I'm looking to possibly import a puppy from the US in the near future and I'm researching costs using different methods / routes.
I'm waiting for quotes from a couple of agents for bringing in as Cargo (which I don't like the idea of at all anyway!)  but when I've looked at going to the states and bringing the puppy in through europe myself instead it works out so much cheaper than I had anticipated...so my question is...am I missing something?
So far:
Return flights: Amsterdam to Chicago (direct) = around £500 depending on exact dates but avoiding weekend.
Cost of puppy at excess baggage with United Airlines = about £150 (180 Euros)
Ferry crossing Harwich to Hook of Holland = about £80 rtn (+ £13 for a dog)
Maybe an overnight hotel stay = about £80 and maybe abit extra for leaving car at the hotel.
There will be fuel costs to add but no more than if we had to drive to the airport to pick up puppy off a flight.
Don't know how much the pet passport stuff is yet...waiting on my friend to answer that one.
I calculate that as under £900.  Is that right?  (and I don't mean my maths...which I know isn't great!) Am I missing something?
Oh there's the crate as well but I can get one from the Airline at the airport for about £50-£60
Considering I am expecting it to be around £2000 at least for Cargo with all the taxes and fees etc, I'm quite surprised at this.  Does it sound about right?

Your quite right it is cheaper bringing them yourself many times.  American Airlines charge a flat $150 (or did Dec 2010).

I went over to mete my bitch,and returned via Brussels, ferry and home with fuel £200, plus the £100 excess baggage and my own fare.

My friend then imported her pup in May 2011 as Cargo which cost over £1000, but at that time of year the air fare plus the excess baggage and Ferry and road costs worked out more.

So certainly off season or depending on route it may work out cheaper going yourself.

Even though dogs over 10lb go in the hold , when it's excess baggage the dog stays with you until the Cargo people want them, in my experience about half hour before boarding starts, though you do have to check in about 4 hours before flight.  I spent the time walking the dog around the airport.  AT JFK they even had an enclosed grass dog comfort stop.

What size dog are we talking about the £1000 total Cargo and associated charges at Airport last year were for a dog in a Large Varikennel, (36 x 26 x 26inch).

Its a 4 month old large breed puppy so probably about 10-12 lb.

Oh no maybe more..I was thinking kgs!!

One of my litter flew to Michigan - he was around 12 kilo's at 12 weeks,it cost around £1500 with lady haye travel

Flying out is much cheaper than flying in, as it is around £500 in fees this end, not to the airline.

To the OP then your Cargo charges should not be more than what my friend paid, as that was a 18kg youngster though it's the volumetric weight you pay for, the size of the crate.

You have to have the dates and exact fares for both methods to now which works out best, as Air fares and Ferry fares vary according to season,a nd of course the cost of Fuel will depend on distances to Ferry and Airports.

Remember dogs can only come in on designated routes and carriers.

That is usually Manchester, heathrow, and occasionally Gatwick for flying.  Not sure about Ferry routes other than, Dover - Calais, Channel Tunnel, and Dover - Dunkirk, certainly one carrier at least for Hook.

Edinburgh is having an Animal Reception area built to be opened in April.  I have also read that Doncaster is a recognised entry place too.

woud be amazed if you can get ferry form Harwich to Hoelk van Holland for £80 return. I do that route regularly and even without cabins or stena first class lounge would expect a minimum of £77 each way with £15 for dog on return leg and thats booking wellin advance. The closer you book to you travel dates the higher the rate . That said flying into Europe and driving back is certainly the most cost effective plan than looking at cargo import.

K

Yeah you're right kbl!  I was only looking at the outward journey.  Didn't realised they priced each way separately!  Still looking much cheaper overall though.
Thanks all.

Don't go for the cheapest airline to save costs.  Try and use KLM or Continental who have the best record of shipping dogs safely.  American Airlines, United, Delta and some others have terrible reputations.  Also if it is a large breed puppy make absolutely sure it can be shipped as baggage.  They do have a maximum size for crates on baggage so what may be fine for a GSD pup would not be for a taller breed like a deerhound or IW pup of the same age / weight.

Right..good advice..Thanks
But are Continental and United both the same company?  I'm sure flight number and prices were identical and when I went to their website, you could choose to go to Continental or United from the same home page.  Expedia shows KLM and the other 2 having flights on the same route at the same times but they are actually all the same flight number.  So if you booked through KLM directly but it was via a United aircraft, who's responsible?  United I guess?  They don't make it easy do they!?

Oh and it's kind of GSD sized...not a giant breed.

> But are Continental and United both the same company

"Partner" airlines.  But each one runs independant programmes so the actual service standard is completely different.  Like KLM is partner with Air France, Delta, and United amongst others but we would not set foot on Delta or United even as passengers, and I certainly would not put a dog on an Air France flight.  You do have to check when booking that you are getting the airline you want as with partner online systems it brings up a selection of flight options for the day you want to travel but it may well be with several airline options.  Also go for a direct flight as most of the disasters in shipping dogs happen on change or stop overs.  The responsibility is with the airline YOU choose regardless of which site you book it through.

Useful.  Thanks again!  I was certainly looking at direct flights.

