We travel a lot as a family and have a boat currently in portugal so I am looking into getting my new pup a passport.
I am a little worried about vaccinating while he's still small, the vet says it is fine but we all know their veiws on vaccinating can be a little biased.

Does anyone who's imported a puppy, or given their puppy the rabbies vaccination have any suggestions as to the best age to have him vaccinated.

We have ours vaccinated when they are over 12 weeks, last 2 were done at 4 months, dogs we have imported have been done at 12 weeks although last one was done at 9 and 12 weeks.

Tracy

We had our girl Rabies vaccinated at 4 months old.
I believe it depends of the vaccine used as what is the recommended mimimum age to give it to the puppy, obviously this is the mimimum age not an age it needs to be given.
We decided to wait and get the other vaccinations done first and then do the rabies on it's on so her body would not be loaded with all these different substances.

Rabies vax should always be given on its own & in the UK cannot be given to a puppy under 12 weeks of age. Rabies(for his PP)is the only vax my Rjj has done now

My vet will not vax under this age & I think it standard across the board in all countries

Thanks

My vet suggested giving it at 14 weeks, 2 weeks after his puppy jabs. Having thought it over, as there isn't a rush, I think I'll leave it a little while longer.

You should check the requirements for a Pet Passport on the DEFRA site.  I believe between the first shot and the first titer test the wait is 6 months.   So if you go to Portugal often I would think you want to get it done as soon as possible, although waiting a couple of weeks extra after the last puppy jabs is not a bad idea.

> I believe between the first shot and the first titer test the wait is 6 months

???????????????

Er no the Titre test can be done at anytime after the Vax however most people wait 28 days(but it can be done earlier) & the PP starts 6 calendar months after the date of the titre test result(that is if the dog goes abroad it can come back to the UK 6 calendar months after the positive titre test-the dog can go abroad before the 6 months are up)

Yes, well ... the English language is not my strong point, especially when rushed.   I'm linguistically challenged, I'm an American :-)

"When to blood test
Each UK rabies vaccine manufacturer advises in its datasheet for the vaccine the best time for a blood sample to be taken after the vaccination. Make sure that your vet gives you a signed record of the date the blood sample was taken with the microchip number clearly stated.

and

"If your pet's blood test is satisfactory, you should ask a vet (in Great Britain a Local Veterinary Inspector) to issue you with an EU pet passport. You will not be able to bring your pet into the UK under the Scheme until 6 calendar months have passed from the date that the blood sample was taken that gave a satisfactory result."  

All explained here: http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/quarantine/pets/procedures/support-info/blood.htm

ROFLMAO

If a dog is going abroad you don't need to wait the 6 months to go abroad, but to return it must be 6 calendar months from the positive titre test-not the date the bloods were taken it's usually a couple of days or so after the blood sample is taken

>it must be 6 calendar months from the positive titre test-not the date the bloods were taken

Not according to DEFRA:

"A dog or cat may not enter or re-enter the UK under PETS until 6 calendar months have passed from the date that the blood sample which gave a satisfactory test result was taken."

Its definately 6 calendar months after the blood test, one of my dogs had one rabies jab and the other had two rabies jabs. The difference in the results were staggering. I still don't quite understand the 6 month rule. If the puppy has an innoculated Mother then it has some natural immunity, if it then has a vacination, then a blood test to show its protected, why wait 6 months.  I know that the incubation period is thought of as 6 months, but at what stage does a pup become exposed. Sweden has strigent rabies laws, but they allow pups to enter Sweden as long as they are vaccinated and under a certain age.
Wendy 

like in sweden/Finland we are allowed to have a puppy enter our country without rabies, when under 3 months, but with a letter from the  vet ( in UK)stating that it comes from an area where they have no cases of rabies!  last year took two puppies back .. without any problems, as long as vaccinated and being chipped!!