Border Crossing Regs

[kinderdoggin]

What are the current regulations for taking a dog into (and coming back from) the U.S.? Rabies, I presume - is there a time frame for this? Any other vaccines, perhaps a health certificate- registration papers? Any help would be appreciated - if there is a link to where I can find this information I would love to have it too. My vet is not up on current standards.

Thanks,
Erin

[Whytey]

All you need is a rabies certificate.

[kinderdoggin]

Sweet! Thanks.

[Kevin Hannah]

All you need is a rabies certificate.

Thats all it takes

[flatlands]

If you have a pup 4 mos old, + or -, who doesn't have rabies shot yet, technically you need no papers at all, but you'd be safe to take your most recent receipt for shots and/or registration or litter papers showing birth date; some border folk are pretty clueless about dog regs., & it helps them to see papers.

[kinderdoggin]

Well that is good news. I thought there may be a few more hoops to jump through... thanks to all who replied.

[Dakota Creek]

Depending upon the border crossing - some check, some don't - some US crossings are still sticklers for bringing dog food into the US which is not manufactured in the US (remember mad cow?) It does not matter what the food base is - beef, turkey, chicken, lamb & rice, etc. they are concerned about cross-contamination. They want to see the dog food in it's original, unopened container and will check to see where the bag states it was manufactured in the US.

[MAD MALLARD]

Don't tell the border patrol that you have a dog in the back that you train. One time I was answering personal questions for a lady about her yellow (how do I get my dog to sit)! After 10 minutes literally they let me go. The guy behind me must have been pissed. One time I went over with a training partner and the boarder patrol asked how we trainnied the dogs, my partner answered "with sling shots and cattle prods." The look on the boarder officers face was priceless "Go Ahead" he says!:cheesy:

[kinderdoggin]

I had forgotten about the dog food rules. Thanks for the reminder.

MadMallard- do you have a business card? If I get any lengthy questions at the border I can just pass them off to you ;)

[AD18]

I had fun when I was taking my dog to Cabelas to get a neoprene vest for him. Quite the look when I said I was taking my dog to the States to get him a vest. About 6 border guards huddled around as I explained the situation. I was a little nervous when some of the BIG guards started over though. Lots of laughs in the end. Agree with the above. Rabies papers and caution on the dog food. Some let it go, other make you toss it.

[Lenore]

I can answer this for you. I regularly go over to Bill Littles on a bi-weekly basis with my dog. I have a binder that has his health cert, which shows all the shots he has received and when the next one is due, plus his rabies which is on a seperate piece of paper from the health cert. I have never had a problem with dog food or anything. Just the usual questions any tobacco, firearms or alcohol. The border guards have always been very nice and they rarely look at the dogs papers or anything.

Hope that helped!

[Dakota Creek]

Lenore,

Dog food has not been an issue going into Canada, but it has been an issue (and continues to be an issue at some crossings) when travelling from Canada into the US, due to the US embargo on beef.

[kinderdoggin]

So, as far as bringing a puppy into Canada goes... 4 months is the cutoff for rabies? Is it the same if they travel via air? I know the wee ones just need a health certificate if they are flying in...