Bringing home an imported dog - help! :)

MapleTwinkie

Hello Everyone,

I'm about a month and 19 days away from bringing home my JA puppy from Japan.
This is the most excited I've ever been about anything in my life! ( including buying my own home, moving out on my own, travelling to foreign places, etc, etc!!) LOL

I've been doing tons of puppy research and I haven't found anything that relates to puppy prepping for an imported dog. I think this situation would be a bit different since the puppy has travelled a long distance and is in a completely new environment, everything would smell different! Is there anything that you guys would recommend I do when I first bring this puppy home? He'll be tired from a long 11.5 hour flight from Japan.

Should I have a space ready for him and just leave him alone? Should I let him sniff around the house and have him get comforatable? Should I spend the night with him so he's not scared? Treats? Toys??

Thanks in advance!
Lisa <):)

Saki

First, congratulation. You are right to be so excited and nervous, I would!

Let me share a trick I read: To get him to know your smell before he gets to your home, you can send to the breeder a small blanket like a fleece that you would have washed then sleep with so your smell's on it. The breeder would give it to your pup a few days before departure.

The rest, I will leave the "experts" answering you.

tjbart17

I'm not sure, other than yes of course it's a longer trip, that it's any different than any puppy going into a new environment.

I'm sure if you look up the plethora of getting ready for a puppy threads we have on here you will find everything you need.

*JackBurton*

Well be ready to give him his first bath.

Second if there are other pets around keep them apart. It is not uncommon for imports to have Giardia.

Once bathed give some clean water and leg them decide if they want to hang out in their crate.

MapleTwinkie

Thanks everyone.
@tjbart17, yah I wasn't sure if it was any different or a bit different or a lot different since I couldn't find anything on prepping pups being imported from different countries.
I have saved all our other discussons on puppy prepping!

jeffnkazuko

@mapletwinkie
i don't think there is much you can do except to have a space ready for him. It seems to me that is up to the individual pup on how they will react. Maybe you can put a stuffed kong in the crate before you fly to keep him busy and just hope he sleeps most the way.
A good tip I got from Shigeru is to make sure you carry some cleaning supplies in your bag or you might have a pretty smelly ride home. I think that's why the first bath idea came up.

PoetikDragon

Will he be flying in cabin with you? Or in cargo?

If he flies in cabin, you may be able to take him (crate and all) to one of the bathrooms on the plane, lay down a puddle pad, and let him relieve himself. Even if you can't do that, you can at least replace puddle pads inside his crate (surreptitiously if you have to) while sitting at your seat.

Other than the longer flight I don't see much difference between bringing home an import and a domestic-born puppy.

MapleTwinkie

@poeticdragon , he'll probably be too big for the cabin ( Air Canada cabin allowances are not that generous ). That's a good idea though, I can ask the flight attendants to take him out so he can relieve himself on the pad.

@jeffnkazuko , cleaning supplies got it. Wipes and make a snack when he gets off the plane.

THanks everyone!

PoetikDragon

Well if he's not traveling in cabin, he'll just have to make do in his crate. Oh well.

ttddinh

Congrats!!! I can't wait to see puppy pics!!!