In this edition of our “Share Your Story” series, we’re excited to feature Sarah from Texas, who recently flew from the U.S. to Paris with her 6-year-old Miniature Schnauzer, Rocky. From tackling the USDA paperwork to landing smoothly at Charles de Gaulle, here’s how their transatlantic journey unfolded — plus a few lessons learned along the way.
About the trip
- From: Dallas, Texas, USA
- To: Paris, France
- Pet: Dog, Miniature Schnauzer
- Age of the pet: 6 years
- Guide: How to fly with dog
I’d always had Paris on my bucket list, and when the chance finally came, there was no way I was leaving my sidekick Rocky behind. He’s a 6-year-old Miniature Schnauzer — about 11 pounds (5 kg) of beard, sass, and attitude. At first, the idea of flying from the U.S. to Europe with a dog felt a bit daunting, but with the right prep, it turned out to be completely doable. First step was getting his paperwork in order for the EU — that meant a trip to a USDA-accredited vet for his microchip verification, rabies vaccine (over 21 days old), and the official EU Animal Health Certificate. The certificate had to be endorsed by the USDA office — yes, that meant FedEx-ing it overnight. Nerve-wracking, but it came back in time.
We flew Air France – pet-friendly European airline – out of DFW. They let small dogs travel in-cabin if the carrier fits under the seat, so I splurged on a Sherpa Deluxe bag — Rocky could stand up, turn around, and nap comfortably. At check-in, the agent weighed him in the bag (just under 8 kg — phew!) and checked the paperwork.
The flight itself? ocky was a total champ. Before heading to the airport, I took him for an extra-long walk and made sure he had a potty break at DFW’s pet relief area right before boarding. I skipped his breakfast so he’d be less restless, and only gave him small sips of water. I also tucked a pee pad into his Sherpa bag just in case, but he didn’t need it. About halfway over the Atlantic, he curled up and slept through most of the flight — pretty sure the hum of the engines worked better than any white noise machine.
Landing in Paris CDG was surprisingly smooth. Passport control didn’t even bat an eye once they saw his paperwork. My one big tip? Know where the pet relief areas are ahead of time — CDG has one in Terminal 2E, but it’s outdoors, so be ready for a quick trek after you land.
We spent the next two weeks wandering Parisian streets, hanging out at dog-friendly cafés, and even took a day trip to Versailles. Rocky got more attention than I did — apparently a Mini Schnauzer in a bow tie is irresistible in France.
If you’re thinking of doing it — go for it. Just start the paperwork early, invest in a good carrier, and research your arrival airport. Oh, and yes… pack extra poop bags for Paris strolling 🙂
🐾 — All about pet travel to and from USA — ✈️
Big thanks to Rachel for letting us share her adventure! And if you got a travel story of your own, you can send it in right here.