Importing into the UK
Hello Everybody!
Just joined a few days ago and a few may already know that I am very keen on getting myself a Shikoku to join my little family.
I have been talking to a few breeders and came across one European kennel who mentioned the difficulty of getting a puppy exported to the UK. They said that after the puppy has been born, it would take about 9 months for them to do the extensive testing etc to get the puppy over - i.e. it would be 9/10 months old by the time it gets to the UK... Does this sound right to you guys? I'm just curious as if that's the case then this effectively makes the wait for me quite longer.
So just wondering if anybody had experience of importing a puppy to the UK recently? Does it really take that long to get it over? I mean I spoke to another Breeder in North America who didn't seem to mention anything like this and said next year July/August was a realistic timeframe to get the puppy over...?
If anybody could shed (no pun) some light on this I'd be very grateful!
Thanks everyone.
Joey
Just joined a few days ago and a few may already know that I am very keen on getting myself a Shikoku to join my little family.
I have been talking to a few breeders and came across one European kennel who mentioned the difficulty of getting a puppy exported to the UK. They said that after the puppy has been born, it would take about 9 months for them to do the extensive testing etc to get the puppy over - i.e. it would be 9/10 months old by the time it gets to the UK... Does this sound right to you guys? I'm just curious as if that's the case then this effectively makes the wait for me quite longer.
So just wondering if anybody had experience of importing a puppy to the UK recently? Does it really take that long to get it over? I mean I spoke to another Breeder in North America who didn't seem to mention anything like this and said next year July/August was a realistic timeframe to get the puppy over...?
If anybody could shed (no pun) some light on this I'd be very grateful!
Thanks everyone.
Joey
Comments
9 months is a very long time to send a puppy to their new home... The pups most important socialization window would have closed by then. In North America puppies are usually sent to their new homes as early as 8 weeks of age. I don't know what the breeder's regulations would be to wait that long, maybe it has to do with their country or the UK. What "extensive testing" did they tell you they had to do? A pup could gets all their shots as early as 14 weeks of age. Getting a puppy at the right age is super important! 8 weeks is perfect. Strive to get one at that age.
To send a pup to the UK would be around $659, if the breeder sends them with Continental airlines.
https://www.united.com/web/en-US/content/travel/animals/PetSafeRates19JUNE2012_without_Europe_Israel_India.pdf
I wasn't really told what needs to be done but they said the UK has stringent regulations. However I can't find any information on the net; all I have seemed to come across is this publication:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/publications/files/pb13582-bringing-pets-to-uk-120229.pdf
I assume the breeder will take care of all the things stated in the form above?
When speaking to the North American breeder they were aware of recent changes made to exporting a puppy and didn't mention anything about it taking so long. I suppose if they are ok with it then it's fine: I just preffered the European breeder as it would only take me an hour to go over to the country and see the pups so it was just super conveniant for me.
If anybody has any other information about UK law, I would be super grateful to hear it. I see there is a number on the publication, I might give that a ring and see what they tell me!
Thanks guys!
The guy on the phone told me that a puppy needs to be at least 3 months old before coming into the UK now as apparently the rabies vaccination does not have effect till the puppy is at least 3 months of age
To clarify, rabies vaccination is not administered until a puppy is 3 months of age. It takes 30 days to take effect.
In the US, all dogs over 3 months must have a rabies vaccine to be imported, and it must have been administered 30 days prior to the flight. Thus, it can be difficult or impossible to import a dog between 12 and 16 weeks of age to the US. If the puppy is not yet old enough for rabies vaccine, it may fly without one and be quarantined with the new owner until it is old enough to receive the vaccine plus 30 days. I try to get my puppies over here under 12 weeks old.
However, it sounds like there is no exception in the UK to allow a puppy to be imported without a rabies vaccine if it is too young. You should double check if they have a rule about when the pup can fly after it receives the vaccine, eg. if you need to wait a certain number of days for it to be in effect before the flight.
Yes after doing a little research Iv also found that it is 21 days after the 3 months (12 weeks)..
Anybody have an idea of how big the pup would be by this point? Also, (Brad if you can help much appreciated), should I take any precautions to ensure a healthy bond with the pup if its already almost 4 months old?
@timkim Was this into the UK? Can I ask when it was you did this?
Joey
Does anybody know how big the Shikoku would have gotten at 4 months? When do they get to full size?
I ask because as much as I know owning a dog is more than just enjoying the cute puppy stage, I do still want to enjoy the cute puppy stage and watch them as they grow. Owning a dog is a new experience for me so I would have liked owning the pup from the youngest age.
