My experience in transporting Rotts Internationally

[ThomasOHare]

Since I have had such a tremendous outpouring of support here, I thought I would try and give back to the Rott community.

Over the last year or so I have successfully transported Rotts from USA to Europe and back. Maybe a discussion to help others will be of benefit.

If you have specific questions please ask!

I am not an expert but I have transported 2 Rotts successfully.

Thanks
Thomas O'Hare

[harlychick77]

And how was the transporting a success? Would like to hear stories.


Harlychick77

[heidi's mom]

Definitely would like to hear more detail about your experiences. Just traveling generally with dogs (especially big ones) can be a hassle -- I can only imagine international travel. ugh.

[ThomasOHare]

Well, since you all asked... The trip to Germany from Florida ;-)

This is all JUST MY OPINION and not a legal document. Just my experience and outlook. Your situation could/will vary from mine. So you have been warned!

In Europe the EU (European Union) now has a blanket policy that covers all EU states (Germany, Austria, etc). So you must conform to EU laws which is cool because they now cover so many different countries.

NO QUARANTINE!

Yes! No quarantine time for the "kids".

You do need an EU ID Chip much like the ones here -- but obviously they are not compatible. A chip is a must and is of course embedded in the USA first.

USDA

All you really need to get a dog to EU is a USDA certificate. Any Vet office with any real experience can fill out the papers and give all required shots (just the usual ones mainly). But BE CAREFUL, Rabies MUST be done > 30 days before travel and others must be done < 30 days before travel. Check with your Vet or USDA.

The USDA was very cooperative in my case. A stamp MUST be placed on EACH page of the documentation. They messed up but fixed it quickly.

Then you have ~10 days to get the dog in the air! I "believe" there is a 10 day limit on papers for traveling dogs. So be sure of your plans.

Most carriers have weather restrictions. Usually 85F is the top temp a dog can fly. Any higher and your dog is grounded until such time as the temp drops and they can be loaded. Check with your carrier as to Temp restrictions.

You can fly 3 ways, by a animal shipper (easiest), as extra baggage (a little more headache and stress) or as freight. An air animal mover is not cheap but the one I used ended up doing their job very well. They took care of all the details (I had flown out 3 weeks ahead to get ready).

As baggage is cheapest and United charges 2x the over size baggage rate ($220 USD for each Rott).

Make sure your kennel is the proper size. If you take them as baggage the animal is taken out and inspected along side the crate to insure proper fit.

Also, especially back to the USA, you will most likely have to take your pet out of the crate and let customs inspect at your port of entry if flown as baggage.

You have to pay a number of fees when you arrive in Europe (they have a fee for everything). So be prepared to spend up to a few hundred Euros.

In my case the papers were taken off the crate by Lufthansa and did not make it to the Vet station for an extra 4 hours. Papers must be attached to the crate. If they are not attached, you need to start causing an uproar with your carrier to get your pets out of the Vet station ASAP.

The Vets in Germany were very helpful but they had to obey EU laws. Lufthansa messed up and caused quite a problem for us. But eventually that same day all was finally resolved after Lufthansa decided the dogs USDA papers needed to be at the Vet station and not at Lufthansa cargo station. A lot of stress (on all) and time wasted because of a simple mix up. I know better now...

Both kids were worn out but safe. I was a very happy camper.

I will post the return trip another day.

If you have questions, please post here.
Thomas O'Hare

[IJF1]

Thomas,

Just to add that, although the UK is in the EU, we like to be different!! Just to be difficult, you must have fulfilled the requirements for the 'Pet Passport' scheme or your dog will need to spend 6 months in quarantine..

[ThomasOHare]

IJF1

Not to contradict or argue or whatever but GB it not "truly" in the EU yet and the way it looks they may not want to (you guys seem to do well as you are! ;-). Yeah, weird for an American to make that statement.

The biggest indicator is the currency. You have Pounds and the EU countries have Euro. That is a real sign that England and territories have not fully accepted The EU charter otherwise you would be on Euro.

Yeah, a lot of discussion on this still and many details to work out as the EU expands.

But I did speak with the German Vets at the airport where the kids flew in and they made it quite clear that all "true" EU countries follow the same exact rules for dogs (hunds). I ran into a glitch we had to resolve over this fact as the kids where in the airport kennel. We had to follow strict EU guidelines -- which actually make it easier in a way.

It is sad England has a long quarantine in this day in age even with well documented dogs. I do not know how they get around it for the major dog show like Westminster. Show dogs in quarantine for months?

