Taking the Paris metro with a dog

In Paris, when we don't walk or have to cover greater distances, we prefer public transport. Vaika was therefore led to take the metro from her first weeks, and this, on a weekly basis.

What the regulations say

"The transport of domestic animals is authorized, on RATP public transport, under certain conditions. Concretely: it all depends on the size of your companions and the mode of transport you have chosen.

On our bus and tram networks, as well as on the metro network, small animals can be transported free of charge in a special basket or bag reserved for this purpose, except in special cases (guide dogs for the blind, for example).

Larger animals are only accepted within the "metro" or "rail network" provided they are muzzled and kept on a leash.

At the request of the RATP agent, the person accompanying a guide dog or assistance dog must be able to present, depending on the situation, a disability card, priority card, trainer card, “Foster family” card or the dog’s identification certificate.

Other dogs kept on a leash and muzzled only in the RER and the metro."

Traveling with a large dog on the subway

Taking public transport with a dog in Paris seems quite easy to us. We have never had any bad behaviour or unpleasant reactions with Vaika. Even when it is very busy.

A funny story happened to us once: a gentleman, probably a little drunk, entered the subway and shouted throughout the carriage: "oh, a greyhound". I think we made his day brighter then!

I think it's best to get them used to the noise and smells of the metro from a young age so that it doesn't become a source of stress.

Another tip is to avoid the front or rear carriages which are often more loaded. This is also applicable when you don't have a dog.

Note that we discovered the lack of accessibility of the metro when Vaika arrived. There are very few functional escalators or elevators on the RATP network. Vaika could not take the stairs until the end of her growth in order to avoid possible hip dysplasia, so we suffered quite a bit! When she weighed 10 kilos, it was still okay...but when she passed the 30 kilo mark, it became a different matter!

Bus bans large dogs

We regret that the entire bus network is prohibited to large dogs. This is a mode of transport that we used frequently before Vaika arrived. Some direct lines (notably one going to the Bois de Vincennes) would make our life much easier....

I recently read in the press that bus ridership had drastically decreased. Allowing dogs could bring in another audience. I'm thinking, for example, of elderly people with a big dog: it's complicated for them to take the metro with the lack of accessibility I've already mentioned.