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moving from overseas to UK - dog dilemma - anyone been in this situation?

19 replies

lululemonrefuser · 21/01/2008 19:01

We currently live overseas, and since we've been here, we acquired a dog. We'd always understood that we'd be here for a number of years, but at very short notice, my husband's company are moving us back to the UK in 8 weeks time.

Although the dog is up to date on rabies jabs, we'll have to do the whole pet passport thing, and the waiting period is six months from the blood test being taken until he can enter the UK without doing quarantine. So we have two options - we can bring him to the UK in March, but he'll serve the remainder of the 6months in quarantine, or we can leave him here with our breeder, and fetch him in August (when we'll be back anyway, as our kids are committed to summer camps here).

I'm heartbroken at the thought of being apart from him for almost 5 months, and not sure what to do for the best. If we take him to the UK straight away we could visit him, but he'd be confined at a kennels and on his own. If we leave him here with the breeder, he'll be somewhere familiar in the countryside which he loves, running on the hills with his cousins, and our lovely breeder will carry on his training too. But we won't see him for 4.5 months. I'm worried that he'll think we're never coming back.

What would/did you do?

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luciemule · 21/01/2008 23:21

I previously worked for the office who's area first introduced the Pet Passport and knowing that some pets (and owners) find quarantine traumatic, the suggestion that you leave your dog overseas and pick him later is probably nicer for him and you.

As you say, he'll have his cousins and someone he knows to look after him. You will miss him but it might be nicer for him and it'll be easier for you to be unhappy than for him to be stressed and unhappy.

hatwoman · 21/01/2008 23:25

leave him definitely. think about it from the dog's pov - have him free and happy, normal walks etc, or in kennels. it'll be tough for you but for him it'll certainly be better

brimfull · 21/01/2008 23:29

leave him

the thought of him in quarantine is much worse

nooka · 21/01/2008 23:35

Leave him. Some dogs react very badly to quarantine, and most dogs hate kennels. If he is somewhere he is happy then you will be picking up a happy dog in five months time. If you bring him over to a kennel you may be able to visit but you will probably get a very unhappy dog in five months time. My parent's next door neighbour has just had their dog put down for biting a child, and my mother is convinced that the quarantine affected his temperament (but then my mother is very opinionated and was very peeved when the said dog bit her - most dogs adore her).

lululemonrefuser · 22/01/2008 12:55

Thanks so much for those replies.

I think we should leave him - I can't bear the thought of him in quarantine. He loves it up North with our breeder. I just had a big wobble yesterday after a whole bunch of people at my dog park started on about how he would think I had abandoned him and would not know me when we come back for him in August. In my head I know this is a load of nonsense - he and I have such a great bond and I know he will be so happy there while we move - but it just made me really anxious - all these doggy types having a go at me!

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wannaBe · 22/01/2008 13:20

when we came back from south africa my parents brought their two dogs back with them and they went into quarantine.

I would never do it again.

if you have the option of leaving him, then I would leave him. I would be prepared though for the fact that the bond probably will not be exactly as it is now, but it is definitely the lesser of two evils IMO.

hatwoman · 22/01/2008 13:46

btw - if it makes you feel better my fil went travelling for about 7 months and left his dog in the care of trusted friends. she came back a tad fatter but very happy - and settled straight back in to life with fil - ie as adoring as ever. It could have had a short-term effect on their relationship - but certainly no long-term one. Your dog will definitely be better off staying in a homely loving environment

lululemonrefuser · 22/01/2008 18:01

Thank you - it does make me feel better. I spoke to a friend this morning as well who had to leave her dog with her sister for three months, and it worked out fine. Saw the vet to get bloodwork done today and she was very positive too. I'm trying to be cheerful about it and not think about the moment when I will have to leave without him.

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ScienceTeacher · 22/01/2008 18:06

TBH, I would rather do the quarantine.

I've never done it with dogs - just cats - but they are usually very lovely places, with loving kennel maids. You can visit your pet also. We used to go once a week to see our cats.

hatwoman · 22/01/2008 18:46

dogs and cats are so different though

lululemonrefuser · 22/01/2008 18:53

The thing is though, ScienceTeacher, my dog is young and a very high energy breed - I walk him for 45mins-1hr and then the same again off leash every day, plus running around the garden, and doing training and learning tricks. I don't think he'll get that at a quarantine kennel, will he? And he won't be able to interact with other dogs. It would be fine for a cat though, as you say.

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ScienceTeacher · 22/01/2008 19:02

I'm sure he'd get lots of walking.

You can check with the potential quarantine kennels to see what they do before making your decision.

I just wanted to point out that they do try to make the best of a bad situation. It's not the same as boarding kennels.

VanillaPumpkin · 22/01/2008 19:06

Leave him. We had to leave our dog when we went overseas with DH's work as she is travel sick in a car and the idea of the journey without us, her stressing etc was too much to bear. My MIL had her and then a friend. It was not ideal but she was in happy homes and settled quickly to being back with us despite us having a toddler and baby we didn't have when we left her.
DH and I sobbed the whole way from Suffolk to the M25. It was very very hard but def the best option for her.

ConfusedMover · 22/01/2008 19:14

Leave him with the breeder, he'll be fine. I had friend who had to do the same going from Austria to Australia. The dog stayed with the dog sitter and she subsequently dealt with all the paperwork for his flight to Aus etc. It worked out fine.

lululemonrefuser · 22/01/2008 19:30

Thank you! I know am being pathetic. He is a PFB dog. I didn't get this wound up the first time my children went away from home!

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hatwoman · 22/01/2008 19:33

and at PFB dog. I was brought up with them but never had my own as a adult. one day...

ConfusedMover · 23/01/2008 05:39

PFB??

ScienceTeacher · 23/01/2008 05:44

precious first born

ConfusedMover · 23/01/2008 10:36

Now I understand, our Irish Terrier was our PFB then

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