Imported dog: what steps do you need to take?

Is your new companion arriving soon? Before preparing for their first show, you need to get their documents in order. Three steps stand out: the health formalities for entry, registration with I-CAD (the French national pet identification database) and, if you wish, registration with the LOF (the French stud book).

A pedigree does not replace the health documents; an I-CAD card does not replace a pedigree.

1. Before departure: check the entry conditions

Start by establishing the country of origin, the route and the circumstances of the transport.

Travelling with your own dog and bringing in a dog as part of a sale or a transfer of ownership may fall under different procedures. The regulatory term "commercial" therefore does not apply only to professional breeders: have your situation checked before you travel.

For travel from the European Union, the conditions include, among others:

• Compliant identification.
• A valid rabies vaccination.
• A European pet passport.

The first rabies vaccination can be given from twelve weeks of age, after identification. It becomes valid at least twenty-one days later: an eight-week-old puppy therefore cannot come to France under this arrangement.

From a non-EU country, an official health certificate is generally required. Depending on the country, a rabies antibody titration test — a blood test checking the response to the vaccine — may also be required, with lead times to plan for. The documents and checks depend on the applicable regime.

MyDogShow tip: for a dog coming from a third country, also check the conditions linked to its age and teeth. So do not work out the possible arrival date from the vaccination schedule alone.

Category 1 dogs are banned from entering France; category 2 dogs are subject to specific conditions.

2. On arrival: have the identification registered with I-CAD

For a dog moving to France, arrange a vet visit quickly.

MyDogShow tip: book the appointment for the days just after arrival, so that the I-CAD registration is not delayed.

The vet checks the identification and issues the provisional identification certificate for imports or intra-EU exchanges. They can submit the file online with the necessary supporting documents, which vary depending on the country of origin.

A foreign microchip does not automatically have to be replaced: the vet checks the existing one and prepares its registration in the French database.

3. For LOF registration: prepare the confirmation for import

This procedure applies to dogs born abroad that are already registered in a stud book recognised by the FCI.

MyDogShow tip: for confirmation as an imported dog, prepare in particular:

• The import registration form.
• Its I-CAD identification card.
• Its export pedigree issued by the body in the country of origin.

MyDogShow tip: after a favourable confirmation, keep an eye on your file: permanent LOF registration and the return of the original pedigree annotated with the French references can take a little time.

And for its first show?

Confirmation is not compulsory in order to take part. A dog with an accepted foreign pedigree can be entered, subject to the conditions of the show. You therefore do not necessarily have to wait for its final LOF registration before discovering the rings.

Beginner: three tips to get started

1. Ask for the documents before booking transport. Have them checked for compliance rather than counting on getting things sorted out after arrival.
2. Book the appointment with a French vet in advance. You will be able to start the I-CAD process quickly.
3. Prepare a complete folder. Keep the originals within reach, plus a digital copy of each document.

Intermediate: three tips to avoid oversights

1. Compare the identification numbers. The passport, health certificate and pedigree must all relate to the same dog.
2. Check the export pedigree before starting an LOF procedure. An ordinary national pedigree is not necessarily enough for the file requested.
3. Give the dog time to settle in. Prepare for its first show gradually after it arrives.

Advanced: three tips to plan ahead

1. Have the competent authorities classify the journey. A sale, an adoption or transport separate from the owner can change the formalities.
2. Include transit countries when checking the file. The route also matters for the health conditions.
3. Plan the three procedures separately. Entry into France, I-CAD and the LOF each have their own documents and contacts.

Sources

• European Union, Your Europe: travelling with pets
• I-CAD: importing a dog, rights and obligations (PDF, in French)
• Société Centrale Canine: conditions for entering a show (in French)