Hi

My cousin is in LA and has a pet dog. He wants to join the rest of our family in Spain. Does anyone know what airlines will take his pet dog?

Also, I really want a Shiloh Shepherd dog. Unfortunately, I cannot get one outside of USA. Is there any way round UK passports, quarentine, as by the time my puppy gets through either of those, it won't be a puppy anymore.

Thanks

Laurie

Nope if it is to come to UK it is Quarantine or Pet Passports. with Quarantine you can get the dog into your home sooner, but it will have had six months solitary confinement. If you go the Pet passport route it will have to stay with the breeder or domeone else for the waiting period, this will be at least 7 months from it being chipped and Rabies jabbed, and the Rabies shots aren't done until 12 weeks, so it will be at least 10 months, but it will have been able to be socialised.

Dear Brainless

Yours and all the replies I have gotten back up what I thought, that it is a pretty hopeless proposition. I had just hoped someone knew of some loophole - no luck. So I have abandoned the idea. Will get an Estrela when a puppy is next available.

Many thanks anyway

Laurie

Hello Laurie,

There are many airlines which take dogs but do you know where in Spain you want to go? Not all airlines that take dogs fly to certain places in Spain. Contact the cargo/live animal carrier department in LA airport and ask them. As for obtaining a Shiloh Shepherd puppy, there is only one way to avoid quarantine and that is to try and convince the breeder to get one of her females on the pet passport scheme and bringing her over to have the pups. It's very differcult to bring dogs in but very easy to bring dogs out of this country. As you can imagine it's going to be very unlikely to get a breeder to agree to this. Another option is ask the breeder to keep the pup until it's ready to come over. I knew someone who did this with a dog from Holland, unfortunately the pup came over at 11 months old and had never been socialised, taken for walk, introduced to people, they are having real problems with this pup.

James

Hi James

My cousin is taking your advice and contacting united airlines and ba cargo departments.

I think the only way i could get my Shiloh would be to ask the breeder to keep the pup, as you suggest. With 7 rescues of my own, the last thing I want is a dog unsocialised, with temperment problems. So will probably have to shelve my Shiloh desire until they are more established, with an approved breeder in the UK.

I have been today to see an Estrela and put our name down for a puppy when one of her dogs is next mated. thanks for your help

Laurie

The best thing you can do is find a good quarantine kennel they are often very helpfull and will be able to tell you which flights your dog can fly on plus the size of travelling box she will need plus any injections such as rabies she will neeed and most dogs will need to be checked by a vet 48 hrs before flying (treated for worms,fleas and ticks) and certified fit to travel.
Sadly there is no way round the quarantine or pet passport
good luck
kate

Hi Kate

thanks for your message. My cousin is going to contact united airlines cargo and see if they can help and if not, bairways.

As far as I know the only way around the quarantine/pet passport scheme etc is to "rent" a bitch.

This is there the bitch is mated then when you are sure she is pregnant she comes over to quarantine and has the pups there. The pups can come out, I think, at 8 weeks and two weeks later the bitch can go home again.

Not very nice for the bitch but about the only way around this probably apart from bringing in an in-whelp bitch under the Pet Passport Scheme.

Christine

Hi Laurie

Just out of curiousity I wondered why you want a Shiloh Shepherd? I have seen them and they look fantastic but its possible to get GSD's in this country that are the size and build of a Shiloh, indeed they look like Shilohs in every way.
Do you want to breed them as they are not recognized by the UK kennel club and it would seem like a very expensive thing for you to import a dog that some would call a mongrel over here because its not K.C registered.

Dear Bear

I have always loved GSD's and know a fair number, but as you probably know, so many of them have health/temperment problems. I want a Shiloh because Shiloh's are bred for temperment, sound hips as well as big size. Getting a GSD is a bit of a lottery. There has been too much inbreeding. Personally, I don't give a d*** about KC registered here nor about what some people might call a Shiloh. I already have 7 "mongrels", 5 being rescue lurchers, one a Turkish dog (x-breed) and the 7th a GSD cross (with all the temperment problems you could wish for!!!) I think Shiloh's are gorgeous and more tempermentally/healthilysound than the vast majority of GSD's, although I fully accept there are many exceptions to every rule. However, unless I can track down a UK breeder, I shall have to make do with either a 10/12 month old puppy or look to an alternative such as an Estrela.

Thanks for your comments, Bear

Worth considering the Leonberger too, if you have been looking at Estrellas. Rather more mellow temperament, ad the Estrella is a flock Guard, whereas the Leo is primarily a Companion breed.

