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If anyone could give me some information on taking dogs abroad that would be great. I will be working in france next summer and shall be taking a dog with me. I read that they have to be vaccinated before re entering the uk, how does that work?

also, is there a waiting time to get the dog passport or do you get it straight from your vet etc?

thanks :)

Hi

The microchip and injection can be done on the same visit.  Then is is four weeks before the blood test.  When the results come back showing a satisfactory level of antibodies the passport is issued.

You can take your dog abroad from the date of receiving the passport, BUT it can not return to the UK until six months have elapsed from the date of the blood test.

This page explains it :

http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/quarantine/pets/procedures/owners.htm

We have used the scheme for nine years and it is great. Here are our two in the field outside our house in Niederau (Austria) last week.

Have Fun

Michael

Hiya Messybeanie. I would start the process now for your pet passport, so your ready for next year. Its dead easy. Then by the time your going next year, your six months period is up. We take our two monsters to France and they love it.

Just remember to keep the vaccs and rabies injections up todate or you have to start all over again. And our UK rabies injections are now 3 years but if your camping in France, you'll have to have the rabies booster done every year, which we have to do.

Even now after all these years, still have butterflies going into the pet customs at the tunnel but they are really friendly and its really important to check when leaving the vets that he's stamped, dated and put the time of when he did the tick and worming as you've only a window of 48 hours to get home. The first 24 hours you can't leave the country, so you've only got 24hours. The times we've got there and other people's pet passports haven't been recorded properly, screaming, shouting.

Also take some frontline with you, as however much grooming you do after a walk, the little vampires attach themselves and get yourself a little plastic green hook from your own vet to whip them off. Yuck!!

Have fun