Importing a dog from Germany to USA - Page 1

Can anyone help me get an idea of costs and procedure when importing an adult dog from germany to the usa?  Would it be shipped to the airport closest to my house or would it go to a quarentine station?  About how much is everything with quarentine etc and how long is quarentine?  What is the safest way to pay someone overseas?  Paypal?  Thanks!

There is no quarantine.  Most of the time they can ship them to your closest major airport.  Cost can range from $800-$1200 plus the broker fee (about $150-$200).  I would strongly advise you to hire a broker to clear your dog at the port of entry. 
Safest way to send money?  Make sure you know who you are dealing with.  I do bank wires but only to people I know.

the best thing is to have the dog shipped to the closest "larger international airport" and a direct flight is really the best for everyone concerned.

you can do your own customs, just arrive on time, and follow the directions, go to customs with a bunch of papers, tell the customs agent that you have a new pet, they look a the papers punch some holes in it and tell you to go and get your dog.

shipping varies depending on the weight of the dog and the size of the crate. anywhere from $500 to $1200

bring cash to pay the workers - $30 to $50

i have a supplier what only accepts western union becasue the german government takes 15%+ of every wire transfer.
some are happy to take a wire transfer. they all insist to be paid in full prior to shipping. so you had better vet your supplier......

i've done it 6 times so far and all without a hitch.

sitasmom, what papers  do you need to bring ?? ID?  i will be importing from romania in a month or so and paperwork will be with dog , workers you mean handlers of crate and people taking care of pup until released to me?? 

Trust me, get a broker..  I have cleared many dogs myself but if you don't have a direct flight your dog could get stuck at the port of entry and sit in the crate.  Also be honest with customs.  If you are a breeder tell them you are a breeder.  Don't lie to them because they are a little smarter than what some people might think.  It honestly does not matter what you do with the dog.  People may get away with telling them it's just a pet but they will catch on.  Honesty ALWAYS pays off.

Thanks for the help.

You can do it yourself. Your experience is good or bad depending on the individual that is serving you. Have your paper work in order and all should be fine!

Depends on the airport if you need a broker to clear customs or not.  If you have a flight to Chicago or Atlanta you do not necessarily need one.  I am in Illinois so those would have been logical options for me.  I had my dogs taken to STL international airport and had no choice not to use a broker to clear them.  I did use GK.  They will pick up the dog from the breeder and take care of everything for you, including getting you linked up with a broker if that is needed here in the US.  You can pay GK with a major credit card.  You will also have to sign a paper that says you will self quarentine the dog until it gets a rabies vac. (etc.) I cannot recall the time frame that is required.  But you can keep the dog at home.  I think it was USDA or something like that.   

You could just go to Germany, pick up the dog yourself, and fly back with the dog as extra baggage (about $200).  No middle man involved.   Make sure to get a health certificate from the breeder, and the dog's Impfpass (vaccination record), plus the dog's SV papers of course.  Take a shipping crate with you from the US, they are cheaper here; put the two sides into each other, then wrap it up in giant plastic bags for checking it in as luggage.  You can even dump the crate off in left luggage in Frankfurt airport (or any airport), and leave it there until your return trip.  My last dog, we bought from people we know, they brought the dog to the airport for me, and I paid them cash.  When you arrive back in the US, obviously go through the something to declare line, declare your dog, show health certificate, done and go home.  

this is what I've done in the past with no issue.........................

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call carrier to take responsibility for picking up the dog - a contact number will be supplied.

call carrier to ensure the dog is on the flight

go to cargo terminal at designated day and time

say you have a dog to pick up and show drivers license

pick up a stack of papers

deliver the papers to the customs office and show drivers license

say "I cannot wait to get your new dog home, I've been waiting for so long"

take papers from customs office and deliver them back to cargo terminal

show drivers license again and pay there extra handling fee

take paper to the dock worker

pack your car or truck up to the door

dock worker(s) will put crate containing dog into your car/truck

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from frankfurt to houston is 11 hours.......

have water, food dish, premium treats, leash and collar with you.

find a safe place quiet place and give dog a few treats (small cooked chicken cubes, cheese cubes etc)

if dog is interested give a few more while calling its name

if dog is acting friendly, open crate and place collar and leash on dog while offering more treats

let dog out to pee and poo and stretch its legs

give a few more treats

offer water

let walk around a bit more offering more treats

show treats as you throw them into the crate and direct your dog into the crate

now you're ready for the long drive home

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i have never had a problem at Houston Intercontinental Airport.

i have only accepted direct flights


what airports have been giving problems?