My dog has a European passport, which means he can travel with me throughout the continent without having the inconvenience and expense of having to pay upwards of £200 for a health certificate every time he leaves the country.
Having left the European Union, if a British vet writes in his passport, it becomes invalid (thanks Brexit). Therefore, every year, we have to get his vaccinations done in mainland Europe, which provides another excuse to pop to France.
Pablo is a rescue podenco, a very much mistreated breed of hunting dog from southern Spain. Podencos and galgos – another Spanish hunting breed – are known as the ‘invisible dogs of Spain’ as there are no laws to protect them from the abhorrent cruelty many of them suffer at the hands of their hunting owners.
In fact, charities estimate that between 60,000 and 100,000 or them are abandoned or murdered at the end of the hunting season every February. While they are useful to their owners during the hunting season, many are treated so very badly, it breaks my heart.
I saw a photo of one, thankfully now in the care of a rescue centre, which had its ears mutilated to make it easier for them to pass through undergrowth whilst hunting. A quick Google search and I learned that some hunters do this to their dogs without giving an anaesthetic and some even feed the bits of ear to their dogs to toughen them up! All of this as they are regarded as hunting tools and not pets. Don’t get me started!
Thankfully, Pablo, who has magnificent ears and was found among some bins as a tiny puppy, starving and riddled with ticks and fleas, was rescued by Puppy Rescue Spain and brought to the UK on the ‘happy bus’, as they call it. He was then fostered by the caring souls at Brighter Days Rescue in Staffordshire, which is where I found him (and instantly fell in love).
Pablo is the most sensitive, sweet and funny little soul you could ever imagine – and possibly the most intelligent creature I’ve ever had.
You can’t travel overseas with your pet without a passport or health certificate and, as he travels abroad with me three or four times a year, it makes sense for me to maintain his passport and thus save on costs. You can read about necessary requirements for travelling to and from the UK with a pet here.
Is it easy to register with a French vet?
It’s very easy. Just go online and it can be done in minutes (set your laptop or phone to translate from French to English, if you don’t speak the language and it couldn’t be easier). Pablo is registered with SCP Des Docteurs Veterinaires Goube, which is in a very modern, purpose-built unit on the edge of Etaples-sur-Mer, which is next door to our beloved Le Touquet, just a hop, skip and a jump from Calais, but a million miles apart in other ways!
The vet (who politely told me Pablo is a little bit tubby and needs to cut down on treats) spoke to us in English and gave him a thorough check over before giving him his annual injections and tapeworm pill, which dogs must have before returning to the UK.
I had rehearsed the French words for ‘tapeworm’ and ‘annual injections’ several times and was a little miffed that I didn’t get the chance to say them at the vet surgery. However, I did so after a couple of Aperol Spritz in a bar later that day, so it wasn’t wasted! Tapeworm banter rocks.
Pablo’s annual injections cost around €60, which I think was also a bit cheaper than having it done in the UK. Note, that dogs also need a rabies jab when travelling to and from the UK, but Pablo’s is currently up to date.
Is France dog-friendly?
Hell, yes, much more so than the UK. While you can take your dog into most pubs in the UK, there aren’t many restaurants where they would be welcome. No doubt, if your dog was a bit unruly or unfriendly, you would be asked to leave a restaurant in France, but being in that social situation also leads to dogs being well behaved in public.
Pets are welcome in the terminal at Eurotunnel Le Shuttle. The only place they can’t go is into WH Smith and the duty free shop. But he was welcome in Starbucks (where the lovely ladies gave him a puppacino) and in Leon. He even came into the loos with us!
In Le Touquet itself, the only place he wasn’t allowed was the supermarket, which is understandable, but every other shop was very welcoming – and some also have their own dogs. We happily took him into boutiques (Le Touquet shopping is great) and he was admired by all.
Restaurants allow dogs in and we found that it was handy to have a roll-up, portable dog bed (£35.99 from Amazon) which we just put under the table, gave him a chew and he settled, enjoying being out with us. You’ll find my reviews of where we sent below.
Pablo received lots of attention from the staff at all of the restaurants we went to, one of them even recognising that he was a podenco (you don’t see many of them about).
Being with him on a short break, which we also used as an excuse to stock up on wine for Christmas (Carrefour at Cite Europe in Calais has Picpoul de Pinet for a smidge over €3 a bottle), means bracing walks on Le Touquet’s magnificent beach. Depending on the time of year you go, dogs may or may not be allowed on the beach. They can’t set foot on the sand in high summer.
Here’s The Sun Lounger’s guide to dog-friendly establishments in Le Touquet:
You’ll likely be the only non-French person in this neighbourhood tabac/newsagent/bar. It’s a no-frills kind of place, but that’s its appeal. If locals pop in with Tupperware containers full of homemade Madeleines, you’ll more than likely be offered one as well.
There are seats outside and in and they generally bring a water bowl to Pablo when we pop in for our first Aperol or St Germain spritz of the weekend. They serve light snacks too.
Famous for its delicious fish soup and for being a favourite of Lord Sugar and President Macron, Perard is in the heart of the town, on the vibrant Rue de Metz. Lovely Alex, Lucas and the friendly waiting staff will give you a warm welcome and look after you and your pooch so well in this landmark restaurant, which serves fresher-than-fresh seafood. It’s not to be missed. A veritable institution.
Prior to taking Pablo to Le Touquet with me, I used to come here to people (and dog) watch. It’s another very friendly bar, a couple of doors down from Macron’s pad, which is above an estate agency. Pablo can be a bit timid around other dogs, but there was a collie and golden retriever playing together when we were there last and he soon wanted to join in with his new French pals. Pablo was much admired by the locals in Algy’s.
Le Touquet has always had its fair share of gorgeously traditional bistros but Opaline is leading the wave of newer, more ‘shi shi’ establishments in town. Situated in a peaceful spot in the town’s ‘golden triangle’, the display of cakes and pastries is stunningly irresistible. The Opaline brunch is an absolute must, washed down with a glass of Veuve Clicquot and rounded off with a cake. Beautifully friendly staff too!
Another trendy, relative newcomer, this pink palace is on the next street down from Rue de Metz – Rue de Londres- and is part of a fashionable French chain, serving designer cookies and drinks. It’s highly Instagrammable, hugely friendly and perfectly pink (even down to the loo roll). You can also get takeaways.
Sit outside and watch the well-heeled of Le Touquet or inside and make friends with golfers and locals. It is an iconic spot in the town. Normally, I give Irish and sports bars a very wide berth when I’m away, but not this one. The staff are fun, the drinks are reasonably priced and the craic is decidedly French. I’ve been going there for over 20 years and look forward to being there again soon.
The welcome Pablo received from serving staff here was actually beautiful -and enabled me to practice saying in French that he’d been found in a bin as a puppy. I don’t know what’s best here – the food, the décor or the view – so I would recommend trying all three and making your own mind up.
Situated on the edge of the river mouth, we sat by the fire and gazed at the blustery view while eating fresh scallops with mushrooms and pumpkin puree. A truly memorable way to round of the perfect weekend and potentially the prettiest restaurant I’ve ever been to.
See here for my recommendations on how to spend 48 hours in Le Touquet.
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