Traveling to Italy with a dog: Sardinia
How to organize your vacation in Sardinia with a dog? Is Sardinia a dog friendly country? Find out about this thanks to the testimony of Geoffrey and his dog Equinoxe!
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I am very happy to meet you today to introduce you to a new Wow Good destination to try with your dog. I invite you to discover the Sardinia with a dog through the journey of Equinoxe and his master Geoffroy. Going on vacation in Italy with your dog is Wow Good and these two prove it to us once again! I interviewed them on their return from vacation. It's a safe bet that they will make you want to plan your next vacation in Sardinia with your dog.
Equinox, Geoffrey's dog
Equinoxe is a 9-year-old Australian Shepherd mix, very calm and very sociable with humans, whose company my dog really enjoys. His story is a bit special because he was born before my eyes. I took a dog from the SPA and no one (not even the groomer) realized that she was pregnant when she left. One day I came home and found 3 puppies, a few minutes later Equinoxe was born before my eyes. Since then, he has followed me and accompanied me everywhere, a real bond with this dog!
Holidays in Sardinia with a dog
We had already been to Sardinia in 2014 almost at the same time to have Sardinian friends there, one of whose dogs looks like Equinoxe. The destination having pleased us, we decided to return by car. No need for too much preparation to prepare this vacation… The destination is not so exotic! Traveling to Italy with your dog remains easy. For your trip to Sardinia, you just need to have a Guide du Routard and some info on dog-friendly beaches (one in the costa smeralda area and all off season).
The costa smeralda in the off season is perfect for holidays with your dog. It's just the right temperature and you can still swim a lot. There are few people. It is therefore easier to move around. We stayed on the Costa Smeralda in North East Sardinia between the towns of Olbia and Palau. For us it was almost the same ritual every day: visit and walk in the morning and beach in the afternoon.
Our vacation galleys:
Beware of the supplement for animals in holiday rentals, which can however be negotiated out of season (otherwise it would have been €70 for me for the week!)
The ferry and again the ferry with a dog
The dog of the residence in freedom and… in heat: nice but my brave Equinoxe was crazy
The 3 good points of holidays with my dog:
The beaches authorized for dogs out of season (and even one in season and very well indicated) and the very beautiful white sand beaches overlooking an emerald sea,
Dog reception (shops, restaurants etc…),
The temperature at this time of year (end of October) when you can still swim and enjoy the beaches
Taking public transport in Sardinia with a dog
From Seine Maritime, where we live, Sardinia is not next door... To be more free on the spot, I left in the car with my dog by taking steps. We did a little carpooling too. Equinoxe is used to it, it is also sometimes quoted in the opinions of the famous site! Once we arrived in Italy, we took the ferry with my dog to make the crossing… Taking the boat with your dog to Sardinia is a very special experience.
On the ferry we took there was no kennel for the dog. I had not taken a cabin (where anyway, they are not allowed to stay alone). Under these conditions, crossing at 10 a.m. on the way out and 16 p.m. on the way back is not easy with a dog. There is only one place where dogs can defecate on one end of the boat. It is very long for the dog. Conclusion, I equipped myself with a mini bowl, a bottle of water and canine waste bags in case of incidents to be able to wash and remove…
On the way back, we had the right to a storm so it was forbidden to go out on deck… and there it was a real problem. If Equinoxe needs to defecate: how to do it!?! In short, in the end, the solutions offered to me for traveling with my dog are very unsuitable. Certainly the kennel inside the ferry is not the best but it is still the most practical in my opinion. Maybe some companies will one day put in a suitable kennel where you can go and see your dog during the trip… so master and dog could both have a more pleasant trip. Another example: for dinner, between holding the dog's leash on one side and the tray on the other: it requires a certain agility! I'll remember it… Traveling by ferry with your dog, it's an adventure. Our holidays in Sardinia started badly but then it was brilliant thankfully.
After the ferry crossing, many of us took our dogs out to the green spaces after a long drive.
On site, in Sardinia, we took the car to get around. It's still much more comfortable to be able to visit more sites and thus not be dependent on the local public transport network.
Geoffroy, you went to Sardinia with your dog. Can you introduce us to Equinoxe?
Equinoxe is a 9-year-old Australian Shepherd mix, very calm and very sociable with human beings, whose company my dog really enjoys. His story is a little special because he was born before my eyes. I had taken a female dog to the SPA and no one (not even the groomer) had realized that she was pregnant when she left. One day I came home and found 3 puppies, a few minutes later Equinoxe was born before my eyes. Since then, he follows me and accompanies me everywhere! a real bond with this dog
Why did you choose Sardinia for the holidays with your dog?
We had already been to Sardinia in 2014 almost at the same time to have Sardinian friends there, one of whose dogs looks like Equinoxe. The destination having pleased us, we decided to return by car. No need for too much preparation to prepare this vacation… The destination is not so exotic! Traveling to Italy with your dog remains easy. For your trip to Sardinia, you just need to have a Guide du Routard and some info on dog-friendly beaches (one in the costa smeralda area and all off season).
