Have you ever considered acquiring a dog overseas? Social media has made it so much easier to find breeders of dogs that may not be available locally, and sometimes, local breeders’ prices may seem too inflated, making importation sound like a better alternative. I should know. I have imported over a dozen dogs from all over the world over the past years, giving me not just beautiful dogs, but also a treasure trove of lessons, both good and bad, about buying dogs overseas.
The first dogs I imported were show dogs. I was in the thick of dog shows then, and it became apparent to me that, at least at that time, the kind of dog I wanted was not available locally. This is not to say that there were no beautiful dogs in the Philippines at that time – there were, but I had no access to them. Thankfully, I met a Thai breeder who gave me the name of an esteemed show breeder in Seoul. He was initially wary of sending his dogs to Manila, but after some background checks, he acceded to sending me two beautiful show dogs, but not after a two-year wait. Mishka and Katniss, my first two mini schnauzer imports, arrived in Manila in 2014, and forever changed my life for the better from the very first moment that I held them in my arms.
They would usher in more imports into my life. Shortly after, my family, alongside my dogshow partner, welcomed Wesley from Poland, followed by Chokdee from Thailand. In the next few years, we also brought home Olaf from Brazil, Pippa, Polar, and Sissi again from Poland, Madison and Phoenix from the United States, Ultron and Keekai from South Korea, Schatzi and Willy from Bangkok, Snowie from Ukraine, and many more.
Though I will never trade the joy of having these dogs with anything else, I must admit that buying dogs overseas is not a surefire way of getting the dog you want. In many cases, it simply widens your options which, while admittedly being a good thing, does little if you don’t really know need or want. If, for example, you are simply looking for a dog to cuddle with and love, you probably don’t need to import one. There are many local breeders you can get a puppy from or better yet, dogs that you can rescue – both with the added value of being able to interact with the dog before making a decision. This means you can check out the dog physically and know its temperament and disposition before taking it home, which, needless to say, is very important.
However, if you need something very specific – say a bloodline you have studied, or a breed that is not in the country – then importing may be the best route.
Here are some questions to ask yourself and points to consider if you’re considering importing a dog.
Are you getting a dog from a responsible breeder? – Regardless of where you are buying your dog, you need to be very selective in choosing a breeder. Just because a breeder lives in a developed country does not mean anything – the truth is there are more backyard breeders and indiscriminate breeders than responsible breeders, and this is true of ALL countries. Do your research. Otherwise, you might end up spending a fortune to import a runt straight out of a puppy farm.
Have health checks been really done? – Often, folks tell me they want to import a dog because they want dogs who have undergone health checks (e.g. hip scoring, eye checks, genetic tests). This is a great reason, especially if you have plans of breeding. However, note that not all breeders do these checks on all of their dogs. Make sure that the health check has been done on the dog you are getting. And speaking of health checks, make sure you have the basics (vaccination, deworming, anti-flea treatment) covered. I have seen flea-infested imports (thankfully not mine!) and my vet could not stop complaining about sick dogs crammed into crates being brought into the country.
Have you checked the dog’s temperament? – The biggest drawback of importing dogs is that you have no chance to observe the dog’s temperament up close. The breeder’s assurances, videos, and anecdotes will never give you a true picture of how the dog behaves. Very few countries have temperament tests, and not too many breeders understand temperament issues. Needless to say, this is always a gamble when importing dogs.
Does your prospective import meet breed standards? – If you are going to spend good money to import a dog, then please make sure that you are getting one that conforms to breed standards. Sometimes, unscrupulous breeders may lure you with traits which may look cute, but are actually not accepted under the breed standard. For instance, you may be looking for a merle schnauzer, which is not acceptable under the breed standard.
Is the price of the importation justified? – Only you can answer this question, but just a warning: some breeders tend to pile on many other expenses that they may not have included in the original price they quoted. From within my immediate circle of friends, I have heard horror stories of breeders imposing expensive boarding costs for the dog while awaiting shipment. A friend had to pay two month’s worth of expensive boarding fees because he bought the puppy at age two months, but the airline did not allow dogs below 4 months to travel. Another breeder slapped a year’s worth of boarding costs during the Covid lockdown, when airlines could not fly.
There are also costs associated with inter-country travel – be especially wary if you are getting a dog from a large country such as the US, China, or Russia, that might require the breeder to travel overnight to get to the international airport. That hotel stay (and yes, even the parking fees) will all be charged to you. All those will, of course, be on top of the international cargo or pet sitter’s expenses. Do the math and ask yourself if the cost is worth it.
In the end, getting a dog is always a personal decision. What matters is that you do your homework so that you can arrive at the best decision for you and your dog.
Pinoy Dog Mom 