u/Alternative_Store651

Took the doodle to Pompeii to help develop her appreciation for classical European culture.

Pros:

• A massive architectural site with no cars to explore
• Obstacles to jump around on
• Resident cats to peak curiosity
• Tourist who love dogs
• Italian staff who also love dogs

Cons:

• Hot with limited shelter shoes are a must
• Not all indoor sites are dog accessible
• Cats don't actually care for doggy diplomacy
• Dog did not care for ancient Roman history

Bottom line: great place to take your dog just come prepared with water and shoes for the heat.

Doodle in Venice

Pros:

• Venitian dogs
• More Italians who love dogs
• Density creates shade
• Dogs on water taxis
• Dogs on gondolas
• Americans who miss their dogs

Cons:

• Hot sidewalks
• Limited grass
• No groomers
• Pidgeons who the dog harbours a deep burning hatred for
• Gulls who are not afraid of the dog and has my dog questioning her life choices
• Staff at the Doges Palace who think Doge is pronouced Doje and would not let my dog in even though she wore her purple cape

Venice is great with a dog especially if you can stay at a property with grass.

Saint Paul de Vance (small medieval hill top village near Nice) may be doodle heaven.

• Relatively cool due to narrow roads
• Super dog friendly
• Lots of local and visiting dogs
• Quiet in early mornings and evenings
• Dog could develop a taste for fine art and French culture (mine did not but you never know)
• Pidgeons to keep your dog chasing it's dreams
• Cats to get your dog to abandon it's dreams

If you find yourself in Cote d'Azur with your doodle this place is a must visit.

So been in Europe for less than 3 weeks. The doodle is going to her third grooming appointment tomorrow. I brush her daily but having an "active" doodle with a 2 inch coat has been challenging. The dog comes back with half of provence attached her fur everyday. Today she went for a swim in the med and that led to a one hour brushing session. Am I doing something wrong here? Is having a dog with a 2 inch exploring the country side supposed to make me full time dog groomer?

Doodle is in France. Just did Nice for two nights and Eze for another two.

Positives

• New smells
• Pretty clean
• Good groomers
• Great scenery
• French dog people
• French dogs
• American tourists appreciate a doodle in a red beret, red scarf and striped shirt chewing on a plush croissant

Some negatives

• Some crowds
• French are not as enthusiastic as the Italians if they are not dog people
• The French do not appreciate a doodle in a red beret, red scarf and striped shirt chewing on a plush croissant.

Heading into the country side next I'm hoping she will find me some valuable truffles.

So people kept telling me not to bother with Milan, but I had to kill 2 days before going to Nice so we gave it a shot.

Milan is great, food is great, air is clean, transit is great and of course it's great for dogs.

It's not jammed with tourists like Paris or Rome very livable and walkable. Only complaint is that the pope herself could not get into the Duomo.

Commenters on my previous post wanted more photos so here are some. Getting the doodle to pose is challenging.

Rome conclusions:

• Doodle paradise, Italians love dogs
• Randoms kept asking to photograph the dog
• Crowds are manageable but challenging
• No indoor access but any outdoor sites are fine
• Used rover for a pet sitter when we wanted to go to the Vatican
• Dressing your dog in an Amazon pope costume does not get your dog into St Peter's Basillica
• Italians think a dog dressed as a pope is hilarious
• Likewise putting a toga on your dog with a laurel wreath does not get her into the collesium
• Finding a groomer likely takes at least weeks notice minimum unless your dog jumps in a pond and you phone 10 begging.
• Doodle coats are the only major downside because Rome is filthy.
• Your dog leaves Rome thinking her name is "Ciao Bella"
• Your dog thinks buffalo mozzorrela and carpachio is the new permanent dog food
• Larger doodles will likely have a more challenging time with more hilarity
• Many Roman dogs are reactive, I think because they have smaller breeds that our known to be less social like dachshunds, Pomeranians and small terriers.
• The Trevi Fountain is not a doggy splash pad, but you will be internet famous if your dogs swims in it as there are thousands of cameras pointed at it at all times. I did not try this out just speculating

Coming from the US, thought I would post about bringing my dog to Rome. Note my dog is very well socialized and trained so keep in that in mind.

• Flew ITA it was fantastic. Dog was allowed in premium cabin and they have more generous carrier allowances then other airlines.
• Paperwork was expensive requires USDA to courier original docs to your vet. Do this as early as you can.
• Italians love dogs. The dog thinks her new name is "Ciao Bella"
• Multiple black ubers refused to take my fare unusual since every other restaurant or store is very welcoming.
• Rome is filthy (also beautiful) but the dog brought half the city back with her in her coat everyday and her legs were black from the knee down. Bring shampoo.
• Highly social breeds thrive here.
• Rome's parks are less manicured than in the US. Again half the park came back with us.

Bottom line great experience and can recommend it.

For anybody wanting to bring their dog to Europe from the US we are a week into a trip to Italy and here are my findings:

• You need USDA endorsed documents to bring your dog. These can be expensive to aquire as it involves a vet exam and courier servicing back physical documents.
• Paid $250 for the dogs airline fare one way.
• Flew with ITA, the staff love dogs and were super helpful. ITA may be the most pet friendly airline, with large dogs allowed for domestic flights and more generous carrier dimensions then other airlines. Also you can bring your dog into premium cabins unlike some other carriers.
• Doodles are built for Rome (personality wise) this is doodle heaven. Tons of people, dogs are allowed almost everywhere. Dog is living her best doggy life.
• Doodles coats are not great for Rome the streets are filthy and the dogs legs are black from the knee down after a day in the streets. Bring shampoo.
• Doodle decided to jump into a random pond, Roman pet logistics finding a groomer was a lot harder than in the US. Groomer was excellent however.
• Rome's parks are more "natural" than in the US. Dog brought back half the park in her coat.
• Dogs allowed at outdoor archaeological sites! Just watch for heat on hot days.
• Only downside was Uber. Four black ubers refused me service for a dog out of two rides. Very strange seeing how most Roman venues love dogs. This is not Uber policy and is driver discretion.

Will post about other Euro cities over the next few weeks, so far so good