Moving Overseas with a Dog

There are several things that must be considered when moving a dog overseas, and the earlier a dog owner starts the process, the better. We moved to France a year ago with our two dogs: Hudson, a chow-chow, and Marley, a lab-chow mix. We were lucky in the sense that France is very dog friendly. We live in Paris, where you're more likely to see a dog beside you in a cafe than a child. Other countries are not as accommodating.

The first step is to determine the quarantine and paperwork requirements of your new home country. Again, France was very accommodating when it came to quarantine. We were allowed to pick our dogs up at the airport with our luggage and take them to our new home. In England, however, dogs can require a six-month quarantine before being admitted to the country. While dogs coming from the United States to England are considered to have come from a country with a "low incidence of rabies" (and thus can avoid the quarantine), the preparation process must begin at least six months before leaving the United States in order to avoid quarantine.

Just about every country requires dogs to be micro-chipped before arriving. The microchip requirements vary from country to country as well. The chips we use in the United States don't work in Europe, so it is important to have an EU-compliant microchip implanted in the dog before moving to Europe. If you are moving to France or Italy, even an EU-compliant chip won't do. You must have a special 18-digit microchip implanted if you plan to live in France or Italy. In the U.S., Home Again offers a range of microchips to include EU-compliant chips and even the 18-digit chips required by France and Italy.

Transportation is another major consideration. All but the smallest dogs are required to have an IATA-approved crate in which to travel. Spend some time getting your dog used to the crate before the big move. Dogs are denning animals, so they actually like the crates, and the crate will become a source of comfort in the airport environment filled with scary noises and smells. Many owners ask if their dog should be given a sedative before flying. The answer is no in almost every case. The reason is that the sedative may have side effects at altitude and could harm the dog. Check with your vet to be sure.

Another airline regulation many dog owners aren't familiar with is the temperature restriction on certain breeds. Breeds that are recognized as cold-weather dogs are not allowed to fly if the temperature in any of the connecting cities exceeds a pre-determined threshold. So it might be difficult to get your Siberian Husky through Miami in July. Check with your airline to see if this applies to your dog's breed.

Finally, don't feed your dog within 24 hours of the flight. If it is a long flight, the airline will allow you to send food along with the crate, and the airline's dog handlers will feed your dog if necessary. However, by not feeding the dog within 24 hours of the flight, you help to avoid a messy crate and added stress to your dog's already stressful situation.

After the flight, your dog will be very happy to see you. Don't panic if your dog is disoriented or acts a little strange at first. This is a new world for the dog as well, full of new smells and sounds and sights. Many vets recommend against giving a dog water in this excited state, and to wait about an hour after getting home. I didn't have the heart to wait, as my dogs were very thirsty. It didn't hurt them at all. They were just overjoyed to see us!

With familiarity comes comfort, so get your dog out walking the new neighborhood as soon as possible. Once your dog is comfortable with his new "territory", he will settle into a routine and go back to his duties of guarding the house, fetching your slippers (yeah, right), and being mans' best friend.