Krisztina Schafler, Author at Doggie Dog

19 July 2026

The European Dog Travel Rule: Where Muzzles are Mandatory

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School holidays are round the corner lots of people planning a European road trip or train-hopping adventure with your favourite four-legged companion, you’re probably dreaming of cafe dates in Paris, hikes in the Austrian Alps, or strolls through historic Italian plazas.

Europe is incredibly dog-friendly, but there is one major culture shock waiting for many international pet parents: the muzzle laws.

In many parts of Europe, putting a muzzle on a dog isn’t a sign of aggression, it’s simply a legal requirement for riding a train, boarding a bus, or crossing a border. If you want to navigate Europe smoothly with your pup, here is everything you need to know about where muzzles are required and how to prepare.

The Big European Rule: Leashed & Muzzled

In a large portion of Continental Europe, if your dog is too large to travel inside a small, enclosed pet carrier, they must wear a muzzle and be kept on a short lead on public transit. (www.travelnuity.com/)

If you plan on using public transport, you will need to pack a muzzle if you are visiting:

Germany & Austria: On national trains (DB and ÖBB), larger dogs must be leashed, muzzled, and require a child-rate ticket. (www.evz.de)
Italy: You are legally required to carry a muzzle with you at all times when walking your dog in public. Your dog must wear it on trains, buses, and the famous Venice water taxis.
France & Spain: Larger dogs allowed on trains and metros (like the Madrid Metro) are strictly required to be muzzled.
Eastern Europe (Czechia, Hungary, Slovakia, Croatia): Muzzles are standard practice on almost all city trams, buses, and trains.

Note on Ferries: If you are taking a ferry (for example, from the UK to France or Spain), many operators require dogs to be muzzled when moving through public areas of the ship. (www.pettravelpass.uk)

The European Dog Travel Rule: Where Muzzles are Mandatory

Understanding the Culture: Why the Muzzle?

If you are from North America or the UK, you might associate muzzles strictly with reactive or dangerous dogs. In Europe, the philosophy is different: “Your freedom ends where mine begins.” (www.reddit.com)

Public transport is crowded. European laws mandate muzzles on public transit to ensure that everyone – including people who are terrified of dogs, children, and transport staff – feels 100% safe sharing tight spaces. It is viewed as a mark of a highly responsible dog owner, not a punishment.

How to Prepare: The “Happy Muzzle” Method

Please do not buy a muzzle at the train station and force it onto your dog’s face for the first time on a noisy platform! This will terrify them. Instead, start training at least 4 to 6 weeks before your trip.

1. Choose a “Basket” Muzzle (Crucial!)

Never use a tight, fabric sleeve-style muzzle for travel. These hold the dog’s mouth shut, preventing them from panting or drinking, which can cause overheating. Instead, buy a basket muzzle (made of plastic, silicone, or wire). This allows your dog to fully open their mouth, pant, drink water, and even take treats from you while wearing it.

2. Introduce it Slowly with High-Value Treats

Don’t strap it on right away.

Hold the muzzle, put a high-value treat (like peanut butter or squeeze-cheese) inside the bottom, and let your dog willingly put their nose in to get the treat.
Repeat this for several days until they excitedly shove their nose in when they see the muzzle.
Slowly transition to fastening the strap for just a few seconds, rewarding them continuously, and then taking it off.

3. Build Up Duration

Gradually increase the time they wear it around the house, then on walks, and finally in busier environments. By the time you step onto a European train, your dog should associate the muzzle with delicious treats and a relaxed vibe.

Final Checklist for European Pet Travel

Before you set off, make sure you have:

The EU Pet Passport or Animal Health Certificate (AHC).
A well-fitting basket muzzle.
A sturdy, non-extendable lead (maximum 1.5 meters for countries like Italy).
A canine seatbelt/harness (dogs must be secured in cars by law in Germany and France).

Traveling with your pup is a bonding experience like no other. With a little bit of positive training beforehand, a muzzle won’t slow down your European adventures by one bit!

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22 June 2026

Hot Weather and Dogs -What Every Owner Needs to Know This Summer

Krisztina Schafler Blog

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The sun is out, the paddling pools are up, and the UK is in full heatwave mode. And while most of us are quietly delighted about it, our dogs? They’re struggling more than they’re letting on.

Here’s everything you need to know to keep your dog safe, comfortable, and happy when the temperature climbs – without the jargon, without the lectures, and with a few things that might genuinely surprise you.

Your dog can’t sweat. Seriously.

Let’s start with the big one, because once you understand this, everything else makes sense.

When you get hot, you sweat. It’s not glamorous, but it works – moisture evaporates from your skin and cools you down. Your dog cannot do this. They have a tiny number of sweat glands, but only on their paw pads, and it’s nowhere near enough to cool their whole body.

Instead, dogs regulate their temperature by panting. Every time your dog pants, they’re evaporating moisture from their tongue and airways to try to cool themselves down. It works – up to a point. But on a genuinely hot day, panting simply can’t keep up. Their body temperature rises, and if nothing changes, it can rise to a dangerous level very quickly.

This is why hot weather isn’t just uncomfortable for dogs. It can be deadly. And it can happen faster than most people realise.

