Hi everyone

We are planning to bring a puppy in from France during the next year and I have contacted DEFRA to find the up to date regulations on this. It appears that my pup will have to spend the first 9 months of it's life in France before it will be allowed over here ( 3 months before rabies blood test and 6 months after all clear results) - the pup's breeders are not keen on keeping her for this length of time and as they have a HUGE waiting list for their pups I cannot really push this point with them. I have heard of someone who will board her for me ( an ex - pat who now lives in Normandy and owns and shows my breed ) but I'm concerned how successful this would be - does anyone have any experience of importing dogs under the new DEFRA regs - and if so how did it affect the puppy ?

Mnay thanks

Yvonne

Hi Yvonne,

Our Hungarian puppy did his passport in France. The earliest they can come into the UK is normally around 10 months - after the rabies innoculation, you leave it a month before doing the blood test. Assuming the titre levels are OK, it is then 6 months from the date the blood was taken to test before the puppy can come in.

They can live a perfectly normal life out there, no restrictions on where they can go. Our boy was shown out there, and lived with the owner of the stud dog, so no impact on the dog as far as I can see as long as you are happy with whoever is looking after her?

M.

Hi Yvonne,

Jacky M and Debbie F both imported BSDs that way - so should be able to give you first hand accounts.   I know KH had quite a few dogs to care for in Normandy over varying periods when she first moved over there but unfortunately haven't been in touch for a while. 

I'd certainly go down that route if importing - if the pup is living as a family pet in a busy but caring household it should be a well socialised and well adjusted puppy when due for bringing into the UK.

Good luck, Teri :)

Actualy it will be at least 10 months as the blood test is taken a month after the Rabies shot,a dn then you have to wait 6 months from then (if the titre levels are sufficient).  Someone I know had to have the rabies jab and titre test repeated and the pup was a year old before she came in.

I also know of two people in Dobes that imported theri dogs by using a boarding facility such as you describe.

To be honest it is similar to quarantine, except the kennel owner can socialise the pup, but how much of that will happen is anyones guess.

So much will depend on who cares for the pup during the time and what they DO with it -I do know somebody with a BSD too that it DIDN'T work for -she can't even show the dog and it's about 2 years down the line now if not 3. When I imported 2 cats the seller also wasn't happy to keep them but I found another person who did it for me, for payment of course, and they were fine. Not quite the same of course. :)

Thanks for the replys folks , Teri I have PM'd you re KH.

I do know what you mean Marianne about the need to socialise etc which is why I was a bit worried about the effect it might have on the puppy - the person i have in mind is very used to our breed though and hopefully would do a good job.

How's your house move going by the way ? - don't envy you moving all your menagerie LOL - but it'll be SOO worth it :D

Yvonne

It's driving us nuts Yvonne! On the one hand everything does seem to be going through okay, but on the other hand the seller's solicitor takes forever to get back to our solictor whenever there are queries, effectively delaying everything over and over again. We were orginally meant to move in 2 weeks, now today the solicitor says he has no idea yet of a date. And I have puppies due in 5 weeks. Great........ Still, the good thing is we haven't sold THIS house yet, only my mother-in-law's, and in fact have 2 years to sell it (temporary loan) so if needs be I'll have to stay behind with the pups for a few weeks -no way am I stressing Rip out by moving her close to when she's due.

Hi Yvonne,

I imported a Miniature Australian Shepherd from Florida last year. I was lucky as Rizzos breeder was happy to look after her for us until she had completed the pet passport scheme and was able to come to the UK at around 10 and a half months old. Rizzos breeder was wonderful and treated Rizzo as one of her own. Rizzo lived in the house as part of the family and they had acres of land for her to play in! They did some basic training with her and i have caught up in obedience classes since having her late December. I paid the breeder to look after Rizzo and i paid for all the vets fees and transport etc so it was expensive but 100% worth it!

We have had practically no problems at all with Rizzo. She has fitted in with the other dogs unbelievably well - they love her to bits! She has settled very quickly and it seems as if we have had her from the start! She is extreamely affectionate, sweet and willing to learn. She is very well behaved and we completely & utterly adore her! I am not saying that it works out like this with every dog - i just want you to know that importing a dog can work out well :-)

The only small problem we have with her that she might not of had if we had got her as an 8 week old pup is that she can be slightly nervous of some men. This is because although she was very well looked after in Florida she did not go for walks as such and meet lots of other people and dogs (as a dog would in a town - this is because they lived in the country and had fields of their own) It is not a big problem and she is getting better with the training that i have been doing with her. The only other downside (apart form the cost!) is that it was very tough on Rizzos breeder having to let her go after becoming very attached to her.

I wouldn't have imported her if i thought she would of been kept in a kennel as all my dogs are family pets living in the house. I was in touch with the breeder daily throughout the 10 months and i got photos and videos everyweek.

As far as the pet passport goes - we had no problems at all and the paperwork went through very smoothly. However everything must be exactly correct (ie. dates, names) and make sure the vet you use really knows about the pet passort. If you want any advice then please do PM / email me and ill be happy to help as much as i can.

Jessica