Discover Charente-Maritime with your dog
Is Charente-Maritime a dog friendly region? Can you go cani-paddle and cani-canoe with your dog in Charente-Maritime? Discover Helene's week at the campsite with her two dogs!
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A few months ago, I organized on the Facebook page of TakeTonDog.com a great contest to win 3 of you a full week's holiday in one of the dog-friendly campsites of our partner Flowercampings. This is how Taïko and Hélène left for a week together at the Abri-Côtier campsite in Charente-Maritime. They left at four to tell the truth because Helen had invited a friend and her dog too. When they returned, I interviewed Hélène so that she could tell us about her vacation with her dog. You will see that she has been doing lots of great activities with her dog. His advice should give you great ideas for your next vacation with doggie. Between Rochefort, the island of Oléron, the beach, the cani-paddle… they took full advantage of it.
Helene, her holiday team and her dog
I went on vacation with a friend, Anaïs and her dog, an 8-year-old Siberian husky called Faïka. And of course, my little Taïko, a nearly 4-year-old Siberian husky, was also there. And me? My name is Helen. I am a big fan of photos and animals.
Taïko has been sharing my life since January 2015. I had seen a photo of him in a Facebook group: it was fate! I asked myself lots of questions about his adoption and then I took the plunge. He is a good dog in his paws and in his head. He is very affectionate.
Monsieur opens the cupboards, the microwave and even the oven. One day he ate a chicken carcass while I was away. Result: emergency vet. He was operated on just in time… Huskies tend to “sing”. Taïko is a great singer: it's pure pleasure! She's my own little star.
I share a lot with my dog. I try to take it everywhere with me!
A week at the campsite with two dogs
Vacations ? A whole organization with two dogs! I have a Dacia Sandero so 2 girls and 2 dogs take up space. We had to pack a lot of equipment and our own luggage: bowls, a week of kibble for two large dogs, two transport cages...
I had some apprehensions about the understanding of the two dogs for a whole week in a mobile home… The trip went very well, with regular breaks and calm dogs. Upon arrival at the campsite, the welcome was really great. The reception staff offered us blankets for the two doggies. Our two dogs were delighted to have a little comfort to sleep.
We took advantage of the beach with our dogs. It is next to the campsite. On returning, we were able to rinse them in the cani-shower of the campsite. A service to the hair!
As for the equipment to plan for a camping holiday with your dog, here is what I brought:
a car cover but the sand and salt got through so I had to clean the car thoroughly on the way back…
transport container for the trip in the car
first aid kit in case of bobo
leave alone and necklace or harness for the ride. As I take a lot of photos, I opted for a harness; like that, it leaves my hands free.
QUALIDOG-certified accommodation in Charente-Maritime
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Charente-Maritime: a dog friendly region?
The purpose of his vacation was to clear our heads while taking full advantage of our dogs. It also shows that going on vacation with your dog is possible and that you can share lots of great activities together. We are delighted!
We have done sea kayaking and cani-paddle. We visited two forts: Fort Liedot and Fort Vauban. In both, we were able to do the tour with our dogs. We of course enjoy the beach.
We visited 3 islands. We spent the day on the island of Aix, to which you have to go by boat. During the trip, the boat takes us around the famous Fort Boyard. On the boat side, Taïko boarded without asking any questions, but getting off was more complicated because there was a small gap between the boat and the quay. During the trip, Taïko wanted to jump overboard, surely to take advantage of the waves… and kept his nose in the air to smell the sea spray all the way. It was too cute.
We also went to Isle Madame. The beaches are only accessible at low tide so no swimming for us there. And finally, the island of Oléron where we went to see the citadel. We also visited the fortified town of Brouage. We took advantage of the holidays to test a few restaurants, our doggies were welcome everywhere. in short, a busy and unforgettable holiday!
The only place we were bothered with was on the beach. Not so easy to find a dog-friendly beach, even in the off season.
Cani-paddle and cani-canoe
I had ordered a life jacket for every dog: super practical. I will tell you everything….
The kayaks we had rented were not at all practical for the dogs! They slipped quite a bit on the plastic of the kayak. At sea, you have to fight against the tide. Taïko was often in the water, I had to pull him up a couple of times. By the time I pulled it up, I had moved backwards and had to row again against the tide. We did this activity as soon as we arrived. I guess there was a bit of fatigue too. The landscape was beautiful, the water super good, and the weather great!
I don't think I'll do kayaking again with Taïko.. or with different equipment. In the end, luckily our dogs had their life jacket to give them a little help and less tire them and so that we can hoist them on board.
As for paddle boarding with a dog or cani-paddle: a real treat! I don't have much balance so I was a little afraid to take the plunge but it's great. Still with Antioche Kayak in Fouras, we took 1 hour of initiation. At the beginning, you start on your knees, then little by little you stand up and learn to do a few maneuvers. I denounce Anaïs... she was the one who had the first fall! So many good times shared together. I husky paddled on the way back, I let my dog take me back to shore.
We had two little scares during the holidays: a fight between our two dogs that we managed to separate in time. To play, one grabbed the tail of the other, which hurt and fought back… Faïka, a good hunter, caught a little rabbit during a walk. I wanted her to let go and I put my hands in her mouth but she squeezed even harder and ears ears… but nothing serious.
What we preferred: the paddle with our dogs. Besides, I made a video of our exploits, I invite you to watch it on my Youtube channel: Helene Musher Experience. After the paddle, we met singers in the street who also played the flute. We stopped and I danced with Taïko. What happiness. And then our last evening, at sunset, playing with the dogs on a small beach 2 minutes by car from the campsite.
It's an unforgettable vacation. Adeline and Laurent, campsite managers Flowercampsites the Coastal Shelter, as well as their employees were awesome with us! Great service, GOLD people. I recommend this campsite, you are surrounded by fields and small marshes too. Very nice environment. And in the surroundings, there is plenty to keep you busy with a dog or more for a week. To do everything we had planned, we would have had to stay a few more days.
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Here’s to a busy vacation! If you are still hesitant about going with your dog, Taïko and Helen's story will surely have convinced you that with a little organization and some research on EmmèneTonChien.com, going with a dog is possible and downright Wow. Do you want to follow their adventures? Follow them on their Account Facebook and Instagram @taiko_husky.
Happy holidays to you in Charentes-Maritime or elsewhere.