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Post by mickey on Jul 15, 2012 7:20:41 GMT -5
Hi just wondered if anyone has any experience of travelling with 2 sensitive dogs on a car ferry. We are due to go to isle of man (4 hours) and am worried about stressing my dogs out with all the clanking and banging on the car deck. both my dogs are of the nervy nature with the unknown. I was planning to leave them in the car (An estate) rather than freak them on deck. I wont be able to stay with them in the car. I will walk them before we get on the ferry but am wondering if it will really stress them too much. Any ideas? One of my greys hasnt recovered since the thunder 3 weeks ago and still isnt himself and I dont want to make him worse. thanks
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denlee
Ironing Piling Up
Posts: 390
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Post by denlee on Jul 15, 2012 8:45:00 GMT -5
I think you will find that if you are going across on the "Fast Cat". the dogs will have to stay in the car. If you are booked on the older Ben McCree then they have a dog lounge and there is plenty of room on the deck to stretch yours and hounds legs. ( Don't forget to wish the fairy's good morning  ) We love the island. Denise |
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Post by Nettie on Jul 15, 2012 11:00:19 GMT -5
I haven't taken the hounds on the ferry, we drive to France but always use Eurotunnel which obviously isn't a possibility for you. Are they happy in the car? You may find that they will be happier in the car as somewhere they feel safe and have familiar smells around. If I were you, I would purchase some Rescue Remedy from a chemist and put a few drops in their water for a few days before you leave. It may also be an idea to get some Adaptil spray, which used to be known as Dap, it contains a dog appeasing pheromone, spray the area of the car the dogs are travelling in about 15 minutes before you put them in the car, this should help keep them calm. If you are able to get the dogs out of the car for 15 minutes before departure I'd spray the car again before you load on to the ferry. Good luck.
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Post by jackie on Jul 15, 2012 11:17:45 GMT -5
My daughter has just come back from the Isle of Man. One crossing was very rough, crockery falling from tables and perfume etc falling off the shop shelves but each crossing only took 2.5 hours from Liverpool. I think leaving them in the car may be less stressful than coping with the unfamiliarity of the deck and negotiating the steep steps and gangways from the car decks if they are similar to the cross channel ferries.  |
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Post by chauchix on Jul 20, 2012 6:32:32 GMT -5
We have just returned from UK having travelled by ferry from Roscoff to Plymouth. After many trips we now have a routine. We give them a very light breakfast and allow plenty of time for walking and last minute wees so they are quite tired when we board. We give the hounds as much room as poss in the car and use Rescue Remedy and a spray on their bedding. We also leave them water.
As this crossing is 6 hours we are allowed down to the car after 3 hours when we walk them, re-arrange bedding and put them back in the car.
We have only had one occasion when Bailey was sick but he had been very greedy and eaten Amber's leftovers before I could stop him and the there was quite a swell so the combination had proved too much for him!
Hope you have a good crossing and the weather is kind.
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Post by dylansdad on Jul 20, 2012 14:59:42 GMT -5
We took our 2 on several crossings last year on our great Outer Hebrides adventure. Neither hound had been on a ferry before but we made use of the dog lounge where possible and where nothing was available they settled at our feet on their blankies. Dylan, the most nervous of the pair had to be carried up one particularly narrow stairway (much to the onlookers delight). They were fine, if a bit vocal and the other passengers made sure they were made very welcome.
DylansDad
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