What Do You Need To Bring Your Service Dog Across The Border To Canada

Traveling to Canada with a domestic dog from the United States is piece of cake peasy lemon squeezy as far equally border crossings go. We've been several times with Sora, across three different borders (ii in WA and one in Idaho) and have made it through without issue each time.

A bit of planning is necessary prior to departure, so we take outlined everything you need to know in order to successfully take your canis familiaris across the Canadian border by car.

Can Yous Bring Your Canis familiaris to Canada?

The main import requirement for a dog entering Canada is a certified rabies vaccination. Customs officials may likewise request a wellness certificate and microchip. Depending on the province visited, specific breed restriction regulations may be limit entry (more than information beneath).

According to the United States Department of Agriculture – Creature and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS), the requirements for your dog depend on your purpose for entering Canada.

If your domestic dog is for personal travel or assist (like a service domestic dog), the requirements are straightforward. Still, if you're entering for commercial purposes, the regulations are a fiddling more than stringent.

Requirements for Traveling to Canada with a Dog

Bringing your dog with you to Canada, while relatively elementary, requires post-obit a few regulations.

Rabies Vaccination Certificate

Dogs under iii months of historic period at the time of importing, who are accompanied by their owners, are not required to have a rabies vaccination. Notwithstanding, owners must provide proof of the canis familiaris's age.

If your domestic dog is over iii months old, and then you must acquit and provide a rabies vaccination certificate on asking.

To get the rabies certificate, simply head to your veterinarian and ask for a proof of rabies vaccination. Canada does recognize three-yr rabies vaccinations.

If Yous Practice Not Have a Rabies Document

Dogs entering Canada without a rabies vaccination document will exist required to undergo a rabies vaccination at the owner'southward expense within ii weeks of arrival.

Costs associated with the service include:

$30 + tax for the first beast
$5 + tax for whatsoever boosted animals

Microchip Requirement

Canada does not require tattoos or microchips when importing an animal as a personal pet. If your dog is transported commercially and is under 8 months sometime, then it must possess an ISO electronic microchip (which is different from the ones typically used in the United States).

Health Document

Health certificates for dogs are issued by a licensed veterinarian later on a wellness exam. The wellness certificate ensures the pet is free from any infectious diseases and meets all requirements for importation. The USDA typically stamps and approves the private certificate.

The document must see the post-obit (every bit noted from the Canadian Nutrient Inspection Agency):

be written in English or French
be issued and signed by a licensed veterinary
identify the animal (breed, sex, color, and weight)
land that the animal is vaccinated against rabies
signal the date of rabies vaccination
bespeak the trade name and the serial number of the licensed vaccine
specify the duration of immunity (otherwise, it will be considered valid for i year from the engagement of vaccination)

Dogs nether 8 months old traveling with their owners are only requires to provide proof of rabies vaccination.

Dogs younger than eight months traveling unaccompanied are required to be examined by a licensed veterinary in Canada within 72 hours of inflow. This vet will then issue a wellness certificate.

Headed on a road trip to Canada with a dog? Know the rules and regulations before crossing the border.

Quarantine

Canada does not take any quarantine requirements. If the edge baby-sit admits your dog or pet, and so you are free to travel with them every bit desired.

What to Expect Crossing the Canadian Edge with a Canis familiaris

Border crossings tin can be a stressful feel, especially yous have a dog along for the ride. However, in our feel, the border guards didn't fifty-fifty ask us nearly the dogs.

Why? It's probably considering both countries accept a similar low hazard for rabies in dogs, cats, and ferrets.

This doesn't mean you shouldn't have your paperwork set up to go, merely in instance. Keep it easily accessible in the front end of the car to accept ready to nowadays if an agent asks.

The Canada Border Services Agent will likely enquire yous several questions almost your trip including:

Where exactly yous are visiting
What is the purpose of your trip
Whom you are visiting
How long you programme to stay in Canada

These questions are asked mainly to weed out whatsoever suspicious travelers. Almost of the fourth dimension the agent will waive yous through once they've gone through their list.

Brood Specific Legislation

Unfortunately, the stigma and laws associated with certain breeds is in effect in certain Canadian provinces and cities.

Ontario and Manitoba ban the following breeds and dogs whose advent resemble these breeds:

American Staffordshire Terrier
Pitt Bull Terrier
American Pitt Bull Terrier
Staffordshire Bull Terrier

The City of Toronto permits air transit of these breeds, however advanced notice must be provided and an agent is required to transit your dog.

Visit Justice for Bullies for more data on breed bans throughout Canada.

Bringing Dog Food into Canada

We always travel with dog food and treats for the pups. If you're going to bring your own food, information technology must run across the post-obit guidelines:

No more than 20 kg (44 pounds) may be transported.
The food must exist of United states origin, commercially packaged.
The pet food or treats must exist in the possession of the traveler at the fourth dimension of entry from the U.S.
The brute that will eat the products must accompany the traveler at the fourth dimension of entry.
The products must be fed only to the animal that accompanied the traveler into Canada.

It'south likely that the customs officer probably won't ask about the domestic dog food yous're bringing, only it'southward always of import to become prepared, just in case.