Flying my dog to Korea

Moominmamma

Hello,

We will be relocating to Seoul fairly imminently and will be taking our dog with us. I am completely befuddled with all the requirements for taking him overseas.

I have contacted DEFRA and from what I can understand I just need to fill out an export form for him, make sure he has a rabies jab, and get him declared fit to fly a couple of days before leaving - is this right? Is there anything else I need to do? I'm having horrible visions of checking him in and finding I'm missing some vital piece of paperwork!!

I'm quite tempted to use a pet relocating company, but not sure if it's really worth it - does anyone have any experience of any of these companies? Or any ideas of which airlines are best for transporting pets? He's 30+kg so won't be able to come in the cabin with us

I would be hugely grateful for any relevant info, so want the journey to be as stress free as possible for my boy!

Thanks

Oliver14

I would speak to specialist companies especially as they will know what paperwork jabs etc he needs. I would at least speak to them. If you think they are going to charge a silly amount of money you can always change your mind. At least if you enquire you'll have an idea of what is involved both cost and admin.

ljonski

I hope you realise that dogs are a great delicacy in Korea.

peachyprice

Don't forget to check the requirements for eventually bringing him BACK to the UK. I would hate for you to have trouble bringing him home for the sake of a piece of paperwork no-body told you would need before you left.

krlyr

ljonski wrote: »

I hope you realise that dogs are a great delicacy in Korea.

Rabbits are considered a great delicacy by many in the UK but it doesn't really stop people keeping pet rabbits.

Fosterdog

I would seriously consider a sedative of some sort for him. Even a crate trained dog will not understand why it is being shut in a cage for so long and won't understand what all the noises relating to planes are or the sensations during take off and landing. It's an awful lot to put him through without being with him to reassure him.

Have you got him a pet passport?

Moominmamma

Thanks for all the replies guys

I have emailed a few specialist pet relocation companies for quotes, just waiting for them to get back to me now. I'm pretty confident now that I'm aware of all the jabs and paper-work required this end and dh has asked someone in his company in Korea to speak to the animal people at the airport in Seoul just to double check there are no extra requirements when we arrive. I think I'm going to try and sort it myself, not least because that way we can at least get an airline approved crate in advance and try and break him in gently.

I completely appreciate with what you're saying about the flight Fosterdog - I hate flying myself, but at least I know what's going on! I will definitely look into getting some kind of natural sedative for him before we go, and he gets to have his blanket, which is his all time favourite thing, lol, in the crate with him. Not taking him with us though is just not an option, it would be like leaving one of the kids behind.

Peachy, it's interesting you should say that about the rules for re-entry to the UK - I rang the vet this morning to book Jimmi in for his rabies jab, and she was like, "You do realise that he'll need to be in quarantine for 6 months when you get back?" I was just :eek:
but have now double checked with DEFRA and that isn't the case, thank goodness.

Thanks again

pinetree

Hi, just to add I would look into the use of sedatives with the pet transporters/airline as they might think a 'dopey' dog could be an ill dog if they dont know he/she has been sedated, also if it hasnt been mentioned the size of the crate is very important and has lead to some animals not being able to travel because they have been too small, hope this of some help.

adouglasmhor

Moominmamma wrote: »

Thanks for all the replies guys

I have emailed a few specialist pet relocation companies for quotes, just waiting for them to get back to me now. I'm pretty confident now that I'm aware of all the jabs and paper-work required this end and dh has asked someone in his company in Korea to speak to the animal people at the airport in Seoul just to double check there are no extra requirements when we arrive. I think I'm going to try and sort it myself, not least because that way we can at least get an airline approved crate in advance and try and break him in gently.

I completely appreciate with what you're saying about the flight Fosterdog - I hate flying myself, but at least I know what's going on! I will definitely look into getting some kind of natural sedative for him before we go, and he gets to have his blanket, which is his all time favourite thing, lol, in the crate with him. Not taking him with us though is just not an option, it would be like leaving one of the kids behind.

Peachy, it's interesting you should say that about the rules for re-entry to the UK - I rang the vet this morning to book Jimmi in for his rabies jab, and she was like, "You do realise that he'll need to be in quarantine for 6 months when you get back?" I was just :eek:
but have now double checked with DEFRA and that isn't the case, thank goodness.

Thanks again

He might not be allowed his blanket, I was not allowed when I shipped dogs to the states a couple of years back in case they choked on them.

murphydog999

When we moved to Cyprus and flew Murphy and our 2 cats, I knew I would be in bits, so we got a company next to Heathrow airport (Airpets?) to take care of everything. With just the one animal it would be pretty straight forward, there is lots of information available.

We were also not allowed to put anything in their crates, and a sedative is also not allowed. At the other end they will be assessed, and if the dog is medicated this will be difficult.

You will inevitably be more stressed then he will - I certainly was!

Moominmamma

Thanks for the advice.

I will look into the sedative thing - I know he's not allowed to be drugged, but thought maybe he would be allowed a natural sedative, a doggy Rescue Remedy kinda thing I see what you're saying though pinetree in that he could appear to be ill if he's dopey. Failing anything else I think there's a canine equivalent of Feliway so maybe I could use that?

Adouglasmhor, I will double check about his blanket. From what I've read online I thought he could have a blanket but not any toys, I really hope that's the case because he's very attached to his blanket. He is a rescue dog and was taken away from his mum too early and so sucks his blanky all the time even though he's three now!

I think he's going to need a giant Vari Kennel. Breed-wise I thought extra-large would be ok, but having measured him and checked with the Heathrow guidelines (apparently they're the most stringent) I think the XL might be an inch or two short.

Think you're right Murphydog that I'm gonna be more stressed than him! I can't believe that there are so many pitfalls involved in getting him over there! I've already made two Korean Estate Agents nearly lose the will to live - every place they were showing us, lots of which were lovely, I kept telling them it was no good for the dog. I think they thought I was a bit mental :rotfl: I will check out AirPets, none of the companies I asked for quotes yesterday have got back to me, so that doesn't exactly fill me with confidence, it's good to have a personal recommendation, thanks.