Can anyone give me some info on importing a puppy from Holland? The brief details I have, suggest that the youngest age its possible to do so, would be about 10 months under the passport scheme.The litter not even whelped as yet, but trying to get some idea in advance. Does anyone have any better knowledge they could share with me? Thanks.

Ask away Sam. Bear was imported from Holland :-)

Yes, 10 months is the youngest they can come in.

The puppy can not have its first rabies vaccination until it is 3 calendar months old. This is followed by a blood test 30 days later. If and when you get an acceptable titre level back (in other words a 'negative' result) you then have to count 6 calendar months from the date that the blood test was taken. I stress calendar months because this is stated in the small print and has been over looked by vets and breeders, who tend to count a puppy's life in weeks and assume that 4 weeks is a month*.

If the titre level is not adequate (positive result) then you have to start the whole process from scratch again. It is not uncommon for titre levels not to meet the guidelines, so I would recommend that you do what I did, and have a second rabies vaccination done when the first blood sample is taken, just to be on the safe side! If the original blood test comes back 'positive', then you only have to wait 15 days for the second blood test. The second blood test rarely comes but positive.

*If you plan your time scale very carefully, you can actually take advantage of months that have 4 weeks in them and not 5! Although, I think this is happens more by luck than judgement.

Further down the line, when you are ready to bring your dog in, pay particular attention to the paperwork. We nearly got caught out, because one of the forms was missing a signature. Our forms had been checked by two dutch *MAFF* vets, the breeder and myself, and not one of us saw the tiny 'blank' area. Customs saw it instantly! Luckily for me, the english MAFF ok'd Bear's entry on that day, but it was touch and go if they would let us in and very stressful!!

I am happy to help all I can.
(If you want to chat in person, I'll email you my phone number.)

The puppy also has to be chipped BEFORE the vaccine is given if that hasn't already been mentioned! :D

http://www.puppydogweb.com/articles/shipping.htm#Export%20and%20Importing%20Live%20Animals

Try this not sure ho much help but there are links etc..

Pam

Thanks for all this info. The idea of having to take on a 10 month old pup, reared by someone else, doesn't appeal, so think I will have to persuade the breeder to send his bitch here for the mating/whelping instead. I will keep you all posted!

Hi Sam,

Can you email me please, I've got a contact that might be able to help you with info but your email is hidden.

Thanks,

Fiona
x x x

Sam,

we were very lucky with our breeder, but it is unlikely that we'd take this route again.
If you do have the option to bring the bitch here, I would take it.

Leigh