Ticket, muzzle… how to take the train with your dog
Discover all the tips and advice for taking the train with your dog. Choice of ticket, luggage and accessories to take, taking the train with your dog will no longer hold any secrets for you. Here is Julia and Bianca’s testimony!
In this section:
Taking the train always requires a certain amount of organization, especially when you take the train with your dog.
For my part, when I take the train with my dog, I am always afraid of forgetting something. And I know that traveling by train is not my dog's favorite. The crowded station, the platform and the suitcases rolling in all directions, the boarding of the train and especially the gap between the platform and the train, making myself feel very small at my feet despite weighing 35 kilos... all of this causes a lot of stress . But I realized that with a little organization and more practice, traveling by train with a dog was very good. Julia travels a lot by train with her dog and their trips go great. So I interviewed Julia and her dog Bianca to find out more about their train journeys. In this new article, Julia shares all her tips with you so that her journeys go well for her and her dog.
Julia, I'll leave your hand to you!
Choosing the train ticket with your dog
Hello it’s Julia! I adopted my dog Bianca on December 10, 2022. Since her adoption, I have done lots of activities with her. I also travel a lot with Bianca and we have discovered lots of new destinations together!
I regularly go back and forth between Paris and Reims with my dog. Here is my feedback and all my advice for your future train trips with your dog.
Let's start with the first step: buying your train ticket for you and your dog. Here are some little tips when choosing my tickets:
First of all, I often buy my ticket in advance to get the best price possible. This tip is valid whether you have a doggie or not.
For dogs, the train ticket is €7 regardless of its size. However, be careful if you buy your ticket at the ticket office because there are still sellers who try to sell you a “large dog” ticket at half the price of your ticket. In short… a scam.
If the prices are not excessive, I take my train in first class because it is much more spacious for the dogs and often much quieter.
It is also possible to traveling in Ouigo with your dog. Dogs are accepted on board Ouigo, an economical solution for traveling with your dog.
Luggage when taking the train with your dog
I generally go with a 4-wheel suitcase because it's more practical with a dog. On the other hand, you have to get the dog used to the sound of the suitcase, which is not an easy task if your little one is fearful or simply doesn't like the noise.
I also have my little bag with me. I either take my shoulder bag or a backpack to have my hands free: it seems much simpler to me to be able to manage my dog if necessary.
On the train, I bring his kibble (especially when we leave early in the morning), a bottle of water, a chew toy to occupy Bianca and a billy. On me, I also have her muzzle because it is obligatory but I admit that she only wears it if I am asked to do so. I also take her bag of treats with me to reward her as well as the poop bags; you never know, it’s better to plan ahead.
In my suitcase, I also bring: reward treats, long chews, intelligence or occupation games (if I cannot be available for her), a 3m leash, a 5m lanyard, kibble for the week, 2 foldable bowls, a toy, wipes dog cleaners (Bianca often turns into Biancracra), a first aid kit dog/human as well as a towel to wipe your dog's paws in fall and winter.
On the train with his dog
For the moment, my dog and I have only traveled with the SNCF but we might try the Italian trains one day.
Transport is pleasant for humans because it avoids driving, it is much more relaxing.
Traveling by train with your dog is quite easy but I find it a shame to have to pay for a ticket when no specific place is allocated to them... Bianca is thin but tall on her legs, she generally sits in the aisle or on my lap but with big dogs this is impossible.
You can stand between the wagons for more space for your pet. The controller can also offer you the children's play area which is present on certain trains. It will really depend on how much he loves dogs.
How do dogs travel on trains?
Normally dogs are either in a transport crate or on a leash with a muzzle. This is a mandatory condition. Generally, my dog is very well received by the staff or passengers and some take the opportunity to pet him. So rare are the times when she had to keep her muzzle on but it's part of the rules of the game and you must have it with you.
My dog is a bit of an attraction on the wagon and this also allows me to educate people about dogs. I teach them very simple rules such as: asking permission from the master (and especially the dog) before petting the dog, not petting if he is eating or asking beforehand, not surprising the dog, not passing by. above him... People who don't have a dog don't always pay attention to these details but they are essential in my opinion. Well, dog owners aren't better educated sometimes... During a journey, Bianca was quietly eating a hoof when a guy, coming from behind, came to pet her. Everything you shouldn't do! Fortunately, Bianca doesn't defend her food... this helped remind this dear gentleman of the rules who has a dog himself.
QUALIDOG-certified accommodation
Does this article make you want to take off and go on vacation by train with your dog? If you want to find accommodation in which your dog will be well received, there is QUALIDOG certified accommodation. And that’s great because we have plenty of QUALIDOG accommodation that is accessible by train. Find the small selection that I have prepared for you just below!
Tips and tricks from Julia and Bianca
- Choose a place in 1st class in order to have more space. The journey will be more pleasant for you or for your dog.
- Remember to buy your dog's ticket to avoid a fine
- Plan to keep your dog occupied, especially if the journey is long. The solutions are quite varied. You can prepare chews, toys or even intelligence games.
- Bring something to drink and eat with a water bottle and a bowl.
- Bring dog bags
- Take its muzzle or its transport box for small dogs.
- Respect the other passengers in the car. We never say it enough but it is very important if only to give a positive image of dogs and show that they are capable of being wise and discreet if they are well educated.
And finally, here are a few little anecdotes that I have to share with you that will warm your heart!
Returning from a New Year spent in Montpellier, the train was more than full and there were too many suitcases for the number of seats available. I was sitting with Bianca on my lap next to a girl who hadn't found room for her suitcase. So we were very, very tight… Bianca ended up being patted down by the girl and ended up on her knees for the end of the journey.
She left him with super white hairs on his black jacket. The train is a bit like that, you can meet really incredible and kind people!
Another time Bianca fell in love with a 3 year old child! They played together the whole way. She gained 3kg in one trip because the little one kept giving her treats as rewards. It was great to see Bianca sweet and attentive with a child.
When the inspector came by he asked to put the muzzle on Bianca. I warned her that she would no longer play with the child because she hated carrying her. And that's what happened. What was super interesting about this situation was that all the passengers near us told the conductor to leave Bianca alone. She was really great with the child and her presence didn't bother anyone. In short, it made me really happy to be supported by the other passengers and I was proud of Bianca!
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That’s a good end to this special train with a dog article. A big thank you to Julia for her testimony. If you would like to learn more about the inseparable duo of Julia and Bianca, discover the other interviews in the articles “Taking the metro with your dog”, “Parisian train stations with your dog” or even “Destinations 2 hours from Paris with his dog".
You can also follow all their adventures on the Instagram account @biancaadventures.
I hope you liked this article. Do not hesitate to leave a comment if you have other tips and tricks for traveling with your dog by train and to share with us your addresses Too W'ouf.
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