had a G.D sitting next to her. Perfect angel thou! 

    • Gold Top Dog

    I don't know about citizen dogs, but Ireland has an INSANE quarantine!  I think it's mandatory six months.  Also mandatory that YOU pay for it, lol.  Someone on the GSD board moved there and her poor dog had to be boarded in quarantine for sooooo long.  I have a friend who wanted to move their, but couldn't bear to do that to her dog.  I think a quarantine like that is crazy, but I guess they haven't had a case of rabies in decades so what do I know... 

    • Silver

    From what my fellow Picard breeders have told me from their trip in October, France is much like Germany, with dogs allowed in restaurants and very much a part of the culture, therefore very well behaved.  The only complaint was they do not pick up after the dogs, even in the city, lol!  But, I wish we could integrate our guys into our lives more.  I for one try to push the envelope daily.  Today Cau went into the doctor's office with me to meet and greet!  And how many of us have done the Lowe's and Home Depot thing?  I know I will eat at an outdoor table/cafe any day over somewhere indoors if the weather is nice and I can bring a dog or two. 

    • Gold Top Dog

    fitzfids
    And how many of us have done the Lowe's and Home Depot thing?

    My friend and I tried w/ her husky pup at Home Depot and the manager informed us that it was NOT allowed b/c it may frighten people (including our cashier) and the it was a common misconception that he wished people would quit passing on Embarrassed And there IS a sign on their door that says dogs aren't allowed.  (I hadn't looked for the sign b/c we'd been told by a trainer that it was ok and that she'd done it too)

    After that I've been too nervous to try Lowes.

    Maybe that's just our area though.....

    • Gold Top Dog

    fitzfids
    And how many of us have done the Lowe's and Home Depot thing?  I know I will eat at an outdoor table/cafe any day over somewhere indoors if the weather is nice and I can bring a dog or two. 

     

     I bring my 8 month old rottweiler into home depot, probably about once a month, the home depot here is great for letting people bring in their dogs. When he was a puppy, it used to take forever to get through the store to get the one lightbulb or whatever we needed, we would have all sorts of people coming up and wanting to pet him - now that hes larger, some people still want to pet him, but not nearly as many. I am also going to bring him to outdoor cafes this summer. I just hope he gets over being sick in the car so I can take him on weekend trips easier.