Thinking of traveling to Austria with a dog? Is Austria dog-friendly? As the world-traveling Yorkie, I am wagging my stylish tail to bark out that Austria is, PAWS DOWN, one of the most dog-friendly countries I’ve ever set my furry paws in. Luckily, taking your dog to Austria is quite simple. Keep on sniffing!
Posted 1/24/22
Hallo, escapaders! If you’re interested in traveling to Austria with a dog, you can stop your little wet nose and furry paws here. ARF-my-Dog, Austria has such a special place in my little BIG Yorkie heart! After two extended stays in Vienna in the last several years (along with visits to Kahlenbergdorf and Salzburg), I think I’ve gotten more than a lick of Austria’s dog-friendly culture. With an uncontested reputation for cleanliness (heck, it’s only the 6th cleanest country in the world), this mountainous landlocked country with high quality of life boasts ubiquitous free poop bag stations, meticulously-maintained dog-friendly parks, and numerous dog-welcoming restaurants. Located in the southern part of Central Europe with a plethora of green spaces and clean air, Austria is indisputably one of the best places to live in the world. WOOF, not just for humans, but also for dogs.
A Yorkie’s Step-by-Step Guide to Traveling to Austria with a Dog:
Dog Import Requirements to Austria from the U.S. & Canada
STEP #1: Get your dog chipped with the ISO-compliant 15-digit microchip – The rabies vaccination must be administered AFTER your dog is microchipped, NOT before. The good news is that the vaccination can be given on the same day as the microchip. Any accredited veterinarian can microchip your dog, including low-cost vet clinics like Vetco.
STEP #2: Get your dog vaccinated against rabies (or have proof of vaccination after microchip implantation) – Vaccination must be administered at least 21 days before entry, and your dog must be at least 12 weeks old.
If your dog was previously vaccinated for rabies but not microchipped, then the rabies vaccination must be administered AGAIN after being microchipped. This was my case, unfortunately. GRRR. 🙁
STEP #3: Have an accredited veterinarian complete the E.U. Health Certificate (non-commercial) – Print out the health certificate and bring it to the veterinarian to fill out. Make sure it’s non-commercial transport, not commercial. Put your furry paws on the U.S. or Canada forms.
STEP #4: Have an accredited veterinarian examine your dog’s overall health – Don’t forget to get a routine check-up or examination for your dog at the veterinarian to make sure he or she is healthy enough to fly.
STEP #5: Get the completed E.U. Health Certificate endorsed – Once your veterinarian completes the E.U. Health Certificate, you have to get the paperwork endorsed by your local APHIS Veterinary Services Office (U.S.) for $38 or Canadian Food Inspection Agency (Canada) for $20. Upon endorsement by the USDA (U.S.) or CFIA Accredited (Canada) Veterinarian, your dog must arrive in Austria or the E.U. within 10 days from the date. Be sure to present your dog’s rabies certificate, copy of flight reservation, and the E.U. Health Certificate to the office. Do NOT skip this step!
Once stamped, the E.U. Health Certificate doesn’t expire until 4 months from the date OR until the rabies vaccination expires, whichever is first. WOOF-HOO!
OPTIONAL STEP: If you are planning to travel to Austria or within the E.U. with your dog more than once, then it’s a pawsome idea to swap the E.U. Health Certificate for an E.U. Pet Passport, which is required for travel between E.U. countries for animals. Upon arrival in Austria or anywhere in the E.U., take your dog to a veterinarian who has the authority to issue pet passports (call to make sure before scheduling an appointment. With an expiration date of 10 years (or as long as you keep up with the rabies vaccination, the Pet Passport is the KEY to dog travel in Europe. No more vet health certificates or APHIS endorsements!
Dog Import Requirements to Austria from the U.K.
With Brexit in effect, dogs entering the U.K. for the very first time must have an animal health certificate rather than a pet passport issued in Great Britain. If you have a pet passport issued in an E.U. country, then, of course, it is still valid for travel. This new requirement is effective January 2021. The process is similar to dogs coming from the U.S. and Canada.
STEP #1: Get your dog chipped with the ISO-compliant 15-digit microchip – The rabies vaccination must be administered AFTER your dog is microchipped, NOT before. The good news is that the vaccination can be given on the same day as the microchip. Any accredited veterinarian can microchip your dog, including low-cost vet clinics like Vetco.
STEP #2: Get your dog vaccinated against rabies (or have proof of vaccination after microchip implantation) – Vaccination must be administered at least 21 days before entry, and your dog must be at least 12 weeks old.
If your dog was previously vaccinated for rabies but not microchipped, then the rabies vaccination must be administered AGAIN after being microchipped. This was my case, unfortunately. GRRR. 🙁
STEP #3: Have an accredited veterinarian complete the Animal Health Certificate (non-commercial) – You must find an “official veterinarian” in the U.K. who can issue and sign the certificate. Upon endorsement, the paperwork is valid for 4 months (or until the rabies vaccination expires, whichever comes first). This certificate must be completed within 10 days of the departure date.
