Belgium Importing

[rottweiler_fancier]

Does anyone have any experience importing a Rottweiler puppy, particularly from Belgium (to S. California)? Are there any particular health certificates needed to enter/exit the country? What size crate is best? How long will the flight be? Whats the best age to ship a puppy (8 wks or wait until 10-12 weeks old)? There are many articles available on the subject, but if you know of a good one - please let me know where to find it



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- Dana -
"All Rottweilers were created equal"

[suzanne611]

Hi rottweiler fancier, I have no experience with shipping a puppy, but we shipped a dog from Brussels via Sabena. Just make sure it is not on a weekend because the pup might get tied up in customs. Your breeder should know all the particulars, and the proper crate size etc. Good luck!

[rottypiper]

rottweiler_fancier, I imported my pup from Belgium. He flew from Brussels to London England and then to Toronto. Once in Toronto he had to clear customs and be checked by the Ministry of Agriculture. It was about an 11 hour flight but I believe he flew to London the night before and left London the next morning to goto Toronto. Once he landed it was about 2 hours before I was able to get him out of the crate. Part of this delay was because the idiots at Pearson Airport couldn't find him. Lucky for them my wife was there to semi-calm me down. I was livid. He flew British Airways and apart from them insisting on a larger crate at the last minute (thereby increasing the shipping cost substantially) and almost losing him they did a bang up job. I've heard Swiss Air is a goood airline for dogs as they take very good care of them.

As for waiting for a dog to be 6 months old as Orville said I personally wouldn't. There is alot of good and bad habits that can be taught between 8 weeks and 6 months and I want to maximize my potential. As for health reasons Orville may be right but I don't know.

[ March 20, 2001: Message edited by: Hawk ]

[Orville Story]

I don't like to ship a young dog via Airlines.

It is a 12 hour trip and takes a lot out of a mature dog. The dog will have to be cleared through customs, the dog will have to have a rabies shot and a Vet health clearence. Arriving in Atlanta would be best for anyone living in SC.

I don't like to give a puppy a rabies shot until he is six months old. When the shot is given I don't want the dog to experience any outside stimulation for a week. Any vaccine is in fact giving a diluted portion of the virus so antibodies are built up in the system. The rabies shot can cause changes in the dog's behavior, it is not a good thing for the dog to experience the stress of a Plane trip during this time.

So I would not ship a dog via Air flight until he received a rabies shot at 6 months of age and then had a few weeks to acclimate after the shot.

[This message has been edited by Orville Story (edited November 25, 2000).]

[CT.Tom]

Rott_Fancier,
Yes i imported last August from Belgium.He flew in from Brussels.Its not a big deal to fly for the pup...but i would fly him into Boston or NY and pick him up there!
S.California is another 12 hrs+/-that in my opinion is too long a flight!If he is flown into NY your talking 6-8 hrs.Then you could hotel him one night then fly him in the plane with you?Obviously the more expensive route but safer!The health certificate comes from Belgium also a certified pedigree.Then customs which is no-biggie.
I know of a pup from Belgium flown into Atlanta, it was a nightmare the pup stayed in the airport for 12hrs before reflying to florida!I don't think it would cost you much more to fly out and back with the pup.Remember to make all arrangements with the airline first as far as flying him in the plane in a soft crate.E-mail me also if you need more info....he does NOT need his rabies vaccine.

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CT.TOM

[This message has been edited by CT.Tom (edited December 03, 2000).]

[rottweiler_fancier]

Well I'm talking to a puppybuyer who has a pup from the first breeding who flew her male pup from Belgium down to Texas. But I think he was a few months old (the breeder wouldn't send the pup at 8 wks because of the extremes in heat which made it unsafe) - does that little bit of age difference make a difference in how much distance a pup can fly?




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- Dana -
"All Rottweilers were created equal"

[CT.Tom]

The airline won't fly the pup in extreme heat either.The temperatures are below 45 and above 85 last i knew on most airlines.
Cargo is different...
Pups need as little stress as possible.I agree that they can be ruined by leaving there mates then being tossed about and left in a crate for sometimes days.
The flights vary on time but i would never let a pup from Europe go on a connecting flight here!NEVER!These people could give two dog piles about your puppy in most cases!
I flew myself out west with dog...the cost was the same as cargo one way!Go figure...so i recommend to limit the pup to NY or Boston.
This is just my opinion....remember they form personality young.

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CT.TOM