Got back from France and the Netherlands staying at 3 different sites (site reviews submitted) over 2 weeks to make the most of the cost for tunnel crossing and vet fees for AHC and worming tablet.
Learnt a few lessons, in no particular order...
- Trying to give the dog the worm tablet could be an embarrassment without the aid of some nice thin ham - cooked bacon is too stiff to wrap the tablet and he could spit it out easily. Probably need to break it up into smaller pieces too. The vet had to get one of his nurses to help with holding the dog so that he could pop the tablet into his mouth in the end. Hopefully the dog has a short memory and will have forgotten about this next year!
- Midges in the Netherlands in May - they bit me good and proper. Need to invest on some sprays in future! I foolishly did not use any as I don't usually suffer from insect bites.
- Read all the information about a site's facilities and pitch type and what is included before booking; and the reviews!!! I am usually very good at performing due diligence when researching for sites in UK. However, for some reasons, I did not do a very good job with the three sites that I had chosen for this trip! I had to pay for extras such as hot water for showers and washing up at a Dutch site, and extra for upgrading the EHU supply from 6A to 10A at another Dutch site. Must do better next time!
- Antwerp ring road was a nightmare, and I shall avoid it next time!
- My toll tag did not work in the Netherlands - should have checked that beforehand, DOH!
- Belgian drivers were worse than the French, zipping in and out between lanes without indication and in tight spots! The Dutch were the best - very courteous and polite.
- Don't expect to find a good selection of Duty Frees at the Le Shuttle terminal. Apart from no cigarettes and tobacco which was same as last year, there were no beers and only a narrow range of spirits and wines on offer. Apparently they were upgrading to improve their shopping experience!
- 2 weeks is about the right length of stay for the time being as I am still working on a part time basis.
- Good job I carry a 25m EHU cable as I needed that for the French site at the start and end of the 2-week trip!
Planning for next year's trip has already begun, staying in France with one of the sites being as close to Basel, Switzerland as possible so that my ex-boss can pop over for a quick meet up, as I don't fancy paying for the vignette for just a short hop across the border!
I shall look into getting a cheaper AHC using one of the suggested vets that offer a remote service (still have to bring the dog to them to confirm his chip number which is standard practice).
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
"trying to give the dog the worm tablet could be an embarrassment without the aid of some nice thin ham - cooked bacon is too stiff to wrap the tablet and he could spit it out easily. Probably need to break it up into smaller pieces too." ....... we were behind a lady at a supermarket checkout who had several tins of hotdog sausages ..apparently they were to hide the dogs medication. Might be worth a try!
The vet we use on our way home from France always puts the tablet in soft cheese - gives them some 'neat' first, then some with the tablet once they think she's just feeding them cheese!
Quote: Originally posted by David Klyne on 26/5/2024
Do the Netherlands have tolls for a tag to work on?
David
My bad, it was the Liefkenshoektunnel in Belgium and not the Netherlands - just checked my bank statement, DOH!!!
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
Quote: Originally posted by seanfdh on 26/5/2024
I hope that you still had a good time over all.
Yes I had a good time, however, I would be lying if I say I did not look forward to coming home.
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
I have a whole year/4 treatments to try using different treats!
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
Quote: Originally posted by Ewen c on 27/5/2024
My dog is an expert at getting whatever the pill is wrapped in and then spitting out the pill.
Good to hear it is not just mine that does that then!
My first dog was very good in that respect, never any issues with going to the vets and taking tablets. His teeth were the only health related issues.
I miss that dog every day!
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
I hope I have not jinxed it, however, I had to give the dog his regular flea treatment tablet yesterday.
Initially, bacon alone did not work very well even after I broke up the tablet into two halves.
Then I covered each half tablet with squirty cheese (as in Primula cheese in a tube, he loved it as a training treat), then wrapped in bacon, and it worked!
I shall try that again next month with his flea treatment again!
Thanks for the advice to use cream cheese!
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
Quote: Originally posted by dk168 on 28/5/2024
I hope I have not jinxed it, however, I had to give the dog his regular flea treatment tablet yesterday.
Initially, bacon alone did not work very well even after I broke up the tablet into two halves.
Then I covered each half tablet with squirty cheese (as in Primula cheese in a tube, he loved it as a training treat), then wrapped in bacon, and it worked!
I shall try that again next month with his flea treatment again!
Thanks for the advice to use cream cheese!
DK
Think cheese has been the 'treat/disguise of choice' for many a dog owner trying to dose their mutt, seems to be the most successful! My dogs over the years have often rumbled all attempts to sneak tablets into them (and dogs really can SPIT unwanted items out!), but cheese has succeeded by and large. I've been fortunate in that they've all been good natured and not held a grudge at being 'poisoned', and given time, I can have 2nd and 3rd attempts, even the old pop it in back of their mouth, clamp their jaws closed and rub their throat method when all else failed, has not ended badly, but it's been a wrestling match!
Friends Rotty cross was a grumpy b*tch from a pup, and was a nightmare to dose with anything, you got one, maybe two attempts, before she would see your fingers as her 'reward' for attempts to 'con' her (still without getting a tablet in her!), but she fell for the cheese trick time and time again once it was discovered to work! - Fingers were still withdrawn rapidly and to a safe distance from the field of conflict, 'just' in case she spotted the hidden tablet!
I need to make sure I have squirty cheese in the fridge at home and in the van when I go to Europe next year and shall add them to the packing and shopping lists.
And Parma ham too, he loves them.
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
Quote: Originally posted by bofs on 28/5/2024
Squirty cheese is a dog owner's best friend!
Indeed!
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
I am glad to report cream cheese and ham worked wonders today with the dog's regular flea treatment tablet, which was broken into 3 smaller pieces.
Must bear that in mind for future European trips!
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Returned from 2 weeks in FR and NL
via mobile 26/5/2024 at 7:50pm