When should you walk your dog in a heatwave?

The short answer: early morning or early evening. That’s it.

Early morning: before 8am if you can manage it – is the golden window. The air is cooler, the ground hasn’t had chance to bake yet, and your dog can actually enjoy the walk rather than just surviving it.

Early evening: after 7pm, ideally later – is the second option. But there’s a catch: the ground holds heat long after the sun goes down. Pavements, tarmac, and sand that have been baking all day can stay dangerously hot well into the evening. More on that in a moment.

The hours to avoid: 10am to 6pm. If the sun is high and the temperature is at its peak, your dog does not need to go for a walk. A potter in the garden, a sniff around the back yard, a cool spot indoors – that’s plenty. A long walk in the midday heat isn’t exercise; it’s a health risk.

The pavement test – please do this before every walk

Here is one of the most important habits you can build this summer, and it takes about five seconds.

Before you take your dog out, place the back of your hand flat on the pavement and hold it there for seven seconds.

If it’s too hot for your hand, it’s too hot for your dog’s paws.

This matters because dog paws look tough, but the skin on the bottom of them is sensitive – and hot tarmac can cause real burns in as little as sixty seconds. Your dog won’t always tell you. They might keep walking on burning paws simply because they want to stay with you, or because the adrenaline of being outside masks the pain. By the time you notice them limping, the damage is already done.

Sand is just as bad, by the way – often worse. If you’re heading to the beach in Bournemouth or Poole, the sand in the middle of the day can reach temperatures that would genuinely shock you. The pavement test works on sand too.

If you can’t hold your hand, there for seven seconds – don’t take your dog out. Simple as that.

Water, water, and more water

Dogs need access to fresh, cool water at all times in hot weather – not just at mealtimes, not just when you remember, but constantly.

A few easy wins:

At home: put out more bowls than usual and refill them regularly. Water warms up fast in a heatwave and a dog won’t always drink warm water even if they’re thirsty.

On walks: bring a bottle and a collapsible bowl. There are great lightweight ones that clip onto a lead or bag. Don’t rely on finding a public water source, especially on the beach.

Ice: a few ice cubes in the water bowl is a simple way to keep it cooler for longer. Many dogs also enjoy licking ice cubes as a treat, which is a nice way to get extra fluids into them.

Paddling pools: a small paddling pool in the garden filled with a few inches of cool water is brilliant for dogs that like water. Even dogs that don’t swim will often stand in one to cool their paws, which makes a real difference.

Please, please don’t leave your dog in the car

You already know this. But every summer it happens, so it’s worth saying again.

On a 22°C day, the inside of a car can reach 47°C within an hour. On a 25°C day, it can get there in under thirty minutes. Cracking a window open makes almost no difference. Parking in the shade helps a little, but the car will still heat up to dangerous levels.

There is no errand short enough to make it worth it. If you’re going somewhere your dog can’t come with you, leave them at home.

If you ever see a dog in distress in a hot car, you can call 999. The police can authorise entry into the vehicle.

Signs of heatstroke – know what to look for

Heatstroke in dogs is an emergency. It can develop quickly and it can be fatal. The earlier you spot it, the better the outcome.

Signs to watch for:

Heavy, frantic panting that doesn’t slow down
Drooling much more than usual
Bright red or very pale gums
Wobbly legs or collapsing
Vomiting or diarrhoea
Glazed eyes or seeming confused or distant

If you see any of these, move your dog to a cool, shaded spot immediately. Pour cool (not ice cold) water over them – focus on their neck, armpits, and groin. Let them drink small amounts if they want to. Then call your vet straight away, even if they seem to be recovering. Heatstroke causes internal damage that isn’t always visible from the outside.

A few other quick wins for hot days

Wet a towel and let your dog lie on it. A damp towel on a cool floor is a simple, effective way to help them regulate their temperature.

Close the curtains during the hottest part of the day. Keeping rooms darker keeps them cooler – good for you and your dog.

Don’t shave double-coated dogs. It feels counterintuitive, but a dog’s double coat actually helps regulate their temperature in both directions. Shaving it off can make things worse, not better, and disrupts the coat’s natural function. A good brush-out to remove loose undercoat is a much better option.

Frozen treats work a treat. Freeze some plain yoghurt, banana, or peanut butter (make sure it doesn’t contain xylitol) in a Kong or ice cube tray. It keeps them occupied and cool at the same time.

Watch the flat-faced breeds especially closely. Pugs, French Bulldogs, Boxers, and similar breeds have shorter airways which make panting much less effective. They overheat faster and have less margin for error in hot weather. Keep them inside during peak heat wherever possible.

One question for you…

Would you head down to Bournemouth beach at midday in this heat? In flip flops, with no water, for a brisk hour-long walk?

No? Thought not.

So why do we do it to our dogs?

They can’t tell you they’re too hot. They can’t ask for a water break. They can’t kick off their shoes when the sand starts burning. They just keep going, because you’re going, and being with you is the only thing on their mind.

They trust you completely. That’s a lovely thing – and it’s also a responsibility.

So next time the sun is blazing and the lead comes out, just take thirty seconds to think: would I want to do this right now? If the answer is no, your dog probably feels the same way. They’re just too loyal to say so.