Hi Again

Because our 5 rescue lurchers are so vulnerable and friendly we do need a big/intimidating looking (but not agressive) dog to put people off the idea of stealing them. So far, Ben our GSD x, has (and still is) been doing a great job. He is 10 now and a couple of times we have sneaked up on him - fast asleep on the job!!! So, it's time he had someback up. I had initailly wanted a Leonberger, but, after talking to a couple of different people who had one, I came to the conclusion that we wanted a dog who would guard bark which it seemed a Leo isn't inclined to do. As well as lurchers, I have always liked the look of GSD and mastiff type dogs (St Bernards, Newfoundlands etc) and the Estrella seems to combine the looks of GSD and mastiff type. The ones we saw today at the breeder's were lovely so, we think we have found our dog!!! I'll let everyone know how I get on when I get one when they have a litter.

Thanks for input

Laurie

Well then if it is the guarding instinct that will be a plus point for you, then I think an Estrella will make a great protector to your flock of sighthounds, lol :D

I have met both breeds, and liked both, but for me I don't want the overt guarding traits in my dogs. As I often say it is horses for courses. My breed are excellent watch dogs, but it would take a lot for them to take it further than allert! :D

Hi Laurie,

I know of two GSD breeders in the UK who breed hip scored, soft as a brush, BIG dogs ( avaerage height 28 inches, big builds, longcoats ) - I can give you their details if you are interested.
If you like Mastiff breeds, have you thought about the Pyranean Mountain dog, they are supposed to be a guarding breed, they are used to guard sheep, and they are gorgeous shaggy coated ponies!!

Hiya Laurie...

I understand what you're saying about GSD's health/temperament problems, and yes, there are a lot of irresponsible breeders out there.

But, there are an awful lot, too, who hip score, haemophilia test, etc...only dogs and bitches of excellent temperament are mated, and pups are really well socialised.

I suppose, really, you take a gamble with whatever breed you go for, but I have three GSD's (all from different lines) and I've never had any real problems with any of them. It's just a matter of finding a really good breeder, and I've been very lucky with mine!!

By the way, you sound like you're doing a really good job with your rescues. I hope you can sort out your GSD x's problems out!! :)

Take care
Hope you get your dream dog, whatever breed, eventually!!

Lisa

Dear Lisa

I'm sure you are right about GSD's and I am really pleased yours are all ok. My GSD x is 10 now and has always been a problem!! He had 3 different homes (one prob violent) before we got him as a pup and the damage had been done. We have castrated, taken him to a behaviourist etc and they told us what we knew already. He has to be muzzled when out because, although he has never bitten, sometimes, if someone's body language is not ok to him and if they get too close to us, he wll lunge out and grab and hold. Thank God, no one has taken it further as he is my favourite, my baby, and I would have died if someone had taken him under the DDA. So after the 3rd time he did this some years ago, on went his muzzle. Now he knows when we get this out he is going for a walk and gets excited. It is a Mugford plastic muzzle, not the nylon type where they cant pant so he is as happy with it as a muzzled dog can be!!!. With us, he is a big affectionate baby who will take food from our mouths so gently. Poor lurchers, so pretty, so good round the house, so loving and so mistreated so often. I have a special place in my heart for them.

So, let's see what my Estrella is like - she/he will be the only dog I will have bought and not rescued in 25ish years!!!!! Thanks for all your good wishes - I'll keep you informed when I get him/her

Best

Laurie

Hiya again Laurie...

I'm so sorry to hear about what your GSD has gone through. It's a shame that he has to be muzzled etc because of what he's been through before.
He sounds well loved now though!!

I know how you feel about your lurchers, I love them too....big soft babies!!

I think it's amazing you've rescued for 25 years...it takes a lot of time and dedication.
I rescued my first Border collie X (gotta think now!!) just about 3 1/2 years ago, she was only 8 months, and had been beaten really badly. It was awful. Now she's a lovely, happy, licky girl!! I've since aquired 2 more rescue collie X's, whose owner passed away, and I have a purebred border collie from a puppy farm. All this, along with the three GSD's!!
Yes, I'm nuts!! lol..but I love 'em!

Take care!

Lisa :)

Just out of interest, how many Shilohs have you known?

Laurie,
Are the regulations to get the pup into Spain as strict as into the UK? Would your family in Spain be able to care for the pup for the 6 months or so? The reason I ask is, I know a woman who took her cat from the US to Holland. She lived there for a while and when she moved to the UK, she got the European passport for her moggie and brought it here.
Might be worth checking out?
Good luck
Nancy