Edinburgh is having an Animal Reception area built to be opened in April.  I have also read that Doncaster is a recognised entry place too.

they may be, but that's only for 'cargo' you can't actually bring a dog into UK as baggage unfortunately :-(

> xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Edinburgh is having an Animal Reception area built to be opened in April.  I have also read that Doncaster is a recognised entry place too. <br /><br />they may be, but that's only for 'cargo' you can't actually bring a dog into UK as baggage unfortunately <img alt=":-(" src="/images/default/sml_neg.png" class="sml" />

Yes, but probably a fraction of the cost that Heathrow takes for 'handling' animals and there's the travel costs saved by people in Scotland who'd have to travel to Heathrow/Gatwick/Manchester at the moment to collect.

> Yes, but probably a fraction of the cost that Heathrow takes for 'handling' animals

Yep over £500 charges at Heathrow.

Have to say I have travelled accompanying my dog with American Airlines and been happy, but then it was a direct flight and I was in control of the dog and crate up to loading time.

I have twice dealt with Delta importing/exporting, but both times on direct flights, twice from JFK and once LA, with no issues.  The person handing over the dog (me and the breeders) have ensured that the cable ties for extra fastening on crate doors were used on the crate doors too.

I also had them double check the dog was on board before being seated on the plane, and the captain was aware they had a dog onboard for the hold heating..

Well it's looking hopeful that our plans to import might actually come off and as I'm starting to look into this more seriously, it's raising questions about the process. I am reading various websites with checklists and guidance about importing re pet passports etc but I am convinced I'm going to miss something vital.  I wonder if those with experience of doing this could help me out or just put my mind at rest that I am not missing anything.

So from the US, if my breeder went to their local vet and said they are exporting to Europe do you think they will know what paperwork vaccines etc are required?  It's essentially just the Microchip, rabies jab and tapeworm isn't it?  Do they need or do the same vaccinations as we do here?

What is the youngest that a vet will give a rabies vaccine? I think KLM won't carry puppies under 15 weeks anyway.   Are blood test required as well?  I thought they weren't needed for the UK now, but I've just found on a website that says when importing into the Netherlands they DO need a blood test.
What's the rough cost of issuing the pet passport and all the associated jabs and tests?

I believe you can buy a suitable crate at the airport but am I better doing that at Walmart or somewhere before going to the airport?

If I am flying with the puppy from US to Amsterdam then driving straight  to Hook of Holland and boarding a ferry to Harwich, will the paperwork I need to bring puppy into the UK be the same as what is required to bring puppy into Amsterdam at the airport?

I also read on the website that you need to register a dog at the town hall or something in the netherlands...I'm guessing that's just for dogs going to be living there, we'll be just passing through.

At what point do I register the puppy as an import with the KC?  Once the puppy is here?  How long does that take?

I'm looking at direct flights with KLM as they have been recommended, even though it means I have to travel further from the breeders to the airport because their local airport only have direct flights with Delta which are a) less well recommended b) more expensive and c) longer flights even though it is a shorter distance!! (can't work that one out!)

Is there anything else that I need to know or bear in mind?

Thanks in advance (and yes..I am a born worrier! lol)

I went to the USA to mate my bitch Dec 2010, and at the same time was helping with the procedures for my friend to Import a puppy by the same sire who was then 5 months old.

USA is a country where the entry rules are the same as for EU, except instead of a PET Passport a Certificate is used, which can be changed to a Pet passport when you get here.

The most important thing is to make sure th pups is implanted with an ISO microchip, otherwise you will also need to buy a scanner that reads that chip and the Americans use different chips that aren't necessarily able to be read her. 

The breeder had to find a vet that would used or would buy 1 ISO chip.

The Rabies vaccine licensing is normally not before 3 months of age.  So ISO chip, Rabies vaccs at 3 months and pup can travel 3 weeks later.  In USA the puppy vaccination course rarely is finished before about 16 - 20 weeks, they separate various items more.  I am not sure if any vaccinations are actually required for travel other than Rabies, but I would prefer they were done.

Remember that people fly with their pets regularly in the USA and Europe I found loads of dogs at the Airport at JFK, and Brussels, they only wanted to check the PETS documentation, no vaccination cert was checked even though I had copies of all my girls vaccination records, ditto for the ferry, chip to be scanned document checked re timing to anti parasitic treatment (worried me a lot due to difference in time zones with just the 24 - 48 hour window, unlikely to be so difficult as you have up to 24 - 120 hours now).

I would not rely on the US vet having a clue though some will, but you may find that the Vet isn't an authorised person (my friends breeder had to take the pup to the person who was at JFK who counter stamped what the vet did re tick and tapeworm treatment and timings (though it's only tapeworm now).

There is no blood test requirement into any EU country since 1st January for dogs from other EU countries and USA, Australia and a few other countries.

I would get the breeder to get the crate  to use as pups bed, and take them to airport in it, you don't want to be running around trying to boy one, whilst at the airport with a pup in your arms or leave a pup in a car in the car park. The breeder bought the crate on-line, cheaper than they re here, and my friend obviously paid her for it.

Oh remeber the US write dates differently so make sure they make it clear on documents by writing month in words or making sure the right boxes are used for day month and year.

Thank you Barbara.  Really helpful :)

"USA is a country where the entry rules are the same as for EU, except instead of a PET Passport a Certificate is used, which can be changed to a Pet passport when you get here."

So - Will the Vet/Health certification I get from the US Vet get me in to the UK or will it need to be converted into a Pet Passort in Holland before entry in to the UK?  Is there a vet at Schipol who can do that or will I need to find a local vet?
Thanks

The third country certificate or whatever they call it is fine, it's not just a standard health cert though.  It's the one headed EU directive for animal movement etc. 

It's actually what we originally used for PETS travel before they finally made a Pet Passport booklet.
.

Right - good!
Thanks again :)