How did you travel: ferry, car on site, bus…
From Seine Maritime, where we live, Sardinia is not next door… To be more free on the spot, I left by car with stops. We did a little carpooling too. Equinoxe is used to it, it is also sometimes quoted in the opinions of the famous site! Once we arrived in Italy, we took the ferry with my dog to make the crossing… Taking the boat to Sardinia with your dog is a very special experience.
On the ferry we took there was no kennel for the dog. I had not taken a cabin (where anyway, they are not allowed to stay alone). Under these conditions, crossing at 10 a.m. on the way out and 16 p.m. on the way back is not easy with a dog. There is only one place where dogs can defecate on one end of the boat. It is very long for the dog. Conclusion, I equipped myself with a mini bowl, a bottle of water and canine waste bags in case of incidents to be able to wash and remove…
On the way back, we had the right to a storm so it was forbidden to go out on deck… and there it was a real problem. If Equinoxe needs to defecate: how to do it!?! in short, in the end, the solutions offered to me for traveling with my dog are very unsuitable. Certainly the kennel inside the ferry is not the best but it is still the most practical in my opinion. Maybe some companies will one day put in a suitable kennel where you can see your dog during the trip… so master and dog could both have a more pleasant trip. Another example: for dinner, between holding the dog's leash on one side and the tray on the other: it requires a certain agility! I'll remember it… Traveling by ferry with your dog, it's an adventure. Our holidays in Sardinia started badly but then it was brilliant thankfully.
After the ferry crossing, many of us took our dogs out to the green spaces after a long drive.
On site, in Sardinia, we took the car to get around. It's still much more comfortable to be able to visit more sites and thus not be dependent on the local public transport network.
Sardinia: a dog friendly country?
Traveling to Italy with your dog is very simple. You just need to have your dog's vaccination record with either the up-to-date rabies vaccine. I've never been asked whether it's at the entrance to the country or in the residence.
As in France, visiting historical places is almost impossible with a dog. On the other hand, as far as villages, ports and beaches are concerned: no problem. Sardinia with a dog is ideal for holidays that are a little less cultural but more relaxing and restful. The beaches are really superb and out of season, I had no comment. Sardinians consider it normal to have your dog out of season and are very happy to chat. Equinoxe has made a friend: a young 4-month-old doberman who exhausted him in 30 minutes, not easy to keep up with young people!
As for the restaurant, there are no problems in the off season. But we can have a slight doubt that they are accepted in high season on the big tourist spots... I was nevertheless very pleasantly surprised on a restaurant in Porto Rontondo where Equinoxe had barely settled in and was entitled to its small bowl of personal water. Moreover, small originality, he had the right to a polystyrene bowl. It avoids having to wash the bowls. And as soon as he had finished, without asking anything, the waiter brought him another one…if that's not canine service!
Easier to travel with a dog in France or Italy?
It depends on the corners of France. I find that in the south of France it's more complicated than in other areas... Without advertising Seine Maritime where we chose to live, especially for Equinoxe, I find that it's a very dogish area. -friendly. For example, there are many dog-friendly beaches. As these are pebble beaches, we do not bring sand everywhere. a real joy!
Sardinia in the off season is super simple and pleasant with your dog. Sardinians appreciate dogs and respect them. We don't feel unwelcome, quite the contrary. What happiness!
Geoffrey's story
The second day, we went to the beach in front of the residence, a young Italian couple were playing with their 4 month old doberman. She rushed to Equinoxe to play with him. From the top of his 9 years, after half an hour, he took refuge next to me because he couldn't take it anymore. The dog kept coming to get him but he was totally exhausted by such a burst of energy.
When I bathe, Equinoxe, true to his sheepdog habits, watches me from the coast without taking his eyes off me. If I swim to the left, he moves to the left to always be in front of me. When I go too far, he dives into the water and goes up to me and leaves, as if to signal to me that I have exceeded the limit! At least I'm safe with him and it shows this real bond between him and me.
To discover Sardinia with a dog, I recommend going by car. It allows you to constantly have with either your equipment for your dog. In addition, it allows you to be much more free. Do not hesitate to explore and ask for good advice from the locals who are very open. The dog also facilitates contact.
For us, the next vacation will be in the mountains in winter. Equinoxe loves snow, we lived in a ski resort so it brings back great memories.
Traveling with your dog is really the best, the dog also allows you to make contact with people and locals. Take it everywhere with you. Your holidays will be even more beautiful.
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I hope this adventure story has made you want to travel with your dog. Equinoxe and Geoffroy prove it to us once again: Italy with a dog seems to be a perfect destination for a Wow Good holiday!
PS: I forgot to tell you but Geoffroy and I are currently working together on a project that you will like! Geoffroy is the director of Gîtes de France in Seine Maritime and we are in the process of listing all the lodgings of this great holiday destination so that we can present them to you on EmmèneTonChien.com soon… Bonus: you will soon see the EmmèneTonChien.com logo appear on their site to discover lots of great lodgings… let's have other nice surprises in store… The rest in the next episode!
If, like them, you are going to the snow this winter with your dog, I advise you to read or reread our articles dedicated to sports to practice with your dog in winter and tips for a snow holiday with your dog grind