Joey
What have the Shikoku US breeders told you about it? Akita and Shikoku are very different. Akita might do just fine after being imported at a later age. I'm not sure how a Shikoku pup would turn out if brought into a family past their prime socialization window. I know that Shigeru didn't want to import a Shikoku pup back in February because of it.
Brad is going through some tough times at the moment... He might not respond immediately.
I would meet one first before deciding anything. Meeting the pup's potential parents and breeder could help
Since you were also showing some interest in the shiba in your intro thread, you shouldn't rule them out. From what I've heard, there are shibas locally bred in the UK. You won't have to deal with any importing hassles, thus saving a good deal of money and still getting to "enjoy" the puppy-phase. Even though people say they are not a good first time dog, the same could apply with a shikoku, but basically that's to deter people who are impulse buying or expecting them to be what they are not. You are taking the time to research and learn, even considering importing a dog, so truthfully I think you would be capable of preparing yourself for either breed.
I feel a little deflated now
Would anyone have good alternative recommendations to the Shikoku? I do like the Shiba however not sure if the temperment would work with our house life and environment. I wanted the shikoku as they are very loyal and obedient.
Hope you guys can help.
Thanks everyone.
Joey
I know how you feel. I had 3 years of ups and downs until we finally got our dogs in March and April of this year. Don't be discouraged! Maybe the law will change in the future.
But in general, what are the characteristics that you are looking for in a dog? What type of lifestyle will it be living in and what are the most important qualities that that dog should have?
Will 4 month Shikoku really ne that troublesome for me or can it happen? I no a Shikoku has come to the UK but no idea by whom and how it turned out for them.
In terms or character, we want a smart, intelligent dog, and are really set on the nordic breeds/japanese breeds due their incredible look. We want a dog that can be affectionate, playful but also indepdent.
The Shiba was my first choice before learning about the Shikoku. I want my dog to be happy to see me when I come home, and walk to me if I call them. Loyal and obedient are the main things really. What I love about the Shikoku are there loyalness to their masters, there look, there intelligence.
I dont mimd if the dog is hard work, any dog will be as I dont have experience. What makes me nervous about the Shiba is that they have a tendency to be stubborn and non responsive to their owner.. unless im wrong?
Would akitas, malamutes and huskies be too much work for me?
Basically I have a 6 bedroom home and a medium sized fenced yard. My plan is to convert my side garage room (about 8 by 10 feet) into a room for the dog to sleep in.
I work 9-5 so would be using a dog minder for a.few hours a day then commiting my evenings to the dog.
Any suggestions based on that?
She's very reserved and calm, but sometimes very "stubborn and non responsive" (independent breeds are often like that)... Yes she's very easy to train and very smart, but she's also smart enough to decide she doesn't want to "come", "sit", "drop it" or "leave it" whenever she wants. Sometimes when I give her a command she just looks at me and sighs.... I'm not kidding. Intelligence backfires in this case hahahahaha
Most dogs can be very loyal and obedient to their owners. It really up to the owners to dedicate time and develop the relationship. This is not unique to spitz breeds.
@Calia has a malamute, if I'm correct, she could probably give you some info on them.
Huskies are very popular in the States and they seem to be super friendly (where as most Shikoku Ken tend to be shy and aloof... preferring to be left alone).
Tetsu, my shiba boy can be quite aloof with strangers but is incredibly affectionate with those he knows. When I come home from work, he always greets me with much excitement. He snuggles at times but also enjoys his alone time, sometimes being found in places I would have never thought he'd sleep in. Each shiba has their own unique way of showing affection so long as you know what to look for. He doesn't get along with every dog he sees, but those he knows he loves, and being small allows for me to easily remove me from a situation. He was fairly easy to train using positive reinforcement, very quick to learn new things, though he can also be easily distracted or at times prefer to do something else. He can be nervous at times, often he is pretty sensitive to sounds which prevents me from using a clicker around him. When he's done with training practice, he walks away and finds something else to do. He does really enjoy playing tug with me, and prefers one on one time instead of group activities.
Tikaani, my siberian husky boy, is a moosh. He is very good with strange people and dogs, which seems to be common for the breed since their initial job required them to be working in close proximity with other dogs as well as handled by strangers. He can have a lot of energy at times, especially if not given enough exercise, and will often run around the living room to burn it off. With reward based training, he learns quickly but not as quickly as the other two, and the biggest difficulty is weaning him off the treats. Some huskies are hard headed, but I believe that it is all dependent on the kind of training used (what dog wouldn't work for something they love). He isn't too much of a snuggler, but he does enjoy interaction with us and the other dogs. He's also a creature of habit, sometimes "yelling" at me when his meals aren't presented on time. It is generally preferred that this breed live with a canine companion if not given enough attention from their human family. They can be destructive when bored, so it is best to crate them when not supervised.
