Can anyone tell me what the cost would be to export a dog to Austraila?And how do you organize it?

Costs will be much greater than previously :(
When the UK harmonised travel rules re rabies and passports we lost our rabies free status as far as Australia is concerned. Previously puppies could fly at 12 weeks and do one month quarantine now the dog must go through full pet passport, rabies vaccine at minimum 3 months, valid titre test followed by a six month wait prior to flying. the one  month quartentine is still required on arrival.

This obviously makes the whole process more expensive as you need to keep the puppy for about 10mths and the shipping costs will be greater due to size of puppy especially in medium/ large breeds.

Quarantine places need  to be booked in advance, you need an import licence, do not give lepto vaccine but should have parvovirus, hepatitis, distemper etc.  Blood testing for various infectious disease need to be done max 30 days prior to date of travel, and treatment for ticks and tapeworm within 30 days prior to travel. Rules are complex so best to use an experienced shipping agent as if documentation incorrect they will not allow dog into country. This also adds to costs.

Full info from Australia Department of Agriculture, fishery and food  Here http://www.daff.gov.au/aqis/cat-dogs/cat4?name=the%20United%20Kingdom

K

> This obviously makes the whole process more expensive as you need to keep the puppy for about 10mths and the shipping costs will be greater due to size of puppy especially in medium/ large breeds.
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Oh dear, so the situation re minimum age of imports for the Australians is now like it used to be for importing to UK, with the additional blood tests on top.

I last exported in 2010 and as you say pup went at 12 1/2 weeks (there were waiting periods after blood titres and vaccs), and then pup did a months Q. on arrival.  Back in 1999 I sent a pup at 14 1/2 weeks same regime.

On both occasions I had the buyer deal with Overhill Kennels and Exports who have always been excellent, with typed advice sheets to give the vets, to ensure all the t's crossed and i's dotted.

>valid titre test followed by a six month wait prior to flying.

I can't see anywhere on the link about a titre test followed by a wait I see "Every cat and dog must be vaccinated against rabies with an approved inactivated rabies virus vaccine within the 12 months prior to export and when the animal is at least three (3) months old." then a wait for the titre test (recommended a month) then "Cats and dogs must remain in the country of export for at least 60 days from the date of blood sampling for the RNATT, prior to arrival in Australia." It can spend the remaining time in quarantine in Australia.

So that would make it 6 months, plus a month in Australian Q., assuming the titre test comes back wihin that 60 days.

Just noticed it actually says: Age: Cats and dogs must be at least six (6) months old at the time of export.

There's the rabies vax at 3 months; the titre test 4 weeks later (pup is now 4 months); 60 day (8½ week/2 month) wait (pup is now 6½ months); pup can fly to Australia and spend the whole of the 180 days (30 + 90) quarantine in Australia. It doesn't seem to be a 6-month wait after the blood sampling before flying out, only a 2-month wait.

oops my error, didn't re read all the bumf before posting. Just did it from memory as discussed rule changes when I had an enquiry for a pup last year. Forgot pups can go at 6mths if subject to an extended quarantine of four months. We glossed over this, hence I forgot, as extended quarantine was not acceptable to either of us.

Will still make export more costly due to additional size of pup and if sent at 6mths there would be additional quarantine which would balance additional cargo charges for older pup with just 30 days quarantine.

Australia must now be one of the most difficult and complex places to export too :(

> Australia must now be one of the most difficult and complex places to export to :-(

Yes, that's a bit sad really :(
For so long they have relied on us for new bloodlines because of our rabies status... are there are any other countries they canstill import from without the extra hassle?

Would any of you, as UK breeders send a pup to Australia knowing that it had to have a one month quarantine period? Surely this makes it very hard for them to get new bloodlines, as I certainly wouldn't want a pup who missed out on a month's socialisation due to quarantine!

I have twice sent pups to Australia doing a months Quarantine and both came out as bold as brass going straight to being shown (they can show baby puppies from 3 - 6 months).

I had of course done plenty of socialisation with them prior to them going at 14 1/2 and 12 1/2 weeks respectively).  The older one is now 14 and after he show career and motherhood as a veteran she trained for Tracking and is a tracking champion (as well as show champion) and also qualified as a search and rescue dog at 13 (though too old to actively be one).

If the temperament is sound dogs cope with Quarantine.  I also owned a dog in Partnership who did 6 months in UK quarantine.  I visited him two to three times a week, he came out bomb proof, and attended his first show and showed well three days after coming out.  He had come in at only 9 weeks of age.

