Shipping a Dog to the UK withOUT its Owner - can it be done?

[Gloria Atwater]

Howdy all ~

Does anyone have experience with shipping dogs from the US to the UK - without the owner traveling along and without the dog being sold to someone in the UK?

I'm trying to do some research for a friend of mine. She purchased a pup from the UK, had it sent here to the US, and now that it's grown, she would like to send it back to the trainer for training.

But ... all the info that I can find out there about the DEFRA travel scheme appears geared towards people traveling with their pets or having their pets shipped ahead and then meeting them over there. I can't find anything about sending an unaccompanied dog to the UK, especially if it's not being sold to someone the UK.

Can anyone advise? Can this be done without having to be put in quarantine?

Thanks!

~ Gloria

[Donald McCaig]

Dear Ms. Atwater,

 

I had good liuck with skymasters out of the Manchester airport (Uk to US). david@skymasters.co..uk

 

Donald McCaig

[alligande]

Gloria, I believe it can as long as the dogs paper work is in order. I think the easiest way would be to use an agent. I did not use them as I arranged our shipping myself but http://www.petrelocation.com where very informative, it was their paperwork that I ended up using, they provided a comprehensive packet without me booking them, they also seemed to be fairly priced, if shipping a dog to the UK could ever be called fairly priced.

[Gloria Atwater]

Thanks, Donald and Alligande! My poor friend is about to pull her hair out, but I think talking to these shipping companies is the best way to go. They've after all DONE this kind of thing before.

~ Gloria

[alligande]

Gloria, has she talked directly with British Airways and Virgin Atlantic? They are the only airlines carrying dogs into the UK from the US. I found BAs cargo department very helpful, took time to get through, but once through they were knowledgable. All dogs going into the UK fly cargo even if escorted so the process will be similar, it is what makes it so expensive to fly dogs to versus other countries. This also applies flying them within Europe, I could fly my dog to Paris, or Frankfurt for a 100euros, it costs 800 to London.

[Gloria Atwater]

Gloria, has she talked directly with British Airways and Virgin Atlantic? They are the only airlines carrying dogs into the UK from the US. I found BAs cargo department very helpful, took time to get through, but once through they were knowledgable. All dogs going into the UK fly cargo even if escorted so the process will be similar, it is what makes it so expensive to fly dogs to versus other countries. This also applies flying them within Europe, I could fly my dog to Paris, or Frankfurt for a 100euros, it costs 800 to London.

 

No, she has not - we didn't know that, actually! But I'm thinking it would be easier for her to just use a pet transport company, since they know all the ins and outs and will make sure she doesn't make any mistakes in the process.

 

Though it does look like all dogs have to fly through London Heathrow? Which is not good, because the guy she wants to send her dog to is in Scotland, 8 hours away ... Anyhow, thank you. I'll do some more research!

 

~ Gloria

[alligande]

There are other airports than Heathrow, but it is a limited number. If the dog does have to connect through Heathrow, the animal reception center does a great job of caring for dogs, the long haul dogs get taken out their crates and put in a kennel/run fresh water etc. They also cleaned up his crate.

This is the link to BAs cargo agent, I think it is certainly worth contacting them directly to see if the flights line up well for your friend to do it herself as the monetary saving will be huge, if not one of the agents will do a good job as they will collect the dog from your friends home and deliver it to the trainer. https://www.iagcargo.com/iagcargo/portlet/en/html/products/specialist_cargo/live_animals

[Donald McCaig]

Dear Doggers,

 

I flew my dogs UK to US from Manchester and several pet transport firms are based there. Probably worth checking out Glasgow Airport https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pets-on-the-Move-Animal-Reception-Centre-Glasgow-Airport/199413680220545

 

Donald McCaig

[Katilea]

Don't you have dog Trainers in the US? Seems a long way to send the poor dog all the way back over here for training! Surely even for specialised training as a sheepdog you have such trainers over there too?

[Donald McCaig]

Dear Ms. Katilea,

Yep. Plenty of US sheepdog trainers: some as good or better than the UK. But none, like Scot Ian McMillan who trains sheepdogs from a wheelchair.

 

Donald McCaig

[Gloria Atwater]

Don't you have dog Trainers in the US? Seems a long way to send the poor dog all the way back over here for training! Surely even for specialised training as a sheepdog you have such trainers over there too?

 

 

Yes, we have plenty of very good, excellent trainers in the US. However, it's not my dog, so I have no say in the matter. Anyhow, if she can arrange it, my friend would be sending this young dog back to the person who bred it and sold it to her, and who has also worked the youngster while on a visit to the US and they really liked the dog. This pup is a bit tough, has tons of talent but also a propensity to grip and test the handler's resolve, and my friend is afraid of sending the dog out to someone who might use too harsh of measures. (Or to someone who might decide it's too much bother.) She says she'd feel better sending the dog to the person who bred the pup, knows the pup, knows the bloodlines and has already handled the youngster at its most mischievous on sheep.

 

Meanwhile, thanks, everyone, for input and info. My friend can't fly over herself but she's talked about maybe sending me over there at some point as its accompanying person, if the shipping thing proves too cost prohibitive.

 

~ Gloria