Miyu, my shikoku girl, sometimes feels like a mix of the other two breeds (shiba and husky). She doesn't care for strangers, sometimes to the point of barking, and really doesn't like dogs that she doesn't know, but she is very friendly and affectionate to those she does know. She is incredibly rude, often getting into faces and never knowing when to stop. I find that she is pretty stupid when it comes to reading other dogs, often ignoring calming/stress signals. She can be pretty barky, especially when frustrated or bored, and sometimes she just growls for the heck of it. Unless crated, she doesn't like to hold still and will constantly look for something to do or someone to annoy. She is very persistent when she wants something, almost never stopping until she either gets it. She is very quick to learn and willing to work for treats, sometimes picking up things from the other dogs. She's not much of a cuddler, but she enjoys being petted and will sometimes smack me with her paw when I stop.
Anyways, I hope this helps.
I have spoken to 2 different breeders who have not really shown any concern about the Shikoku coming over at 4 months. So not sure what to make of it just yet :S
@Hinata23 So you’re saying that whichever breed I get, can be trained into decent levels of obedience and good behaviour? Even if I go with a Shiba who are notorious for being “difficult to train and highly aloof and stubborn” (according to most websites lol – though I completely understand this can deter impulse buys as another member just mentioned). If that’s the case I guess I would be fine with a Shiba too
The Nordic Spitz is an amazing looking dog too but I am having quite a lot of difficulty finding a breeder close to me, or one at all! Haha.
I am also now interested to hear a little more about the Husky and Akita options. After doing a little research I think the Husky would actually be a great choice for my household.
@Venus So you have a American Akita and a Japanese Akita? Are there many differences there? So my 9-5 day, with the use of a dog minder in between, in the 10 x 8 foot room (actually it’s about 13 x 9 I checked again to be sure haha) for his ‘bedroom’/’playroom’/happy room would be decent for the Akita? Two members have told me the Akita are easier than the Shikoku/Shiba; what are others thoughts on this?
I would like an Akita but fear that in its alone time it may become frustrated which I don’t want.
@Calia Thank you for highlighting your experience with your dogs. Gives me a great perspective on things. I have to say your Shikoku sounds different to the generic temperament that I have seemed to hear of on the net; but I guess that goes to show that all dogs are very different, even from the same breed Your Shiba actually sounds great!
I would like to ask, based on my circumstances (9-5 job), would a Husky be ok to live with us? Or may he become bored and destructive? I will get a dog minder for midday of course, walk him every morning and most likely go for a 30 min jog in the evenings (I love my evening jogs), but if I don’t jog we would go for a walk again, so he’d have about 3 walks a day, play time too in the garden. But there would be that long morning and afternoon period where he’s by himself.
Also, are Akita’s and Huskies ok off leash? Or not really….?
@Poeticdragon How is your experience with your Akita? In terms of exercise, environment etc.
Thank you everybody, really appreciate all your help for getting my new family member.
Joey
I suppose I woud like to know; with an alaskan malamute, or siberian husky, would they be ok to keep crated whilst at work for long periods? Can I let the husky or siberian roam the house when its a little older and not worry about it taking a chunk out of my bed
Note, that I won't just have a crate for the dog, but an entire room, with a crate inside. The room will be his/hers to enjoy, sleep in, eat in and play in. Then when I can let the dog roam the house I would like to let them enjoy the space.
I know I can do this with a shiba without too much trouble
Really appreciate everybodies patience with me. Thanks again.
Venus is a totally different compared to her sister. she is what can only be called lazy, quite happy to lay down and sleep for the entire day. she wouldn't even require a sitter in fact she would be most put out if her day time nap was disturbed. she likes her own company we get snuggles when she wants them and not when we want them and is much more independent than Athena. she doesn't like other dogs and has no recall at all. off lead isn't an opinion with her but she adores kids and as a super temperament with people. Although i do have to say while i adore her she will be my last Akita.
every breed as its good and bad points, and its great to see someone taking time to find the right breed for them, if only everyone did the same.
if your ever in the Yorkshire area and want to see them so you can meet both breeds in the flesh then let me know we are more than happy to have visitors. another option is discovery dogs which is at Earls Court in November. its a kennel Club run event and pretty much every breed that's recognized here in the uk is available to meet.
What you're looking for in a dog can be found in so many different breeds that are not Spitz... You shouldn't limit your research to Spitz breeds because of their "wild" and "wolf" look.