Hi,

I am importing a dog to UK next spring time.
I have read the DEFRA pages, done research and have support of somebody who has done it few years ago so I think I should be ok...
However, I have now had two people (person in UK and a vet in Finland) telling me I do not have to wait for 6 months after the blood test!
I have checked the DEFRA pages again and there they definately still say 6 months needed!
As it is not just one person I am now thinking where have they got this information and are they both wrong?
Maybe I am just hopeful they would be right:rolleyes:

Also has anybody ever driven to Northern Europe to get a dog/to show etc.
Any info on best routes to take would be appreciated as I will start looking into that soon...
(I'll be going to Finland)

Noora

Hi

I took my dog on hliday toEurope and I could leave the Uk before the six months but not bring the dog back into the UK till the six months up you can bring back earlier but they will have to go into quarenteen for the remaining time. Someone may know a way of getting round this but that is what happened with my inquiries and experience, hope this helps

As far as I know the dog can't enter Britain until 6 months after the date of the blood test which showed adequate response to the vaccine.

The Pet Travel Scheme passport isn't vaild until 6 calendar months after the positive rabies test-this may be changing but no decision has been made yet

The Pet Travel Scheme passport isn't vaild until 6 calendar months after the positive rabies test for return to the UK I think only.  They can leave the UK on the pet passport before the 6 months has passed.

Which means it isn't valid for 6 months after the rabies titire test is positive as the OP is importing a dog not exporting one

That isnt what you said :-D You said,

The Pet Travel Scheme passport isn't vaild until 6 calendar months after the positive rabies test-this may be changing but no decision has been made yet

Yes the original poster is talking about incoming and I do appriciate you were replying to the posters question, the question didn't mention the pet passpost  SO,  for the benefit of all readers so they are not confused as these questions come up over and over again, I was merely pointing out that what you said only applies on dogs " returning" to the UK or imports ON pet passports.   It doesn't apply to Exports from the UK as the pet passport is valid and used right away for exportation to many countries.  IE the microchip, vaccinations and the health certificate stamp is all in the Pet passport, you require no other documentation. This makes the Pet passport Valid before the 6 months for certain things.

Wasn't splitting hairs it is just that it is asked so much and I think the replies can cause confusing. I think JeanJenie replied the same as you BUT she clearly put it for importing to the UK.

>It doesn't apply to Exports from the UK as the pet passport is valid and used right away for exportation to many countries.  IE the microchip, vaccinations and the health certificate stamp is all in the Pet passport, you require no other documentation. This makes the Pet passport Valid before the 6 months for certain things

Actually you don't need the chip or vaccinations to export How do I know because a friend who does not vaccinate or chip(puppies are tattooed)sent a puppy to France(owners collected)without it being done & he had a blank Pet Travel Scheme passport

Actually you don't need the chip or vaccinations to export How do I know because a friend who does not vaccinate or chip(puppies are tattooed)sent a puppy to France(owners collected)without it being done & he had a blank Pet Travel Scheme passport

Some countries/states they must be microshipped and vaccinated.

With most they don't have to be done if under 12 weeks old, but if over 12 weeks old and have been Rabies jabbed, most can't go until a month after the jab.  This is with exporting.  I have sent a pup to Holland, Spain, and friends have sent theirs to France and other European Union and non EU countries.

Ah Brainless let me show you a little loop hole that I think you have missed :-D :-D  Not just a  pretty face you know.

Puppy generally have to be 12 weeks to fly. They never use terminology of months for some reason.

Most counties animal rules are IF they are over 3 months they must have Rabies shots.  So most people think oh shoot you are snookered you must wait..

BUT so often over looked is there is a difference between 3 months and 12 weeks. So I always send them ( only 2 times I might add)  at 12 weeks and 2 days..

3 months is on average 91 days

12 weeks is 84 days

So you have approx 6-7 days to send them.

Done it twice and have pointed it out twice that it is a silly rule.   I get my vet to write on the health certificate the DOB that the puppy is over 12 weeks old BUT under 3 months. 

To be honest I don't know any airlines that now take them before 12 weeks.  I have used or got quotes and full detials from Air Canada, BA, NWA, Air Transit.  Perhaps if you are driving you are OK..

I have imported a pup at 9 1/2 weeks (2002) and this year sent one out at 11 weeks (using a well known export company) so it didn't have to have Rabies shot.

