From what age can a pup receive a rabies shot, microchip and tapeworm treatment?

The microchip can be done from 7 or 8 weeks and the rabies jab at 3 months. The tapeworm treatment can be done prior to entry to the UK.

Oh flip. The breeder i was in touch with wanted the pups to go at 2 months but they wouldn't be able to go until four months from that information...

Where are the pups coming from/going to?

Ireland and the UK have different rules to UK/Ireland and the rest of Europe.

Scandinavia to Ireland so I think the rabies rules apply. I know they don't from Ire-UK.

Okay ... from Denmark, Finland and Sweden (Norway doesn't seem to be on the list) the pup needs to be microchipped, rabies vaccinated at 3 months, then can enter the UK or Ireland 21 days later, having had the tapeworm treatment between 24 and 120 hours previously.

Defra pages.

DEFRA doesn't apply to us in Ireland though. The Irish regulations don't specify for pups, theyjust state that a dog entering from anywhere other than UK needs to have had the rabies shot 21 days prior to travel. Hmm...

import regulations for Ireland. Which country is the pup coming from?

Reading through the detail, it seems that the rules are the same for importing to Ireland as they are to the UK. Microchipping followed by rabies vaccination (at three months, according to most manufacturers) then a 21 day wait before entry.

Norway hopefully :)

Still works out the same because rabies cannot be given before 3 months of age. If given earlier, two injections will be needed, with the second one given at 3 months, so it still works out the same.

This is the problem you will always have with importing, except at least this year you can get a pup at 4 months as opposed to 10 or 11. If you find a breeder willing to keep a pup until 4 months you would usually expect to pay for the pup's upkeep per day for each day above the age they would normally go (so for another 2 months) plus you need to ensure the breeder is happy to start socialising and training the puppy -it must get out and about.

Because Norway is not in the EU.

I've found Norway listed as "another EU Member State and certain other European Countries and Territories" (along with Iceland, Switzerland, Croatia, TheVatican, Monaco, Liechtenstein, Andorra, San Marino) on the Irish link. So it seems the same rules apply.

Cannot find anything that says Norway are EU members. (I read both Swedish and Norwegian sites.) Despite several public votes (sorry can't remember what the English term is when the entire country is asked to vote on an issue), the latest in 2009, the majority has been voting no to membership. Norway does however have some kind of agreement with EU to follow similar rules for trading.

Norway aren't EU members (sensible Norwegians!) but I think it's that trade agreement which makes the same rules apply. :-)

Yes that makes sense.

Norway aren't members of the EU but Ireland (don't know about UK) treat a certain number of countries in essentially the same way, in this instance (pet travel) anyway.

Hmmmm... this does present a problem for me. I am not sure if any breeders will be willing to keep a pup for an extra two months :(

That's the earliest a pup can come into either Ireland or the UK from abroad I'm afraid. A good breeder would surely be willing to keep one for longer as long as you paid for its keep.

Yes hopefully. I wouldn't mind paying for it's upkeep. Just a bit concerned as the one I had been in talks with said they keep them until 2 months only as they live in the house with them and their other dogs.

Surely they can treat it the same way they would if they were keeping it themselves - in the house as normal? That's what usually happens.

Hopefully.... :)

It's just under 4 months, particularly if you have it done at 12 weeks - add on 21 days and they can come as long as they've had the tapeworm treatment.  My pup came in from Germany at just under 4 months, he stayed with the breeder as one of her dogs and was well socialised.  They have rigorous requirements and are inspected, with a little book to tick what they're doing... Merc traveled well (I picked him up) and fitted in straight away and was well trained (for a 4month old pup) so find a good breeder and you'll be fine.  To be  honest if they're quibbling over 2 - under 4 months, find another breeder!  Just under 4 months is the earliest you'll get a pup.

Thanks for the insight guys! this forum is a lifesaver.

would most breeders not send their pups to new homes at 8-10 weeks? We haven't had a show dog since I was younger so I don't know what was involved back then.

>would most breeders not send their pups to new homes at 8-10 weeks?

Most puppies are homed at around 8 weeks old, but obviously export is a special case.

not when they can't :-( I like to have mine at 7 weeks, but when it's impossible you just have to wait!  Breeders know if they want to sell to people in UK or Eire that they have to comply with the rules.. which means now an improvement from at least 10 months of age, to just under 4 months.  It is tough to keep them and then part - Merc's breeder was very upset, but she's happy he's with me.

I keep my pups till they are 12 weeks any way, they are fully vaccinated, house training well under way, they can stand stacked on a table, walk on a leash,depending on where they are going as to whether I start them sleeping alone or not and have been out and about in a carrier to see the world so I would have no problem keeping one a bit longer if it was going to the right home and keeping up the training.

That's right it includes countries like USA, Canada, New Zealand and Australia.

The new rules mean pups can come in all being well at 16 weeks instead of 10 months, making ti easier to arrange with a breeder to hold the pup that time, and also getting a puppy younger is easier to integrate with existing dogs, especially with males.

My Friend imported her boy last year at 10 months having had to pay his board for 8 months, and keep fingers crossed that her existing males and eh would get on.

Fortunately the pup was brought up with a mature dominant male half brother, in a home environment, and her existing males were a non masculine 8 year old, and a nearly 13 year old former stud dog.  Fortunately the adolescent was happy to accept his place. 

This would not have been possible a few years ago with younger males.

Now with 4 month olds there should be no issues.

> I am not sure if any breeders will be willing to keep a pup for an extra two months :-(

That's easy peasy, as no breeder can guarantee all pups are homed by 8 - 10 weeks anyway.

Until January those importing had to ask breeders to keep pups an extra EIGHT MONTHS, and that might not have been possible for may but to 16 weeks or so is no real bother, and company for the pup you keep (gives the adults a rest from puppy sitting).