Karen

If you are planning to go to France to visit your Dad the most important thing to remember is that you need to start the passport stuff at least 7 months before you want to travel. Whilst you can take the dog(s) overseas as soon as the passport is issued, you can't return to the UK until 6 mths after the blood test has been taken (to prove that the rabies vaccination has worked). The blood test is taken 1 mth after the rabies vaccination. In terms of ferry crossings, I have found that Poole to Cherbourg (Brittany Ferries) is the shortest route, being only 2 hrs 15 mins on the fastcat. There's a good stopping point 10 mins from the port to give the dogs a run before they have to be left in the car for the crossing. It's expensive but more comfortable for the dogs. I give mine a mild sedative which makes them a little dopey for about 8 hrs which is enough time for me to get door to door. One other tip, give them a dose of Frontline 2 wks before travel, some of those foriegn ticks are mean little buggers!