Thanks
Thomas O'Hare

[IJF1]

Thomas,

Far be it for me to contradict your contradiction , but the UK is a full EU member and has been since 1973! The common monetary policy and the Euro is only a relatively recent development and has little to do with EU membership.

Back to the quarantine and travel issue, the 'Pet Passport' scheme has been very well received here and in Europe. Basically, if your dog has been shown to be vaccinated and clear of rabies for a period of time, it can have a 'Pet Passport' which allows it to come and go from the UK. This means that dog owners in the UK can now take their dogs on holiday and take their bitches to studs in Europe. It also allows Europeans to bring their dogs over for shows and training seminars.

We're getting there, but we don't change too quickly!!

[ThomasOHare]

IJF1

I just re-read your message (1st time was on a laptop in the drivers seat late at night. ;-)

I assume the USDA papers are equivalent to the Pet Passport and dogs from USA will not need a 6 month quarantine. AFAIK, yes the USDA & Pet Passport are close. USDA is US government issued and Pet Passport (mine anyway) were issued by a local Vet.

All this (I believe) is the same as Germany/Austria.

Moral of the story is to make sure the papers for the dogs are 100% before you travel.

Yeah, EU stuff left alone is better. I will have to read the latest one day. ;-)

Thanks
Thomas O'Hare

[djmurdock]

i wanted to know about this impoting thing because i see the guys that arte importing rotts and i know they are marking up the price i am looking to get a female with good drive and that i can show in a usrc show ring. but the price i see these importers charging makes me think twick about bring over a dog so can some one tell me why the price is so high

[lovemypuppies]

Hello ThomasO'Hare! This is completely off the subject but as you mentioned the support you got from RDN, I just wanted to say how happy I am that you and your dogs are ok. I had just returned to RDN after a few weeks absence so I came upon your story and read it breathlessly from the opening post straight to the finale! You were in a nightmare situation and I am glad it all worked out. Hopefully, I won't be needing this travel info ever in a million years! I miss my dogs when I go out to dinner. Or another room.

[djmurdock]

ThomasO'Hare do you still import rottweilers

[Vobiscum]

Well Uk and Sweden and Norway are all Rabiesfree country making it abit more complicated with several more papers and things to be correct. Since i travel alot to germany with my dogs i see the problems all the time, btw there are several countries inside Eu that dont have Eu as their currency.

[highbl00d]

I live in Hawaii and was told Australia, Guam, and New Zealand were rabies free and we will have no quarentine period for pets coming from these areas. These seem like the only places for me to find a pup being that no one in Hawaii is breeding anytime soon. Are there other places I could look in to?

[IJF1]

Originally Posted by highbl00d

I live in Hawaii and was told Australia, Guam, and New Zealand were rabies free and we will have no quarentine period for pets coming from these areas. These seem like the only places for me to find a pup being that no one in Hawaii is breeding anytime soon. Are there other places I could look in to?

As per the note above yours, you could try the UK, Norway or Sweden.

[marianna]

Well, try importing to Iceland!!!

First off the cost is unbelievable, about 13.000 us $ for a large breed.

Second, all dogs and cats must be quarantied for 4 weeks, during wich the dogs r kept in indoor kennels for the first 2 weeks wich r stricter than the last 2. (no1 to let them out, have to do their buisness where they sleep) They only have the bare minimum staff required by law (actually everything is the bare minimum)

Only taken out of kennel while it is being hosed out, while they wait in an outside concrete kennel not big enuff to really do anything but shiver then put back inside kennel while it is still wet.

They hardly have any human contact except during routine things such as cleaning, vet check e.c.t.

And for the "deluxe" stay we have to pay about 4000 $

The facility does not knowingly harm animals or anything, they comply with regulations and such, but when some1 is only doing something for money it can never have a great outcome imo.

Personally I will not import a dog while this is my only option and I do not think any reputable breeder would sell me a dog knowing that this is what awaits. And of course no1 would want to put a pup through this.

This is in part why we actually do not have any breeders here that would be up to the standard that is promoted on here, sadly.

That is also why ppl r breeding dogs without papers and such, also when a new bitch or stud is imported there is a high risk of overbreeding said dog.

The ppl that r trying to lift the breeding standard, lots of ppl here r trying but r not succeding in part because of this. Lots of ppl have the passion but not nesecerilly the means.

It has only been about 10 yrs since breeds like rotties, doberman and such where allowed here so we do not have much experience.

Hopefully we will take up the Pet Passport in the next yrs, if not then at least some1 who actually cares about animals will open a qaurantine facility. I am willing to pay all this money if I can be certain of the qaulity of care. (although I will have to start saving, could take some yrs...)

Have uploaded pics of facility in my gallery.