> Would any of you, as UK breeders send a pup to Australia knowing that it had to have a one month quarantine period? Surely this makes it very hard for them to get new bloodlines, as I certainly wouldn't want a pup who missed out on a month's socialisation due to quarantine!

Consider how it used to be for the UK...
Animals coming in from anywhere - even Australia - until the Balai Directive in the mid 1990's.
6 months quarantine for everything, even animals which cannot carry rabies such as rodents and rabbits... No exceptions.
It cost thousands to import but people still did so, not many admittedly... but they did.

Now Australia's in the same situation. I'm not sure what their regulations are regarding importing semen for AI, but that may be a possibility - and one the UK didn't have when the quarantine rules were in full force here. They may also be able to trade bloodlines with New Zealand as they have similar restrictions on animals coming in from overseas.

>Would any of you, as UK breeders send a pup to Australia knowing that it had to have a one month quarantine period?

One month in quarantine kennels is similar to going into certain boarding kennels (the ones which don't take dogs out for exercise in paddocks) here if the owner's going on an extended holiday ...

Actually much to my surprise the Quarantine Kennels in Australia (well the Sydney ones at least) the dogs are able to be taken into large paddocks by their owners.

In UK Quarantine I was locked in with the dog for my visit and he did not come out of his kennel and run for 6 months,except to see the vet in an exam room in the kennel block (and that only to get checked on arrival, and vaccinated).

As his kennel had a 20 foot run I was able to do training and even teach him to show.

Ah! I thought quarantine meant noone was able to come into contact with the dog, I have limited knowledge so I'm glad you've been able to dispel my misconceptions!

When I had a dog in quarantine I visited him 5 times a week. :)

> Ah! I thought quarantine meant noone was able to come into contact with the dog, I have limited knowledge so I'm glad you've been able to dispel my misconceptions!

It's never been like that Josh...
But in the old days when ALL imports had to go through the 6 months at enormous cost,  good and reputable quarantine kennels and catteries were hard to find. There were many that were less than good, and you'd not have boarded your dog/cat in them for a weekend never mind 6 months.

So, someone bringing in animals from overseas may have had to choose a place which cared for them well... but was a distance away... and of course the expense of it meant many people had only weekends to visit, if the kennels were near enough.... Rock and a hard place.

I looked into it in the early 1990's when I was thinking of importing a cat, and the only place I found that I would have trusted absolutely, was 200 miles from where I lived. There were nearer ones, but 6 months is a long time and I would have paid well over the odds to make it a better experience for the animal even if I couldn't get to visit very often.

I was really really happy with Overhill near Bristol.  kennels well over the required size (kennels 5 x 8 feet and runs 20 x 8 feet), and every time I was there it was spotless. 

Absolutely no pee smell, and his hocks and coat were pristine coming out.

I didn't drive at the time and was the nearest of his owners.  It meant a two bus journey and a 40 minute walk (the second bus only came every hour).

As I said i would be locked in for two hours, would bring a wind up radio, toys and would pet and train him.  I visited three times a week and his other owners when they could (several hours away).

My mentor also imported through Ryslip Kennels.

I was wondering why breeders abroad don't import an adult dog ,as it would be so much simpler.The dog would have had its genetic testing,be ready to fly after its vaccs and Titer tests have been done here,it could even be junior titled if time permitted ..obviously the dog would cost more,but it also would avoid disappointments if the pups testing didn't come up to par.
My puppy,s  swedish breeder has a swap system with a couple of American and Canadian breeders..Young  health tested dogs are sent to respective countries,titled,and even come back years later to add to the gene pool back in Europe,after they have made their mark abroad.Seems  a great system to me.

Would any of you, as UK breeders send a pup to Australia knowing that it had to have a one month quarantine period? Surely this makes it very hard for them to get new bloodlines, as I certainly wouldn't want a pup who missed out on a month's socialisation due to quarantine!

No.
I've turned down 3 requests this year. Just can't face it along with that long flight.

> I was wondering why breeders abroad don't import an adult dog

Sometimes they do, but how often is a good adult available, and affordable.  I would never dream of seelling any of my adults, but a puppy with promise yes.

Yep can vouch for the quarantine @ Eastern Creek in Sydney.

The staff are fabulous, and you are able to have direct contact with a specific staff member who looks after your dog.  Visiting is only twice a week, however two half hour appointments can be booked in advance too and there is the option to employ a dog walking / visiting service.

I only had the option to visit my two dogs once when we first immigrated to Australia.  We were in Queensland and only stayed in Sydney for a week on initial arrival.  Absolutely broke my heart to leave them, but the weeks went quickly!
However, I have a rather lovely friend (a police officer in Sydney) who went to visit on my behalf.