Dogs in France – Cafés, Shops, Metro, Museums, etc

Dogs in France – cafés, metro, museums, monuments…  First of all, let me say that this post is not going to address the legalities of getting your dog into France nor what type of breeds are acceptable to bring into France. That is something that each person needs to research individually so they are in compliance with the law.

This post is more about reducing the surprise level if you visit France and your home country does not allow dogs in restaurants or on public transportation except for guide dogs. If you google the topic, there are lots of blog posts on the subject but the links I have given are links to official sites.

Following the Letter or the Spirit of the Law

Also, it should be noted that what the law states and whether people abide by the letter of the law are two different issues.  For example, large dogs must be muzzled and on a lead if riding the Paris metro. (I’ve not had experience with other city metros.) Smaller dogs  that can be placed in a basket/crate/bag, as outlined below, do not have to be muzzled or on a lead.

So, when the young man on the metro platform opened a soft-sided tote bag and his large (60+ pounds) dog stepped in, I was curious. He zipped the bag up so that only the dog’s head was visible. Slipping the bag’s handles over his shoulder, he stepped on the metro when it arrived. He kept his hand on the side of the dog’s face gently stroking so there was no opportunity for the dog to reach out to another passenger. And life went on. No one was bothered and nothing was said.

Dogs in France – on the Paris Metro

Dogs are indeed permitted on the Paris Metro with, theoretically, the following restrictions that I have paraphrased from this link  which is in French:

• Small dogs must be in a cage or bag whose longest length, width or height does not exceed 17 ½ inches. No ticket is required in this case.
• Dogs not fitting in the above size “carry-on” must wear a muzzle and be on a lead. A reduced fair ticket is required.
• Guide dogs have no restrictions other than you may be required to show that the dog is a certified guide dog.

(**Disclaimer: dog owners are responsible for being knowledgable as to the contents of the linked document and not rely on my very brief summary.)

Regardless of where you go with your dog, it MUST be on a lead or in a carry case!

Interdit aux Chiens – Dogs in France

Dogs are generally NOT allowed in parks! In fact, there are very few parks in Paris where even you are allowed on the grass.  The sign will say Pelouse Interdite.  And, just because humans are allowed on the grass in some parks (such as Place des Vosges) it does not mean that dogs are welcome.

Humans on the grass in Place des Vosges, but not dogs in France

I was really surprised to see this Tai-Chi group in Parc Monceau as people on the grass is uncommon. I assume the sign on the gate permitted this.

It’s not difficult to determine if your dog is welcome. Signs on the gates will have a dog with a red line slashed through it if dogs are unwelcome.  Often included are the words Interdit aux Chiens (dogs forbidden). It may also say Interdit aux Chiens Meme au Laisse which means dogs forbidden even on a lead.

It’s not just dogs that are Interdit!

Dogs in France – Museums and Monuments

Museums and monuments allow only guide dogs.

Dogs in France – Are dogs allowed in restaurants and cafés?

According to Paris Info, “There are some places where your dog may or may not be welcome.”  So there may be cafés/brasseries/restaurants that welcome your dog on the terrace with a bowl of water but will not allow the dog inside. Others may have no issue with a well-behaved dog on the floor at your feet.

Mid-day in a little café in Chablis France

If you do not see a sign, ask the maitre’d  if you can bring the dog inside. As we spend more of our time in small villages than in Paris, we are accustomed to seeing more dogs in cafés than we have seen in Paris.

Dogs in France – shops, green grocers, boulangeries

Theoretically, dogs are not supposed to be in shops where food is sold, in fact it is against the law, but……  We were in the 11th arrondissement of Paris last year, in a tiny little green grocer. What we saw was a very spoiled silken haired terrier perched on a stool behind the cash register.  And several years back I had to step  over a golden lab in a shop entrance in Chalon-sur-Saône. The proprietor smiled and shrugged her shoulders as if to say “… he’s the one in charge, not me”.

Quite a bit of discussion  surrounded the photo below that I posted on Facebook.  My comment was that the dog would most likely follow the owner into the boulangerie. This dog did go in the boulangerie.  Even though the law says dogs are not allowed in the food stores, it does happen. Smaller towns are less likely, in my opinion, to have an issue with a dog. Ultimately, the proprietor is responsible for enforcing the law to avoid a fine.

This article in The Local is a good followup to this post.  Welcome to Paris -Where dogs are treated like royalty.