How do folks cruise abroad with Dogs and bring them back to the UK?

[Parabordi]

I am contemplating a cruise to the continent this year. In previous years we have put the dog into kennels but he is cracking on a bit and therefore would like to take him with us.
My understanding is as long as we have the right paperwork, entering Europe with him is fairly straightforward, its the getting him back into the UK that bothers me.
I realise he needs to come in on an authorised route ie ferry or tunnel.
How have other folks done this on cruises? Any tips?

 

[AntarcticPilot]

I am contemplating a cruise to the continent this year. In previous years we have put the dog into kennels but he is cracking on a bit and therefore would like to take him with us.
My understanding is as long as we have the right paperwork, entering Europe with him is fairly straightforward, its the getting him back into the UK that bothers me.
I realise he needs to come in on an authorised route ie ferry or tunnel.
How have other folks done this on cruises? Any tips?

I'm interested in this, too, though not in a sailing context - I'm planning a longer stay in Hong Kong, and want to take my dogs with me.

The UK government has excellent web pages covering the requirements (Bringing your pet dog, cat or ferret to Great Britain) but the main requirements seem to be:
1) Pet Health certificate (formerly pet passport).
2) Rabies vaccination (note that this takes several weeks to become effective after vaccination, so it must be done a month or more before travelling)
3) Specific worm treatment given by an authorized vet within a short period of return to the UK.

And you are quite right; the pet must return via an authorized route (not an issue for me!)

 

[Motor_Sailor]

I think on most ferry routes they have to be in a vehicle on not accompanied by a foot passenger. (I think the exception is Hook - Harwich?).

I met a couple in Falmouth who at the end of their summer cruise in Brittany, would put the boat in a marina in France, one of them them flew home, collected the car, went back on the ferry with the car, brought the dog in the car back to the UK, put the dog in kennels, flew back to Brittany, and sailed the boat back to the UK.

The alternative is to come back via Ireland (or buy a new dog after each holiday). The dog can enter Ireland on a yacht and then there's the free travel area into the UK.

 

[Bandit]

I live in the Channel Islands, we like to take our dog to France with us , AFAIK you can take a dog to France OK on your boat but the dog has to come back by sea on Condor Ferries and only in a car.
Yet a dog can come back from France to CI on a private plane , what a Joke!
I would be verry happy to clear my dog out of Guernsey by email , pet passport, vaccine certs etc and on the return to Guernsey during business hours and to St Peter Port as an official port of entry and pre declare my dog by email to Guernsey and pay say £25 or £30 to have a customs officer come down and confirm it.