Also one flew to USA at 9 weeks and another at 8 weeks to Spain two years ago.  Never a problem about them flying at that age.

hmm interesting maybe the european flights are not as bad but long haul to the USA , Canada etc all require the dog to be 12 weeks.

BA now won't ( or last time I spoke to them) won't fly a puppy between 10-12 weeks due to some advise they have been given about puppies at their most weary stage during this period and they believe flying during this time MAY affect them. !!!

Well the one that went to USA flew in the cabin with her owners at 9 weeks.  I sent an 11 1/2 week pup long haul this year using an export company, and the pup had to ahve it's full details, date of birth be chipped etc.

Well if ever there is evidence of different rules for different airlines this thread will prove it :-)  I am convinced they change the rules monthly.. I know some of the americans are Ok over 10 weeks  but most are 12 weeks.

Very suprised a 9 week old puppy allowed to go on.

Her brother flew to Spain on Iberaian (also in the cabin) a week earlier, this was Sept 2005.  The 11 week old bitch pup flew long haul in March this year.

11 weeks I can see as really no problem but never heard one on the last 12 months that will take any less than 10 weeks most 12 so mayeb it had been tightened up in the last year or so. So many airlines won't take them at all now also..

especially if the owner is travelling with the dog (whether it has to go in the hold or not) the journey often will be shorter than many car journeys pups make to their new homes.

the pup I bred that went to Australia went at 14 1/2 weeks because of vaccination and testing for Brucellosis requirement and the wait time after the test.

I think young pups actually travel better as they naturally tend to sleep.  though I suspect an 8 week old of my breed is pretty much the size of one of yours full grown, adn body mass can have an effct where overheating or loosing heat an dehydration are concerned.

I know the pups that flew in the cabin only just managed to scrape in the maximum size to go in the passenger Cabin.

Brainless how did you get a 9.5 week puppy in

A friend got a pup recently from abroad recently - the mother came into the country on a Pet Passport already pregnant and gave birth here :) :)

Daisy

Came in on American Airlines from California in January 2002 into Overhill Quarantine kennels.

Moonmaiden. How can you say " actually you dont need the vaccines to export" based on one freinds dog going to France.

This is why I pointed it out earlier if someone reads that statement they may think it accurate.

If you get a move on it is only Sept you may manage to get it all done.  it is 6 months to Spring :-)

You do not have to wait for the 6 months passng for him to leave the UK but it has to be past the 6 months for him to return. Perhaps that is  where the confusion maybe is ?:?

Thanks for your replies.
I did think we will have to wait the 6 months but then others started confusing me!!
Thats true, maybe the person in UK was referring in exporting out of the country...

What about age for jabs?
In Finland normally the first jabs are given at 12 weeks (Rabies at 14 weeks, if I remember right), does anyone know does it make any difference when the rabies jab is given?
I mean regarding to hopefully get a positive result and start our 6 month count down...

You cannot vaccinate puppies for the Pet Travel Scheme passport before 12 weeks(, the other vax can be given at 8 & 10) the rabies titre test can be done 28 days(& not a calendar month)later the 6 months start from the date of the positive test, this makes puppies 16 weeks plus the time it takes for the test to be done) plus 6 months old before they can come into the UK-just under 10 months of age You must not have any other vax done with the rabies shot

Thanks for quick reply :)

Yes you do at present have to wait for 6 months from the date the blood was taken that gave a positive Rabies titre test.

There was talk of changing this length of time, possibly from 2008, but nothing has been announced yet, and I rather think the Dog Papers would have picked up on it by now.

I have just done this - my bitch came over in June of this year. She was 10 months old by the time she had her clear rabies result and waited the required 6 months in Europe. It's a long time to wait but definitely worth it

Yvonne

i am sending a pupppy to Denmark in 4 weeks. he doesnt have to have rabies if he  flies direct heathrow to Denmark and is under 12 weeks....but.....our original plan was to drive him to germany and meet new owners there and do change over at 10 weeks (because we will be on route to pick up another hound from central europe in the same week. )However I discovered that French regs changed back in June and you can no longer take an unvaccinated puppy into france!!!.

Yep you have to keep checking those regualations, and check with the relevant country to double check.  does that mean they ahve to have the Rabies too, as I am sending a pup to Holland hopefully next year?  Worst case they would have to take it back direct via Harwich.