STEP #4: Have an accredited veterinarian examine your dog’s overall health – Don’t forget to get a routine check-up or examination for your dog at the veterinarian to make sure he or she is healthy enough to fly.
OPTIONAL STEP: If you are planning to travel to Austria or within the E.U. with your dog more than once, then it’s a pawsome idea to swap the E.U. Health Certificate for an E.U. Pet Passport, which is required for travel between E.U. countries for animals. Upon arrival in Austria or anywhere in the E.U., take your dog to a veterinarian who has the authority to issue pet passports (call to make sure before scheduling an appointment. With an expiration date of 10 years (or as long as you keep up with the rabies vaccination, the Pet Passport is the KEY to dog travel in Europe.
Dog Import Requirements from another E.U. country
For E.U. travelers, all you need is an E.U. Pet Passport, and you’re all set on taking your dog to Austria!
E.U. Pet Passport Requirements:
STEP #1: Get your dog chipped with the ISO-compliant 15-digit microchip – The rabies vaccination must be administered AFTER your dog is microchipped, NOT before. The good news is that the vaccination can be given on the same day as the microchip.
STEP #2: Get your dog vaccinated against rabies (or have proof of vaccination after microchip implantation) – Vaccination must be administered at least 21 days before entry, and your dog must be at least 12 weeks old.
If your dog was previously vaccinated for rabies but not microchipped, then the rabies vaccination must be administered AGAIN after being microchipped. This was my case, unfortunately. GRRR. 🙁
STEP #3: Have an accredited veterinarian examine your dog’s overall health – Again, don’t forget to get a routine check-up or examination for your dog at the veterinarian to make sure he or she is healthy enough to fly.
What’s the dog culture like in Austria?
Generally barking, Austrians are supaw dog-lovin’ people so taking your dog out and about surely won’t generate any nasty glares or confused faces among the locals. Whenever I’m not shown outright love by strangers, I’m met with complete indifference, which I’d take any day instead of getting discriminated against with the common response of “No Dogs Allowed.” Not to bark, Austria is a pioneer in animal rights protection with one of the strictest animal rights protection laws in the world. The Austrian Animal Welfare Act 2004 prohibits inflicting unjustified pain, suffering, injury, or fear on an animal (although hunting and fishing are exempt) along with neglecting proper accommodation, feeding, and care. My mouth drops to an open-mouth smiley face as I sniff out that it’s illegal to restrain dogs with chains, crop their ears and tails, use invisible fences, and sell puppies and kittens at pet shops. Violators will face some hefty fines. WOOF-HOO!
Now, with that barked, keep in mind that your dog must remain on-leash or muzzled in all public places in Vienna (except for designated off-leash areas). Technically, dogs (both big and small) must be muzzled at heavily-frequented places like on public transport, inside restaurants, or at public events, although you may rarely see it enforced. My humans and I had no idea until we read about it on the official Vienna city website AFTER we had already left the country! Do be careful as I wouldn’t want you to get fined.
And, ARF-course, you must clean up after your dog.
Where can you take your dog in Austria?
Once you land in paw-bulous Austria with your dog, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to find that most places are dog-friendly! WOOF, so where can you and your furry traveler venture out to? Keep on sniffing!
Food & Drink Places – From no-frills bratwurst stands to traditional Austrian restaurants to beer gardens, I’ve licked my paws clean at them all! Whether indoor or outdoor OR standing on the ground or resting my furry butt on a comfy human chair, I just love how I can march in on four paws with an upright tail as I belong. I’m proud to bark out that my experience dining out in Austria has only been paw-sitive! I’ve gotten a free bratwurst, chomped on pretzels and schnitzels, chilled at wineries, and set my furry paws in a world-famous cafe inside a five-star, ultra-luxurious hotel (sachertorte, anyone?).
Regardless of how paw-pular the joint is with tourists, I’ve sat at the table like a respected visitor. I’ve even hung out at outdoor cultural festivals (with plenty of food and beverage vendors), which is a nice breather considering the fact dogs aren’t allowed at local farmers’ markets back home in California. Such warm atmosphere makes traveling to Austria with a dog worthwhile!
And, often, I’m not the only dog diner around! Wanna dine inside? No paw-blem!
YES, you can take your dog to biergartens!
Markets & Grocery Stores – ARF, as dog-friendly and animal lovin’ as Austria is, dogs are technically not allowed inside markets and grocery stores (unlike Italy). However, if you have a small dog like me who can be carried in your arms (or better yet, transported inside a carrier), chances are no one will make a big deal if you must bring your dog in for a quick grocery run. However, I wouldn’t recommend doing it unless it’s an unexpected situation where you absolutely must and do not feel comfortable tethering your dog outside the store (my humans can never dare :/).
