Has anyone any up-to-date info on the Balai directive?

We have recently served a very nice German bitch over here, and having just come back from judging the Southern Germany Working Test for FCR's, I would very much like a puppy back.    However, there is no way I would want the pup effectively quarantined with the breeder for the best part of a year.

Last time I talked to DEFRA on the phone, I was totally confused by a 'jobs-worth' who in turn was totally confused about everything.

Anybody got first-hand experience?

Jo and the Casblaidd Flatcoats

Hi Jo,

Is your query around whether the pup would effectively be in quarantine with the breeder, or the age at which the pup could come back?

They can live a normal life - our boy attended shows in France - but cannot come into the UK until approx. 10.5-11 months of age.

The rabies inoculation is given at (if memory serves) approx. 10 weeks and you then wait for around a month to do the blood test (less with our boy, as he had an earlier rabies inoculation in Hungary where he was born.

They can enter the UK 6 months from the date the blood was drawn, as long as blood test shows the right level of antibodies.

HTH?

M.

Edited to add: rabies inoculation must be at on pup of at least 3 months - the 10 weeks I remember was obviously his Hungarian jab.

As previously stated on the pet passport scheme they can lead a normal life.  Lastar was still being worked and went to shows in Spain before he came over here.  I didn't realise that the Balai Directive was still used now that the Pet Passport is here which of course doesn't restrict where they are allowed to go.

The balai directive was the forerunner to the pet passport and is now superceded by the PP.  Under the balai directive dogs had to remain with their breeder for the full 6 months post titre test as they do now under the PP.

The difference is, udner balai dogs could not leave the breeder's premises during the 6 months. Under PP they can.

That's what I was trying to say in a roundabout way and why I was surprised that the Balai Directive was still being used by some.

I think generally Balai isn't used as PP is so much better -but there are SOME cases when ONLY Balai will work. For instance, say you want to go abroad and import some HAMSTERS! :) They are not covered by PP but are by balai. :) However DEFRA has almost forgotten about balai's existence.

Marianne

Hi -

The pup would have to enter the UK under the Pet Passport scheme: http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/quarantine/pets/

It would first need to be microchipped and have a rabies jab in Germany, and I believe the earliest that can happen is 12 wks.  After this you used to have to wait about a month before you could do a blood test, but I believe this how now been reduced to 2 weeks.  So, at 14 wks a blood test would be taken in Germany and if the blood test is successful and shows that the rabies jab worked, then you will need to wait 6 months from the date of the successful blood test.  This would mean the pup could enter the UK at approx 9 and a half mnths.

Thank you everybody - I don't think it's going to work, unfortunately, as  I would normally need to do a lot of training myself in the months he would have to stay in Germany, and the bond would be difficult to cement at a year.

Real pity

Jo and the Casblaidd Flatcoats

I know it's not the ideal but have you thought of quarantine over here ??  If you were able to find one near you, have friends (and of course yourself) who would also be able to go throughout the week and train in the regime that you want it might work????

It's hard work but from my experience quite a few years ago now it worked for my dog, she was a joy for all the 11 years that I had her and walked out of quarantine as though she'd been on holiday.  Actually nothing ever phased her.

I know that it's not the ideal but if you think that it would help the lines over here it might be worth thinking about.  Of course dependant on the dogs character even them staying in Germany for nearly 11 months may be OK.  The dog that I part own lived outside all his 6 years and was a working dog, he's adjusted in my house with myself and my 3 dogs no problem and he's a real joy.  He even picked up our way of training extremely quickly and is a joy to own.

I did think about it, but so much of my training is early close association with my body language, and I 'm not sure that it would work later on - maybe I'm just being inflexible - don't think I could cope with the organisation of quarantine and still be fair to my other dogs.

Jo and the Casblaidd Flatcoats