Importing dogs (20 characters)?

Question

Would you import a dog from another country or continent? Like if you buy a puppy from another country/continent and ship the puppy to you? I'm just curious as to whether you are dedicated enough to deal with the hassle of it, trying to communicate to someone who speaks another language, dealing with the airport people, paying for the very expensive shipping. If I found I dog I wanted I would definitely ship it from anywhere.

Answer 1

That's what I do...so, yes. If a dog or puppy can't handle the "stress" of being shipped, it's some pretty poor breeding to begin with. Cargo bins are climate controlled...they don't need food or water for 12-14 hours if necessary (although they DO have bowls for it)...there is rarely a hassle at the airport ...except Atlanta (because they're all imbeciles)...if they have to overnight (rarely), they are put in a regular kennel, walked, fed, watered. NO problem.



As far as buying sight unseen from Europe? No. I can do it, but I don't recommend it. They WILL NOT...NONE OF THEM, ship their top quality stuff to America without you knowing them...knowing your breed...and spending a whole lotta money. What comes here are basically the rejects when someone "orders" a dog...or even goes there on a one time basis to buy the dog.

Answer 2

I would say that it would depend on the breed, purpose and the person. I for sure would go through all the time, hassle and money to do it. I am into Great Danes, and the overly American lines don't show in conformation as well as European lines (that being said, the true European lines tend to be a little stocky for the American ring, so you have to be careful there - in Great Danes that is). I see myself importing from another country at some point in my showing career, and especially depending on what lines I am working with for my breeding program.



I think that people who don't has as much of an interest in lines and conformation, that it would be a lot of work, but if they wanted a certain look of dog bad enough, I wouldn't think they were crazy for it.

Answer 3

Yes, I would....one day, I probably will :).



My dream dog is a Beauceron. The gene pool in the US is fairly small and the breed has only been here since the 1970's. The breed is native to France, is far more common in Europe; pup prices are actually quite a bit cheaper than in the US and the breed has been established there for 200-300 years. Hard not to see where the advantage is. :)



Plus, I want a working prospect- Schutzhund, French Ring. The selection of proven working bloodlines in Europe, compared to the States....is like a Vegas all-you-can-eat buffet, compared to a personal pan pizza. A plain cheese pizza, at that.



I figured I'd cross the "learning to speak French" hurdle as I started making contacts with breeders. I know somebody who travels to France every year to trial his dogs in FCI hunting trials....he has friends & associates in the dog world and perhaps I can enlist his help when the time comes? Plus Beauce people in the US are very helpful; two ladies with imported French & Belgian dogs have already told me to contact them when I am ready to start looking & they will help me.



However, I don't think I'll be comfortable making the financial transaction sight-unseen. I might do that with a well known US breeder, but not overseas! No reason why I can't fly over, meet the breeder face-to-face, hand him/her the money and lay hands on my puppy. At 8-9 weeks they're small enough to ride home under the seat in a sherpa carrier :)....extra towels just in case they piddle. The other Beauce folks who've imported said it's how they did it.



Apparently, with European pups being several hundred dollars cheaper than US pups in many cases (same health tests etc....just a different price market)...the added cost of the flight plus the conversion from US$ to Euro....importing is not THAT much more costly than buying from the US, at least with Beauce pups. Within several hundred dollars, easily.....well worth it for the access to a larger selection of quality dogs IMO :)

Answer 4

A less expensive option could be to buy a straw of frozen semen of a top quality male and have THAT shipped in the proper insulated container. When it arrives take it and your female straight to the vet and have AI done. It is less expensive than shipping live puppies or adults. But again, you'd have to know the reputability of the kennel t know if they'd be giving you the semen from the correct male.

Answer 5

Dutchman is absolutely correct in his answer to you. I was born and raised in Europe, I know a few breeders there that I deal with exclusively and I do that because I know they will not screw me, I know they are ethical and I have been to their kennels many times, seen their dogs many times, worked their dogs many times and brought their dogs here many more times.

However, just as there are breeders there that are honest, there are those that hear "American with money" and get a *****!!!!

I have always bought my dogs from Europe, have not had a problem yet. Could I find what I am looking for here...maybe, but, I am not big on taking chances with something I have to work or compete with and I am REAL anal with my dogs...maybe that is why I have been looking for almost 2 years now for a personal dog and nothing yet.

Hope I helped!

Answer 6

Probably not--I just don't see myself being extremely dedicated to a breed that isn't here, or being dedicated enough to take on conformation :)



As it is, "my breeds" are very popular here. It's simple to find what I want, be it a working dog, pet, or even a conformation prospect.



If I ever did become dedicated to a breed I couldn't easily find here, by all means, I would ship.

Answer 7

i've seen the good, the bad, and the ugly with imports. it's a chance you take when you can't meet the dog/pup face to face. however, i would import from a person abroad who has a following, and if someone I know bought a good dog from them.

Answer 8

If I had a breed that had a small gene pool and I thought by importing a dog from abroad it would improve the breed, then yes.

As my breed originated here and I believe we have the best selection here and a large gene pooI I would not import from abroad. #

Answer 9

yes i ship almost every time i get a dog.

Answer 10

No, almost all breeds can be bought within the US and canada and shipped to where I live (northern Canada)

Answer 11

Absolutely not! I would never want an animal to endure "shipment". They are boxed up (hopefully with food and water) and put in cargo. Many animals have died from dehydration, stress induced myopathy and hypothermia. It just seems so selfish and cruel to me. If I really had to have an animal from another country I would fly there and bring it back myself.