Pharmacies – Forgot sunscreen? Contact solution? Saline solution? Pain relievers? No need to leave your dog at home as your dog can accompany you on a pharmacy run.
Shops & Boutiques – YES, dogs are allowed in most (if not, all) shops and boutiques, including shopping malls. ARF-course, I’d suggest looking for signs that indicate otherwise. But rest assured that you’re likely to shop til you drop with your furry companion.
Hotels/Accommodations – Dog-friendly accommodations are easy to find, even the ones that don’t charge extra for your dog’s stay. If they do charge, it’s a small daily or weekly fee. Don’t lower that tail of yours when it comes to fees – attempt to negotiate!
Taxis and Rideshare – For the most part, Uber is only available in major cities like Vienna, Salzburg, and Innsbruck. Besides Uber, BlaBlaCar, the carpool app based in France, is more frequently used. Taxis, ARF-course, are found everywhere in the country. I’ve ridden on all three forms of private transportation in Austria and was only denied once by Uber at the time of pickup. The driver saw me in my human’s arms, yelled at “NO DOG,” and quickly sped away. GRRR. Luckily, my human was able to get the cancellation fee waived. It helps to inform the driver about your dog at the time of booking to save time and rejection during pickup.
Public Transportation – YES, dogs can travel for FREE on most lines on Austria’s national railway ÖBB, which carries 287 million passengers annually and covers over 4,800 km of track. I love how the trains are always on time – ARF-ter all, they have a remarkable punctuality rate of 95%! Dogs (and cats) can travel alongside their humans as long as they’re “small and harmless” and transported in carriers. BUT if your dog is not small enough to be transported as hand luggage, you must pay a fare for your dog traveler. Dog fares vary depending on the journey, so it’s best to get an estimate online before booking. Unfortunately, ÖBB only offers non-exchangeable and non-refundable tickets, which means you should finalize your travel plans before booking.
Your dog must also technically be muzzled and leashed unless he or she is an E.U.-defined service dog, which in such case, the fare gets waived. Although the rules state that dogs must sit on the floor, I’ve seen small dogs on the lap of their humans. Additionally, I’ve rarely seen any big dogs muzzled. Yet, the train staff and passengers would walk past being completely indifferent.
Air Travel – Flying with your dog is easy for small dogs within Austria AND to and from Austria through Austrian Airlines a.k.a. the country’s main airline. Their maximum weight limit is 8 kg/17 lbs, including your dog AND the carrier. The carrier should NOT exceed the size of 118 cm (55 X 40 X23 cm). The best part is that one passenger can travel with TWO dogs in an “approved carrying container.” A one-way domestic flight for one dog only costs EUR 50, and a one-way flight within Europe (including Morocco) only costs EUR 60. For flights to and from the U.S. & Canada, it’ll cost EUR 100 one-way for one dog, which is not bad considering that airlines in the U.S. typically charge USD 200 for dog travel to Europe.
Larger dogs unable to fly in-cabin will need to be transported via cargo. Please note that brachycephalic breeds (short-muzzled dogs like Pugs and Frenchies) are banned from cargo travel. Get your paws on more info on Austrian Airlines’ pet policy HERE.
Parks – I think it’s safe to bark that most public parks in Austria are, indeed, dog-friendly (unless you find signs that indicate “No Dog” zones). For instance, even though dogs aren’t allowed inside grand palaces, they are usually welcome to do a back kick or two at the aesthetically pleasing green parks where the magnificent, head-tiltin’ palaces stand. You’ll almost always find dogs picnicking or hanging out with their humans on a sunny afternoon. Sniff out these TOP DOG national parks with dog-friendly trails:
And, don’t forget to take your dog to a dog run! AWOOOO, I’ve never been to such clean dog runs until I set my paws in Vienna! As expected, dog runs are commonly found in the cities (although not so much in the rural areas). Sniff out some of my go-to dog-friendly parks and dog runs in Vienna.
Beaches – Many beaches have designated dog zones so it’s time to get those paws sandy!
Churches – Like the rest of Europe, dogs are not allowed inside places of worship, but they are welcome to sniff out the often stunning exterior grounds. My human loves snapping photos of the little ALPHA me standing in extreme confidence with an upright tail with the ARF-mazing backdrop!
Just a bark, be a respectful visitor, and never let your dog mark such historical buildings of worship!
WOOF, hope you enjoy traveling to Austria with your dog! Feel free to share your experience with me. BARK AT ME.
Don’t forget to sniff out my list of 10 BEST things to do with your dog in Vienna!
Need some inspiration in traveling to Austria with your dog? Watch me mark up Vienna NOW:
Markin’ it up,
Roger Wellington a.k.a. The Doob
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