What you need to know before crossing the Canadian border with your dog

I have crossed the Canadian border several times from the United States with my dogs.

People know that I love traveling to Canada with my dogs, so they often ask me questions like:

“Can I take my dog ​​to Canada?”

“Is it difficult to cross the Canada-US border with my dog? »

“What rules should I follow when crossing the border with my dog? »

I’m always happy to share what I know based on research and experience.

UPDATE: This article was originally published in July 2014.

Can I take my dog ​​to Canada?

The short answer is yes. In most cases anyway.

With the right paperwork and appropriate vaccinations, adult dogs can travel to Canada from the United States (US) with you in a vehicle

Note: To be clear, we are talking about companion dogs, not dogs imported for commercial sale.

A dog can not cross the border into Canada with their owner if:

• Your dog has not been vaccinated (titer test does not count)
• Your dog does not have an up-to-date rabies vaccine or proof of it. *(see sub-section below regarding rabies and returning to the United States)
• Your dog looks like you have a communicable disease

Also, be aware that Ontario prohibits “pit bull” type dogs so you will not be able to go there with one (The source).

If your dog is not a pit bull but looks like one, bring documentation proving that your dog is not one.

Otherwise, your dog can travel to Canada with you.

Rabies Vaccination Requirements for Dogs to Reenter the United States

To enter Canada, your dog must simply have received the rabies vaccine and you must have proof of this.

There is no requirement for the time elapsed between rabies vaccination and entry into Canada.

Dogs box enter Canada if less than 30 days have elapsed between the rabies vaccine and the date you crossed the border with your dog.

However, there is is a waiting period to return to the United States.

The US requirement states that a dog that has never been vaccinated against rabies must be vaccinated at least 30 days before arriving at the Canadian border crossing in the United States.

Adult dogs over 15 months of age who ever received a rabies vaccinegiven no earlier than 3 months of age, and which has since expired, may [travel across the US border from Canada] immediately after the booster vaccination, without the need to wait 30 days.

Making sure 30 days have passed between the rabies shot and the two-way trip across the border is the best way to ensure you and your dog don’t experience any complications.

Are the Canada-US border crossing rules the same for my puppy?

For puppies under three months of age, vaccines or proof of a vaccine are not required TO ENTER CANADA.

You will need to present proof of your dog’s age at the Canadian border, which you can obtain from your veterinarian.

As noted above, the requirement to return to the United States is always 30 days prior to entry, regardless of age.

If you are considering bringing your puppy under 3 months old to Canada and you plan to stay in Canada longer than 30 days, you can consult a veterinarian for a rabies vaccination at least 30 days before your planned return to the United States. United. .

It’s a tricky and uncertain game to play though. It may be best to wait 30 days after your puppy’s first rabies vaccination to travel to Canada with him.

Traveling from the United States to Canada with an assistance dog

There is an exemption for service dogs.

Service and Assistance Dogs can enter Canada without any documentation, including proof of vaccination, if the dog is traveling to Canada with the owner.

The only caveat is that Canadian requirements state that for a service dog crossing the border without papers, the owner presents documentation showing that the animal is certified as a service animal by a recognized organization.

An important note here: Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, service dog owners are not required to hold any certification.

Also, not all online services that provide service dog “registration” are legitimate – they prey on uneducated people for profit.

So what will Canada expect when it says “documentation that the animal is certified as a service animal by a recognized organization”?

According to my service dog trainer friend and blog founder Puppy in trainingsays, “The organizations I’ve worked with give some kind of documentation to service dog handlers,” so I guess that would be acceptable to Canadian border guards.

Assistance dogs traveling only or with the other people in Canada are subject to the same regulations as non-service dogs.

help and assistance dogs traveling return to the United States need proof of rabies vaccination as indicated above.

Documents required to cross the Canada-US border with your dog

If you plan to cross the Canada-US border, you will need documentation proving that your dog has been vaccinated against rabies.

These documents must show your licensed veterinary clinic, trade name, date and expiration date of vaccination, and contain your veterinarian’s signature.

The rabies certificate must also include the name of the owner (your name) and a description of your animal (breed, color and weight).

Be aware of the timing requirements listed above.

To reiterate, when entering Canada, it is not necessary waiting period between the time the animal is vaccinated against rabies and the time the animal is imported into Canada.

However, entry into the United States requires your dog to have been vaccinated against rabies at least 30 days prior.

Transporting dog food and treats across the border

I’ve researched the types of food and treats you can’t cross the border with.

Bringing dog food and treats to Canada from the United States

The general rule for importing dog food and treats into Canada from the United States is….

Travelers can bring up to 20 kg or 44 lbs (in total) of pet food and treats across the Canadian border if they meet all of the following requirements:

• The pet food or product must be from the United States and commercially packaged
• The pet food or product must be in the possession of the traveler at the time of entry into the United States
• The animal that will eat the imported product must accompany the traveler upon entry
• The imported product is given only to the animal that accompanied the traveler to Canada

Bringing Dog Food and Treats to the United States from Canada

According to United States Department of Agriculturetravelers can bring certain pet foods, chews, and treats back to the United States if:

• Items must be in unopened retail packaging
• If the items are raw (not shelf stable without refrigeration), dehydrated, freeze-dried, or sun-dried, the items must be labeled as a product of Canada or the United States.

If you are returning from Canada by land, there is a limit of 50 lbs or 22.5 lbs per vehicle.

You can’t bring dog food or treats containing lamb, mutton or goat to the United States from Canada.

Note: When I researched this in 2014, the regulations said that goat or lamp products were allowed if the tag on the bag said it was of US origin, but that “loophole” no longer seems to exist.

The key is to ensure that all foods and treats are in their original packaging, which lists ingredients and sources, and be prepared to leave any items deemed prohibited in the customs bin.

What it’s like to cross the US-Cajun border with your dog

It can be nerve-wracking to cross the Canada-US border if you don’t do it often.

Border guards rarely smile and ask a ton of questions that sometimes seem out of place.

Questions we are always asked include:

• Where do you come from?
• What is the purpose of your trip?
• How long are you going to stay?
• Where are you staying (including the address sometimes)?

We are also often asked for small details about where we are going or about an event we are traveling for in Canada.

It seems that making you nervous and asking for details is a way to figure out if you’re lying or not.

I don’t know if it’s true, but I heard that the guards are trained to make you nervous on purpose, because a normal, decent person will get nervous, but someone with less good intentions will act “strangely” – either sweating balls or playing too cool.

Crossing the border was very easy for us.

I proudly gave up my papers for my dogs when we first crossed the Canadian border, but the guard didn’t ask to look at it to verify the information.

Nor have I ever been asked any questions about the treats or food I bring across the border.

Although rare, I have heard of people being asked to step aside for inspection by border guards.

I’ve only crossed the Canada-US border with a personal vehicle, but I’m told that if you’re traveling in an RV, you will be be inspected no matter what.

Have you crossed the Canada-US border with pets? Do you have any tips or stories to share?