Practical info: Tips for travelling with a dog | Basque Country with your dog | Basque Country Tourism
Euskadi with your dog

General advice

Practical info for website 'The Basque Country with a dog'

Travelling with a dog always requires a bit of extra planning, but it's worth the effort. We'll help you prepare your journey in the Basque Country with a dog. Our intention is that you and your dog enjoy it just as much as each other.

Before any journey, it is highly advisable to take your dog for a general check-up with your usual vet. As well as confirming that your dog is in tip-top health to enjoy the journey, you can check if its vaccines and de-worming treatment are up-to-date to comply with the current legislation, as well as any other protection or advice that could help guarantee the dog's wellbeing during the journey, when being transported, etc. Try to make an appointment giving yourself plenty of time, in case it proves necessary to vaccinate or treat any ailment to make sure everything is covered before your journey with your dog in the Basque Country.
Currently, the Basque Country is one of the three Autonomous Communities in which the rabies vaccine is not compulsory (alongside Galicia and Catalonia). However, if you travel from outside Spain, it is indeed compulsory. It is also compulsory if your are intending to move around other Autonomous Communities in Spain, so we recommend that, for your ease of mind and freedom, you vaccinate your dog against rabies at your usual vet's before travelling.
The Basque Country is considered a leishmaniasis-free zone. Leishmaniasis is a chronic disease transmitted to dogs by sandflies, so it is necessary to protect against this threat. In any case, consult your vet in case the situation changes or if you are going to travel through other more badly affected areas.
If you're coming from another country in the European Union, you'll need an up-to-date Pet Passport with the latest vaccines. In addition, in the case of the United Kingdom, Ireland, Malta, Finland and Norway, you must treat your dog against E. multilocularis between 24 and 120 hours before returning to your country.
The enjoy your journey to the maximum, we recommend preparing certain practical information which will let both of you enjoy your stay in the Basque Country with greater peace of mind:
  • Locate an emergency vet and a kennels or dog hotel at your destination, in which you can leave the dog a few hours if you are planning any activity on which the dog cannot accompany you or could be stressful for him/her (night concerts, museum visits, etc.).
  • It would also be a very good idea to ensure that you carry an identification tag on the collar with an up-to-date telephone number (which is switched on during your journey).
  • Confirm that the microchip is up-to-date, with the current contact telephone numbers and locate the telephone number of the registry of your city in case there is any problem involving loss or identification during your journey. The vet can help you with this.
  • As we said in the previous section, it is essential that you travel with the current veterinary card or pet passport, with all the compulsory vaccinations.
Civil liability insurance is a good idea, not just for journeys, but for day-to-day matters: it covers you against possible damage caused by your dog both to goods and objects as well as people: if, for example, your dog escapes and causes someone to fall, a traffic accident, etc. Sometimes it is offered with additional veterinarian coverage. In the Basque Country, for example, civil liability insurance is compulsory for all dogs on the census in the territory, independently of its breed. In other areas, for example, it is only compulsory for breeds of dog catalogued as potentially dangerous. (PDDs) It is also advisable that you are aware of the existence of travel insurance for pets, which also covers travel cancellations due to illness or death of your dog, repatriation in case of accident, etc.

When you travel with your dog, you leave your mark

  • When the animal crosses urban public ways and spaces, it must be held by a chain or lead with a maximum length of 2 metres.
  • Always keep your pet near, controlled and correctly groomed. Clean-up bags for your dog´s messes poops are your best ally.
  • If you are going to make a reservation, always give forewarning that you have company. This way you will receive better service and guarantee that there is space for you.
  • We recommend you travel with a waterproof coat for your dog. You may have rainy days.
  • Consult and comply with the access policy for customers with a dog for each establishment, and if you are not happy, choose another one.
  • On rural and mountain outings, we recommend you have your dog on a long leash to avoid surprises with farmhouse dogs and property guard dogs you may encounter.
  • Think about the comfort and safety of your dog. Do not force him/her to participate in activities that are stressful for him/her, so you can all enjoy yourselves without any unpleasant surprises.
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