Which campsite should you choose for a holiday in the Landes with your dog? What are the rules to follow at the campsite for a successful vacation? The answers to all these questions in this article!

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106 km of fine sand, ideal waves for surfing, endless bike trails, immense forests and large real lakes: little paradises, the Landes are one of those pretty corners of France ideal for refueling with nature outdoors. pure state and discover some treasures of our heritage. You don't know the Landes yet? This is the destination to plan for your next vacation with your dog! Discover this department of Nouvelle-Aquitaine with your dog. Let's take a closer look at what there is to do in the Landes with your dog. I'm taking you to the land of the Landes festivals and ferias, put on your most beautiful white t-shirt and your red bandana!

Where to sleep in the Landes with your dog

Eh yes ! Before packing your bags, you will need to find dog-friendly accommodation worthy of the name to take your whole family on board to discover the Landes. Don't panic, I have what you need! You know me now 😉 You know that when I introduce you to a new destination, I always suggest dog-friendly accommodations, activities and a few restaurants for the perfect holiday combo!

This time, I'm taking you to the campsite. Do you know the 5-star campsite Le Vieux Port in Messanges? This campsite offers a 5-star all-inclusive service and has many high-quality facilities such as a water park, an equestrian center, a tennis court, a skate park... Something to enjoy during your holidays.

It is an ideal campsite for purists, those who camp in tents or nothing, those who like the smell of inflatable mattresses, fans of cooking at the stove, those who love to exchange the latest gossip while making the washing up with Jacky… At the Vieux Port campsite, dogs are welcome on the campsite pitches. Something to spend a great holiday and share lots of nice memories together. Besides, if your dog's best friend is a cat or a rabbit, he can take it on a camping holiday with him. All pets are welcome.
And if you're more into comfortable holidays, I suggest another dog-friendly campsite in the Landes, also located in Messanges, the Lou Pignada Family Club campsite. Here, pets are allowed in certain rentals and of course, on the campsite pitches. And since there are two beaches where dogs are allowed in Messanges, the south beach et the north beach, it's a safe bet that doggie will go and enjoy sea bathing with you! The campsite has therefore planned everything and offers you a canidouche to rinse your doggie after the beach session or simply to refresh it. Small precision, on these two beaches your dog must be kept on a leash of course. And to enjoy a serene beach day with your dog, remember to reread our article Go to the beach with your dog. You will find good advice to avoid trouble: ear infections, wounds, skin problems...

Dog and camping? What are the rules to follow for a successful holiday?

A little reminder of common sense before presenting you the brilliant activities to share with your dog at Messanges, around the Vieux Port campsite or in the Landes more generally. 

Spending a great camping holiday with your dog means following a few basic rules. For health and safety reasons, your dog must of course be tattooed or chipped, it is mandatory anyway! He must also have all his vaccinations up to date and have his health record with him because you may be asked to present it at the campsite reception. And then, if doggie is injured, the veterinarian who will welcome him will also ask you for it.

As a general rule, with some exceptions, our dog friends categorized 1 or 2 are unfortunately not allowed to come and stay at the campsite with their masters. 

For the respect of all other vacationers and for yours, there are two sacred rules: 

  • keep your dog on a leash. A rule that can sometimes seem excessive to you, especially if your dog is a "paste" but imagine that he starts running after a cat that passes by, and that a car bumps into him in an alley of the campsite or that he cuts the road of a child on his bike causing him to fall… Disasters of this kind happen much faster than you think and not only to others, so your dog must be kept on a leash. 

  • pick up his dog's droppings. Oh yes, please! My team and I fight every day to get dogs accepted in more and more places, but every time a poop is intentionally left at the mercy of a left foot, all of our efforts are ruined. . This is the basis of dog acceptance! PICK UP!

And before going on vacation, camping with your dog or elsewhere, remember to notify your insurer. You are responsible for the damage of your dog and it is your civil liability that will cover the charges in the event of damage or accidents, finally if you have done the necessary with your insurer of course...

What to do in the Landes with your dog?

Lovers of sunbathing on the beach, cycling fans, professional hikers, beginners or experienced surfers...? You will have understood that in the Landes, there is something for everyone. Whether your dog is more athletic or a fan of long naps in the sun, he will find what he is looking for in the Landes.

Let's start by taking the direction of the beach. As seen above, there are two dog-friendly beaches in Messanges, but these are not the only dog-friendly beaches on the Landes coast. Discover all dog friendly beaches here.

Be careful, here you are “at the ocean” as they say over there! This means that you must always keep an eye on your dog because the waves and currents can be powerful. Besides, I advise you, as always, to make him wear a dog life jacket. Thus, he will be safe for all his swimming and nautical activities.

Yes, as long as you are at the ocean, you might as well take the opportunity to try out new water sports with your dog, such as canipaddle or canisurfing. Paddling with a dog ou go surfing with your dog it is possible and even super awesome. I share these two activities with my dog ​​and we always have very nice moments of complicity. Be careful, however, to always practice these sports within the limits of your animal: if he does not like water, is not a good swimmer, is not sufficiently well educated to follow your orders which serve to secure him, s he just doesn't want to… let it go! You form a team, so you have to respect the desires and limits of the WHOLE team!

For those who are afraid of the ocean, like me, there are some very nice lakes where you can have fun with your dog, such as the lakes of Hossegor, Soustons and Seignosse.

Not very comfortable in the water? Opt for long hikes in the forests or through the dunes of the Landes. There are a thousand and one paths and trails to explore with your four-legged friend. And for the more athletic among you, it's time to test canicross or even canivtt. The Landes are a great playground for fans of canine hauling sports beginners as well as experts. The only downside to these endless pine forests, the processionary caterpillars which invade them and even rot them in the spring. Beware of these critters, real scourges for your dog.

Looking for activities to do with your dog? Discover our section Activities to do with your dog in the Landes.

I am sure that all these adventures with your dog will have made you hungry, so to end this article on holidays in the Landes with your dog on a high note, here are some specialties that will make your mouth water: free-range duck from the Landes , Chalosse beef, Floc de Gascogne, Gascogne garbure, asparagus from the Landes sands, Adour kiwi and for dessert the famous Pastis Landais, Dax madeleine or Landaise tourtière.

 

I hope this article will have made you want to go on vacation in the Landes with your dog. Don't forget to share your most beautiful photos and best memories with the #emmenetonchien on our Instagram account @emmenetonchien