We're moving to Australia in 2 years time (yay!) and had always decided that we'd wait until we were there until we got a puppy due to the extra costs involved in exporting the dog, however finances aren't such a concern anymore (again, yay!) and we're able to start looking for a puppy for Spring time onwards - we're out there for Christmas this year so don't want to look until we get back.

I do have some concerns though - we're wanting a Westie and I'm not sure how a dog of that size would manage on a 24 hours flight?  Would the dog have to go into quarantine once in Australia and if so would it be for 6 months?  Would it be traumatic on the dog to go from a relatively cool climate to one that can reach upwards of 42C during Summer?

I guess really I'm not sure it's fair to get the puppy before we go, we could easily go back to the original plan of waiting till we emigrate but now the main reason for waiting has been removed we're having to look again at the other reasons for potentially delaying our fluffy friend joining the family.

Thanks,

The information about imorting an animal into Australia is at http://www.daff.gov.au/aqis/cat-dogs

(The links still aren't working so you'll need to copy and paste into the browser bar.) Basically you need to apply at least 5 months in advance, and there is 30 days quarantine for dogs from the UK. An import permit doesn't automatically guarantee a place at a quarantine station - you have to arrange that yourself.

thank you :)  30 days certainly doesn't sound so bad, will take us that long to get the house set up anyway and it'd be safer for the dog not to be there - we've already arranged for the kids to stay with the inlaws when we first arrive due to the chaos.

Will look at the Aus govt site now.

thanks again

I know a family who moved to Australia almost 2 years ago with their Bernese Mountain Dog.  Apparently the dog really suffered in the heat for the first while and basically remained sprawled on the cool tiled floors for most of the day.  However, she enjoyed a good run on the beach early morning and late evening.  From what I can gather, she has acclimatised a bit better and can venture off the tiles during the day but tends to hang out in the shade mostly.  Sounds like a pretty nice life for a dog, all in all :)

The dogs will have to have a blood test for Brucellosis whixh we don't actually ahve in the UK, but Oz are extra carefull, hence why dogs from UK still ahve to do soem quarantine. 

Yep as others have said they do have to do the month quarantine.  A dog that I bred, well actually litter sister to my Carina will be emigrating to Oz with her family next month!  They are so worried as the nearest quarantine kennel is 100's of miles away frm where they live so they won't be able to visit her.

We're moving to NSW and will be about 2 hours north of Sydney so easy enough to get to the kennels.

Thanks everyone, we're going to sit down and think carefully about it all this weekend and then decide whether we are going to get a dog before we emigrate or once we're out there.  Sometimes, having a choice is definitely not a good thing!

In your position I would wait. And believe me I don't say that lightly. I waited 8 years (well 28 years total :-D) to get a dog because my work situation didn't allow me to have one. And my OH and I really wanted a dog. But, moving without a dog will be so much easier. You can travel around a bit when you get to Australia. No dog will make finding a home much easier if you have to go into temporary lodgings. You won't be worried about your dog being miserable in quarantine. While you're waiting you could foster dogs for breed rescue; that would let you satsify the desire to have a have a furry in the house without the concerns over moving such a distance with a dog. Two years will go really quickly. :)

This is why it's so hard to decide!  We've already got a house to go to, my OH's parents own a property that they currently rent out which will be ours when we emigrate and they're more than happy for us to have a dog there.

Will have to do some seriously thinking about this and hope we make the right decision.

thanks again for all the input.

It will be a lot cheaper to buy a dog once you get ther.  You can do research on breeders of the breed of yo8ur choice in the meantime and hopefully go on their waiting list.