Suggestions on getting a puppy to TX from Saskatchewan

[EddieWalker]

We're run into a bit of a situation getting a puppy that is currently in North Battleford Saskatchewan. The owner of the puppy thought she could just take it to Edmonton and put it on a non stop flight to Houston. That's a four hour drive each way from where I live, which is worth it for a non stop flight. Unfortunately, US Customs require Rabies shots and Vet paperwork a month after the shots have been given. The puppy has to be 3 months old for the shots, so it would have to be 4 months old to fly out of Canada. It's 8 weeks old right now and we do not want to wait that long.

The two options that we have come up with are driving up there, which is about 29 hours of driving each way. The owner of the puppy said she would drive a good part of the way to meet us, so maybe we could cut it down and meet half way.

If she is willing to drive half way, then she could also make it to Minneapolis and put the puppy on a flight that flies directly to Dallas from there.

This seems to be our only two options. I'm hitting a wall at coming up with another idea, or a better option for all involved.

Does anybody out there have an idea that I can look into getting this puppy from Northern Saskatchewan to East Texas?

Thank you,
Eddie

 

[KWRB]

I can't vouch for them, but it's a well-known website, so I would give them consideration. You might have luck.

Dog Shipping & Transport Service | Save Up to 77%

 

[oosik]

Eddie - unless I'm really off base - no matter how the puppy is transported, by air or by land - the Customs folks are going to require the same paperwork when you cross the border.

You or she could check with a vet and see if there is some alternates available for young dogs. Try the American Kennel Association. Try ASPCA.

It seem impossible that anybody should have to wait until a dog is 4 months old to make a border crossing.

 

[Sigarms]

Apologies, no suggestions, but the question I would have is would the requirements change even if the dog in being driven instead of flown?

We use to drive to Canada all the time from Watertown NY. Perhaps the border crossing is different in other areas of the country, but talking with some buddies who were still up at Ft. Drum years ago, seems that they were clamping down on what people were bringing across the border and the inspectors were being more "nosey". Just hate to see you make all this planning and then find out at the border crossing you hit the same snag.

 

[EddieWalker]

Sorry, I should have mentioned that. The requirement for the shots and the Vet paperwork a month later is only for flying. From everything thing we've been told, and can find online, driving a puppy across is no big deal.

We're asking around, and our friends in the dog world are surprised by this. We're trying to find out if there is some way to get around it and fly her from Edmonton, which would be ideal. Delta has a deal that your pet can fly inside the cabin with you on the seat next to you in a kennel if it's small enough. Thought about flying my wife up there to get the puppy, and flying back with him next to her, but it's the same deal about the shots.

 

[hunterridgefarm]

Could you fly your wife to the nearest US airport, rent a car and drive up, get the pup and drive back to the US airport? Once in the US would they still require the shots if you crossed the border in a car?

 

[FTG-05]

Could you fly your wife to the nearest US airport, rent a car and drive up, get the pup and drive back to the US airport? Once in the US would they still require the shots if you crossed the border in a car?

This is what I would do, assuming crossing the border with the puppy is not the same as the flying part. Good luck Eddie!

 

[Sigarms]

Sorry, I should have mentioned that. The requirement for the shots and the Vet paperwork a month later is only for flying. From everything thing we've been told, and can find online, driving a puppy across is no big deal.

Just make certain the information you have is directly from customs (or wherever you would find such "official" documentation). Keep in mind, sometimes people enforcing laws may not know all the details of the laws they're enforcing. I could see you getting up the border and then it becomes a cluster because what you read isn't what the person actually enforcing the law reads. Could also be someone lucked out and was able to drive right over with a puppy because the wrong person was looking, and just your luck, you get the right person looking to throw the book at you.

Better safe than sorry for that kind of drive IMO.

 

[oosik]

Check with your family vet - see if he has been involved with young pups coming in from Canada. But as Sigarms has said - you want to be dam sure you are right if you will be driving. That's a looong way and somebody is going to be crossing the border and must have a passport. And the pup will be required to have some type of paperwork.

 

[Gem99ultra]

Seems like a lot of trouble for just a puppy. Is it a one-of-a-kind, or perhaps a great show-dog bloodline?

Your inquiry begs the question of 'why' is getting that specific puppy worth the effort?

