A story with "Bisou"
- Pamela Breit
- Jun 15
- 5 min read
Living in Paris is an absolute dream—there’s the food, the art, the romance… and the very limited space! For years, I longed to adopt a puppy, but my cozy (ahem, tiny!) Parisian apartment simply wasn’t big enough to welcome a wagging tail. After over 12 wonderful years in the City of Light, I finally moved to a larger flat, and with it came my chance to bring home the cuddly companion I’d been dreaming of for so long. That Christmas, my dear friend Eliot told me he wanted to buy me the much-desired puppy, which was the most wonderful surprise he could have given me!
I had a pretty specific checklist for my future furry friend: small enough for city life, minimal shedding, playful and energetic, but sweet-tempered and great with kids, too. After months of research, the answer practically trotted right up to my front door—an adorable and joyful fluffball named Canelle, whose owner introduced me to the Coton de Tulear. I’d never heard of that breed before, but after giving Canelle one more pat on the head, I dashed upstairs to Google away. It turned out that “Cotons” checked every box on my list!
Since I’d been waiting forever to adopt, I already knew I wanted a girl, and I knew she’d be called “Bisou” (French for “little kiss”). But finding Bisou turned out to be a bit of an adventure. Coton de Tulear puppies are in high demand, and the few breeders in the Parisian region had waitlists at least a year long. Talk about delayed gratification! Then, as if by fate, we learned that the Paris Animal Expo was happening in March 2023. Eliot and I went straight there, and that’s where we discovered a breeder from Brittany who had a brand-new litter—seven puppies, only one of which was female! My heart almost burst with excitement. Eliot signed a guarantee check on the spot; we shook hands, snapped a few pictures, and in that moment, I knew: I had found my Bisou.
Of course, I still had to wait another two and a half months before bringing her home so she could spend time with her mom and siblings. Those weeks felt like forever, but they gave me the chance to buy a fluffy little bed, gather toys, puppy-proof the apartment, and mentally prepare for the delightful chaos about to join my life. The breeder kindly sent photos and videos of Bisou’s progress—each one melting my heart (and making me wish I could teleport to Brittany). They also started calling her by name so she’d recognize it from the very start!
Finally, the big day arrived: May 16th, 2023. Eliot and I caught the train to Lorient to pick up Bisou. I’m pretty sure I didn’t blink the entire journey—I was so excited. When the breeder placed Bisou in my arms, she was wagging her tiny tail so fast that if I had one, it would’ve wagged right off in sympathy! (Click HERE to see) She was so thrilled she let out a happy little pee on my T-shirt, but I honestly couldn’t have cared less. Bisou was officially my dog-daughter, and we were together at last.
After the paperwork and a celebratory cuddle, we strapped on her new collar, grabbed her colorful leash, and took her for her first seaside stroll. That same day, Bisou took a ferry, a train, and even a city bus back to Paris—quite the traveler already! Somewhere along the route, she started gnawing on her brand-new carrier with those razor-sharp puppy teeth, and by the time we got home, let’s just say the “destructive phase” was well underway.
Our first night together was surprisingly calm. The next day, she repeatedly launched herself onto the sofa until she finally conquered it. I guess she felt at home right away! She quickly melted the hearts of my neighbors: a short, 30-minute walk along the Canal Saint-Martin could easily stretch into two hours, thanks to all the friendly folks stopping to pet her and the endless “kisses” she was giving in return. Soon, Bisou mastered the metro (with a little help) and then discovered the joys of riding in a bike basket to visit Eliot. He always had a squeaky tennis ball and a clanging metal flower pot at the ready, which she found endlessly fascinating.
Bit by bit, we explored our local parks—some were dog-friendly, others surprisingly off-limits; the same went for certain restaurants and boutiques. We made wonderful new friends among fellow dog owners and learned more tricks about dog life in Paris thanks to them. As a tour guide and proud dog-mom, I started sharing Bisou’s antics with my clients.
Before I knew it, travelers were asking if I’d bring her along on tours! By the time she turned three months old (we threw a little “month-day” party with our client-turned-friend Jim!), Bisou was practically a co-guide. She joined us in Montmartre, rode in her new cargo bike for our two-wheeled tours, and happily hopped into a special puppy backpack whenever her tiny legs got tired.
She’s become quite the socialite, too—posing with soldiers on Bastille Day, visiting our dear partner Traci from @vacationsbytraci on a @vikingcruise (where Bisou was the unofficial mascot), and learning to snooze politely under café tables. Children especially adore her; she’s like a little VIP that lights up the whole tour—just like our partner Ashley from @near_and_far_travel and her family discovered.
Bisou has changed my life so much that I’ve officially named her my “assistant,” and you can request her delightful presence on future StrollsParis tours. Traveling the world with her has also turned me into a bit of a dog-travel expert—especially when it comes to flights. While she often rides in-cabin with me, there have been stressful moments when the airline threatened to put her in cargo. Thankfully, new companies like @Barkair specialize in pet-friendly flights, so if you’ve got the travel bug (and the budget), you and your pup can jet-set with ease!
So if you’re planning to visit Paris and want to bring your furry companion along—or simply can’t resist meeting Bisou in person—StrollsParis is here for you! We’re thrilled to announce that many of our strolls are dog-friendly now!
How does it work?
Choose Your Stroll – On our website, look for the tours marked dog-friendly.
Book Your Dates & Times – Select the number of human participants, the date, and the starting time.
Add Your Pup (or Ours!) – Indicate if you’ll bring your own dog, or if you’d like Bisou to join the fun.
Complete Your Payment – Finalize your booking through our site.
Wait for Confirmation – We’ll get back to you to confirm our availability and finalize any last details before approving your request.
That’s it—easy, right? Whether you’re a lifelong dog parent or just looking to make a new furry friend, we can’t wait to show you the Paris we love… one wag at a time. Bisou and I look forward to strolling Paris with you soon!
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