Just as a theoretical question for future consideration, can anyone give me a vague ballpark figure on how much it might cost to import a puppy from the US, I would go over to get her on one of those flights where the puppy travels in the cabin with you.

no idea about the cost but you won't be able to bring in a young puppy unless you want to put it through quarentine. Will need to get the pet passport done which means pup would be about 10 months old.

No dogs can come into the UK travelling in the cabin unfortunately, they all have to travel cargo.  They can only go the other way (UK to US) travelling in the cabin with some airlines. 

The puppy would also be at least 10 months old, because of the Pet Passport scheme.  (Rabies jab at 12 weeks, testing, then waiting 6 months from successful result.)

So you'd need to negotiate with a breeder to keep the puppy on and socialise it etc - this will often add to the cost of importing a pup.

Ask Brainless!

Huh, my friends took one out of the UK in the cabin, didn't realise it was only one way it was allowed. Puppy in question does not and may never exist as yet so very theoretical - all useful info though! Thanks all.

Something to factor in...the US dogs are generally of a much poorer quality in our breed. There are some exceptions of course, but even dogs who never do much in the UK are generally made champions in the US when exported there.

And...the US are WAY behind us in health testing especially MRI scanning.

Perhaps they'd like Hetty! :-p

Why not check Sweden? I know I'm biased but generally speaking (across all breeds), it's a country with very good dogs, has always been health conscious etc. ALTHOUGH having just checked the Swedish Cavalier Club's website I am SHOCKED to find not a single word about SM. Not even a brief mention! How weird. They have such strict rules for hearts etc, but there is nothing on SM. In the list of dogs tested for this, that and everything, there also is no mention of MRI scans, all it mentions is hearts, eyes, elbows and patellae.

Tell me about it M.

Ive spent over a year trawling Europe for suitable health screened studs for my pet passported bitches.

Nothing is quite as it seems  :-(

IMO the best dogs are in Norway where some are health tested and then France where it appears hardly anyone scans.

If the dog is small you can still fly into Manchester on a couple of airlines.  Otherwise it's accompanied (ie dog travels in the hold) into mainland Europe - then you'd have to come via the ferry.  So fly into Paris - charge varies on size, but around £200 then drive to Calais and ferry across to Dover.

On the Pets travel scheme dogs can only fly into the UK as Cargo.

Is there a breeder here whose dogs you admire? I imagine if it's like my own breed a buying a good bitch is very hard but if you could get the type and breeding you like perhaps a minor fault which meant she could not be shown may be ok if she would breed true to type? That way you could show Hetty and keep yourself in the ring whilst knowing you may have something wonderful to bring out in a few years time under your own affix. It can seem so long to wait- I know I find it hard but this may be a decent option?

I agree. It is very difficult in most breeds to be sold a winning bitch puppy as obviously the breeder will want to keep her for herself, which is why she bred her in the first place.
When I started, many, many years ago I was able to buy a very well bred bitch who did not enjoy the show ring. However when mated to different dogs she produced champions each time. I think that you will just have to be patient, not easy I know.

Lots of them, but it's so hard as you say to get a breeder (understandably) to part with a good bitch. I am on a couple of lists now so all is not lost. And yes I'm still going to keep and enjoy Hetty, she can do rally and companion shows, perhaps the odd open show, and she may yet body up and stop prancing around like a miniature pinscher!

Brainless - no you can fly small dogs in the cabin to Manchester on two airlines.  Otherwise they can only fly in as cargo.  You can take them in the hold with you as baggage if you fly to mainland Europe - Paris or Amsterdam for example and then you ferry Calais to Dover.  But cabin to Manchester is still currently an option.  Check Defra website before you import as it can change.

This of course if from a non European country.  I believe from Europe dogs can come in the cabin from other places - I know at least one that came in from Denmark, but not sure which airline or airport.  If you check Defra lists it'll tell you what's allowed.

Last time I looked and it said they can only come into UK as Cargo.  The airline may allow them in cabin, but DEFRA won't, except from Ireland of course.

Maybe it has changed recently since I last looked.  Wouldn't be relevant for anything but toys at 10 plus months of age.

This page http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-pets/pets/travel/pets/procedures/support-info/routes.htm says:

"Pets travelling to the UK by air will travel as cargo, unless they are a registered assistance dog entering with an approved airline, on a route that permits them to travel in the cabin."

Brainless they've been able to come in for a long time - I checked Defra's listing just last week and it was still ok to come into Manchester using two airlines from the states.  Defra's listing is very clear about this.  You're right, it's only appropriate for small dogs - which I'm sure I said.
Newark, New Jersey Manchester Continental Airlines (accompanied animals only)
Las Vegas - Manchester (BMI) (accompanied animals only)
Sanford, Florida Manchester Thomson Airways (accompanied animals only), Thomas Cook Airlines (accompanied animals only
on all airlines)
MEXICO Cancun Manchester Thomson Airways (accompanied animals only) Thomas Cook Airlines

Somewhere on the Defra site it explains that if the dog travels in the cabin then you wait on the plane and they come to you do 'passport' control.  I know it says on your link that they can only come in as cargo - but that's not what it says elsewhere.  There are routes from Coatia, Mexico, USA etc mostly to Manchester (but I know someone from Europe who didn't fly into Manchester) where a small dog can travel in the cabin...

Then it is very misleading as bringing in an accompanied animal as checked baggage or in cabin is loads cheaper. 

Seems rather unfair that this can be done yet the bigger dogs can't come in as checked baggage rather than cargo, they travel in the same place but at huge price difference between checked baggage and cargo.