 

[EddieWalker]

Yes, this is a one if a kind puppy from the very best of the very best bloodlines. Nothing is for sure, but if you picked out the very best too ten Akjtas over the past 20 years, most of them are in this bloodline. His father died 20 years ago and is still the most winning Akita ever. His grandfather is number two. The other top Akita's ever are where our puppy we have now comes from. Dog shows are all about bloodlines. It doesn't get any better then this.

 

[Gem99ultra]

Yes, this is a one if a kind puppy from the very best of the very best bloodlines. Nothing is for sure, but if you picked out the very best too ten Akjtas over the past 20 years, most of them are in this bloodline. His father died 20 years ago and is still the most winning Akita ever. His grandfather is number two. The other top Akita's ever are where our puppy we have now comes from. Dog shows are all about bloodlines. It doesn't get any better then this.

ah ha! I suspected that this was not just any ole puppy you wanted. Good luck on getting him home.

I'm all about show quality dogs. Every dog I've ever bought has been pure blooded registered. Never put any in a show (way too much work for me), but I do admire those that do.

PS To those that prefer 'Rescue Dogs', I happy to see you out there as well. Every dog deserves a good home, and every home deserves a good dog. But pure bred's are simply my preference.

 

[AlmostThere]

Hi Eddie,

Unfortunately you cannot bring the pup across the border until it is at least 4 months old. That includes driving it across.

As you mentioned it has to be vaccinated for rabies, the earliest that can be legally done is 3 months of age. Then they require you wait 30 days after vaccination before you can cross the border.

Here are a couple CDC links that describe the requirements:
https://www.cdc.gov/importation/pdf/dogimportation_us-canada.pdf
https://www.cdc.gov/importation/pdf/dogimportation_us-canada.pdf

I had a pup shipped from Minnesota a few years ago. At that time United Airlines would not ship a pup to Bush Intercontinental Airport if the temperature would be over 90 degrees, and this was during the summer. I had to have him flown to Hobby airport, I think that was using Delta airlines.

An Akita at 4 months of age will be too large to fly under the seat in the cabin. If you still plan to get the pup you might suggest to the breeder to get the pup used to being in a crate similar to one used for shipping, and if they would take him for a few drives while in the crate.

Good luck with the new pup!

 

[RobertBrown]

Your going to drive past 10000 dogs that need a home to get a puppy in Canada.
There is no way you can convince me that this is a good idea, but that's your business.
Good luck.

 

[BoylermanCT]

Eddie, we just had a similar situation. Our female Schipperke was pregnant, and we have friends who are breeders who live in Canada. My wife went to visit them with our male and female dogs so they could help with the birth when the pups came. A week before they were due I decided I should check the rules on taking puppies across the boarder. I contacted CDC and they confirmed no puppies are allowed into the US without a rabies shot, and puppies cannot get them until they are 90 days old, and it takes 30 days for the shot to take effect, so puppies under 4 months are not permitted into the states. The exception is for counties without rabies, but Canada is not one of those countries. There is an exception process, where you can agree to a quarantine, but it is a strict quarantine with no contact with other animals, no leaving the quarantine site except for vet visits, and no visitors allowed. So we decided to bring mom and dad home to have the puppies at home on our own. We have 5 three week old Schipperke puppies.

That said, when my wife crossed into Canada and back into the US, she did not have to prove rabies vaccination for either dog, so you might get lucky and not get checked or they may automatically check all puppies.

If you private message me your email address, I will forward you the emails I received from the CDC on the subject.

Here are the Schipperke puppies.

 

[kennyd]

Eddy,
My good friend Derek runs this kennel, they specialize in pet transport: Pet Relocation | Shady Spring Pet Retreat

Capital Pet Movers | Your Pet's Travel Agent

Not sure he can help you in this situation, but it's worth a call.

 

[MossRoad]

There's also some differing rules on rabies vaccinations between the states, so be sure to check the states you're going to be entering from Canada and traveling through on your way back home if you decide to drive.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

I drove from Western Oregon to Calgary to pick up a puppy once. It was a nice road trip. I went through Glacier. I stopped every hour to let the puppy pee and stretch my legs. We were bonded by the time I got home. I wasn't going to put a pup in air cargo, so that was my option.

 

[Sigarms]

Keep in mind, sometimes people enforcing laws may not know all the details of the laws they're enforcing.

Case in point, see below LOL

Wilmington officer who told Uber driver it’s illegal to record police demoted | News & Observer

 

[Buppies]

Hope all of this works out for you guys a new puppy is a wonderful time. Be safe in your travels if that's the way you go. Good luck