Holidays in Normandy with a dog
What activities to do with your dog in Normandy? Which beaches are accessible to dogs in Normandy? Find out all this thanks to the testimony and advice of Pauline and her two dogs Honny and Dena!
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Good fresh milk, crème fraîche from Isigny, calvados, tripe à la mode from Caen, andouille from Vire, teurgoule... Is your stomach already bubbling? You will enjoy yourself in Normandy. watch out for the kilos when you return from vacation... Not knowing this beautiful region very well, I interviewed Honny, Dena and Pauline, originally from the region. Let's set off to discover Honfleur, Rouen, Caen but also the coast and its wonders like Etrat, Veauville or even Mont Saint Michel. In this article, they tell us about their adopted region, their favorite activities and the most beautiful things to discover in Normandy with your dog. Also discover lots of dog-friendly accommodation, beaches and activities to try with your dog! Pauline, it’s up to you.
Pauline always travels with her two dogs
My name is Pauline and with my friend Gaylor, we have two dogs: Honny and Dena. Honny, it's a Australian shepherd 7 years old, playful and excited like the first day! With his big blue merle coat, he attracts a lot of attention, even if he prefers to remain quiet and does not allow himself to be approached easily. A few years ago, he was very fearful and it was sometimes difficult to take him out into the street. Today, he conquered his fears! For example, I can take the train with my dog. I air travel with my dog. It no longer shakes during fireworks.
Dena is the dean. At almost 10 years old, she is in Olympic form! His favorite activity? Eat. Anything she finds, any time of the day or night. Fortunately, to compensate, she also loves to hunt, even if success is rarely there...
Honny and Dena get along very well and are both very friendly, we can take them everywhere. My dogs are also part of our vacation.
Normandy with a dog, you will love it!
Almost a year ago, we left the Paris region to settle near the the Channel, in Normandy, with only one idea in mind: to live by the sea. We are lucky to be in a village that combines sea, countryside and a small piece of forest, to the delight of my dogs! We do a lot of hiking with them, walks on the beach, but also Stand up paddle ! Cani-paddle what!
We travel regularly in our converted van with the dogs, in which they have their space and feel at home.
In Normandy, you can do a lot of activities. Indeed, it rains much less than we think! The weather is quite changeable by the sea and fortunately the rain never stays for long. The climate is mild, it is rarely cold and you can easily cool off in the summer with your dog. The best time to come and discover Normandy is, in my opinion, just after summer, at the beginning of autumn. The weather is still very nice and there are a lot fewer people. You can even swim until November; finally especially the doggies!
Normandy, a huge playground for dogs
Musher and Sophie "I had the chance to visit Rouen this winter… I didn't expect that. I worked in Rennes for a few years so when I started walking around Rouen, I felt like a familiar feeling. Half-timbered houses, churches, small alleys that have kept a je ne sais quoi of “the good old days”… I was charmed by Rouen. I also had the pleasure of discovering Honfleur when I was younger. Musher was not by my side yet, but I remember a very flowery town with a rich heritage and small shopping streets around a very pretty port. It's worth the detour !"
What's great is that a good part of the beaches on the coast are accessible to dogs on a leash outside the summer period. This is unfortunately not the case during the summer.
Musher and Sophie " For more information on French beaches accessible to dogs, I suggest you take a look at the interactive map from EmmeneTonChien.com. And to leave with peace of mind you can also consult: Taking your dog to the beach: some precautions to take. Know that the strong point of Normandy beaches is that they are generally pebble beaches. Thus, no sand everywhere in the business and pooch will not come in “rotten” with sand."
In summer, prefer the superb hikes to share with your dog! If you are looking for a place to hiking with your dog, Normandy is a destination of choice! Some paths are truly exceptional and to be discovered with your dog, such as the one starting from the Lude Valley, at carols and which offers a breathtaking view of the Mont Saint Michel. By walking for a few hours, it is even possible to reach it! This walk is done on the side of a cliff and allows you to admire the sea and see the Britain when the sky is clear.
Musher and Sophie " Speaking of Mont Saint Michel, know that it is accessible to dogs. An important clarification however: they are not accepted in the shuttle which leads from the car park to the foot of the Mont except dogs which fit in closed bags and guide or assistance dogs W’ouf course! To reach the Mount, it is a 40-minute walk. They are welcome in the village of Mont but prohibited from accessing the abbey and the parish church. Don't deprive yourself of it, go visit the Mont Saint Michel with your dog. There is also a kennel in the parking lot where the shuttles depart... I don't know what it's worth but it's a service offered.
The addresses of dog-friendly accommodation to try in Normandy with your dog:
These accommodations are QUALIDOG certified. This dog friendly label assures you that your dog will not only be “admitted” but will actually be welcome. If you are looking for accommodation where your dog will be welcomed like a king, you have come to the right place!
The stage in the forest : a large domain of unusual dog-friendly rentals in Normandy in Calvados,
The Kyriad Carentan hotel : A hotel in Carentan in La Manche where doggies are welcome. 2 doggies admitted without problem!
The Haras d'Havetot gite : A magnificent pet-friendly gîte in Calvados with land surrounded by meadows and horses
The smuggler's house : A large vacation rental for 11 people, with jacuzzi, which accepts up to 3 dogs at no extra charge,
The valley cottage : A chalet in the Orne with a large enclosed garden where doggies are welcome,
The hotel the Tavern of Peace : A family hotel that accepts several dogs with a very warm welcome at la ferté-macé.
Musher and Sophie "In terms of activities, the Wouafer's have also tested for you:
The cliffs of Etretat: a 7km hiking trail winds along the cliffs. it's a magical view!
Find even more activities, accommodation, restaurants and dog-friendly beaches in Normandy → by clicking on Normandy with a dog
Pauline's last tip for visiting Normandy with your dog
My last piece of advice would be vigilance; you have to be careful if your dog bathes. You have to watch him closely and don't hesitate to give him a safety jacket, do not approach the water when there is current. Remember to rinse it well after swimming to avoid irritation due to salt. During the summer, also pay attention to ticks which are very present in the Normandy countryside. Better to treat your dog before leaving and always have a tick-pulling forceps, or a small first aid kit on you. Once all this is taken into account, all you have to do is enjoy this beautiful region of Normandy with your dog!
Thank you to our 3 reporters for this beautiful visit to Normandy. If you want to have more information about this region, you can contact Pauline via her website. Pauline wanted to go to Latin America with her two dogs. She found very little information on the Internet to prepare for her trip so she created a blog to tell their adventures and share their experiences, hoping that their advice could be useful to other travelers. A wow good idea!
Happy holidays to all in Normandy!!