Europeans can take their dogs everywhere on holidays. Why can’t we?

September 7, 2026 — 11:31am

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Despite all the jaw-droppingly beautiful locations I hiked through Mont Blanc and the Dolomites in Italy last month, there is one sight I can’t seem to get out of my head. It was a man hiking with his companion. In my backpack, I carried litres of water, snacks and a first aid kit. In his, a dog.

This was no ordinary backpack, but a canine carrier with mesh windows on three sides. The occupant, a miniature schnauzer, looked quite pleased with his journey, hardly breaking into a sweat.

I’m a sucker for dogs, so this image made me smile, and I soon became accustomed to seeing people who were holidaying with their pooches. These furry family members were allowed on trains, in cafes and restaurants, and even got to sleep with their humans across the hall in my Venice hotel, then accompany them to the breakfast buffet.

There is nothing notable about seeing a small child being wheeled around in a shopping trolley while their parents buy the weekly groceries, but at a supermarket........

© Brisbane Times