Importing a Lagotto Romagnolo
I thought I’d put a few words down to tell of my experience of bringing two Lagotto puppies in from abroad. I have experience of importing and exporting other breeds prior to the Pet Passport Scheme which was amended from January 2012.
You may ask - Why import from abroad? Well, as you probably have found out, Lagotto Romagnolo are still fairly limited in the United Kingdom and, as a consequence, there are issues relating to a very limited gene pool and of existing breeding stock being closely related to the kennel belonging to the original importers of the breed to the UK.
I had criteria when I was looking for puppies:
- Health
- Temperament
- Type
It was important to me that whatever I imported was Junior Epilepsy (BFJE) free as I currently own a bitch who is a carrier. Whilst I acknowledge the condition is fairly ‘low-grade’ and time-limiting and by its very word, benign, I also feel that having quality dogs who are carriers to the condition should only be viewed as a short-term measure to establish healthy stock and not viewed as a permanent situation in the breed.
It was also important to me that anything I brought in was from good hip-scored parents and for as many previous generations that is possible.
I needed puppies from good eye-tested parents and to be distiachiasis-free too.
In short, I wanted the healthiest stock possible, to ultimately help improve the UK breeding pool.
In my opinion, some of the UK bred dogs do not have the sort of biddable temperaments expected of both gundogs and companion animals.
So it was important and necessary to me that I have dogs brought up in a stress-less environment who had even temperaments and were able to mix freely with my other dogs without displaying any signs of nervousness or aggression.
I also wanted dogs that were true to type: sturdy, small to medium dogs of rustic appearance which fit the breed standard (The Kennel Club and FCI standards vary a little) as much as possible. I have seen many dogs worldwide who are short in the leg, looking squat and unbalanced. I have also noted there is a creeping trend in both the UK and Europe for both dogs and bitches to be big and over breed standard size.
My task was time-consuming, long and arduous, trawling the internet, using contacts, other foreign Breed Clubs and friends for names of foreign breeders of quality Lagotto Romagnolo. I found that many breeders did not health test their breeding dogs and bitches. I discounted these. I eventually found a couple of breeders I was happy with – one in Hungary and one in Denmark. I was vetted by both breeders as someone suitable to own one of their puppies.
After many emails and a few telephone calls, I arranged to view their litters.
For the Denmark trip (which was surprisingly cheap – under £60) I was accompanied by a Lagotto-owning friend. The breeders picked us up from the airport, showed us their dogs and kennels, entertained us, put us up for the night and drove us back to the airport the next morning. It was all very pleasant. I have to say, I was impressed with these breeders’ kennels and I would go on to say, they are probably the cleanest, best equipped and most perfectly maintained kennels I have ever seen in life. I didn’t decide on a puppy then but more or less chose the dog and bitch I wanted a puppy from. The breeder obliged. I waited.
For the Hungary trip this was just as easy and cheap. The breeder didn’t live too far from the airport and picked me up, let me view her litters throughout the day, entertained and fed me and drove me back for the return flight home (“I’m just going to Budapest for the day, darling!”).
I thank both breeders for the kindness and hospitality – they know who they are. There are some nice people in the Lagotto World!
Two puppies were chosen:
A chocolate brown male. I had a choice of three. I chose the one I thought would turn out best; looks-wise and temperament-wise. Choosing a dog is a bit like the Mr Potato Man Game I had as a child – a little bit of this, slightly better head on that, better balance on this, nicer natured on that. The perfect dog has yet to be born. Interesting, this breeder would not take any deposit, just in case things went awry; maybe an overshot mouth, maybe the testicles wouldn’t descend. She wanted me to have the best dog for me. I had to trust her.
An orange and white small bitch. She was as pretty as a picture and a temperament just as sweet with a streak of mischievousness.
I needed to revise and bring up-to-date my knowledge on the process of importing puppies. I pass this information on to you. Please bear in mind, this only refers to animals exported from countries within the EU and specifically listed non EU countries. For other countries, you need to seek advice.
The following steps will all be carried out by and be the responsibility of the breeder exporting the puppy to you, but you must make sure that everything is in placed before shipping.
All easy-peasy – as long as your breeder agrees to keeping the pup an extra few weeks and getting all the jabs done.
The tick-list of steps was completed and everything was arranged for the transportation of my pups.
I could have driven to Hungary and back but being a reluctant driver with an aversion to long distance driving (after years of traversing up and down the country as part of my job before retiring) I decided to go with an approved transport company to fly my dog puppy to Heathrow. There were a few hiccups with regards to the original company changing plans mid-stream which meant the pup would need two flight changes and an overnight stop. I would not allow this and the breeder contacted another company who drove my pup to Frankfurt and I picked him up at the Animal Centre at Heathrow Airport. There were a few hiccups here too….the shippers wanted extra money for handling. Anyway, it was all sorted as it had all been arranged at an agreed price. On top of this there was a three hour delay in the flight from Frankfurt. All was well, in the end and he is safely living in our home. He is lovely natured dog, the sort of dog you like to be with, though I have to admit, he’s very verbal!
Three weeks later, the bitch puppy was collected by a friend, the one who went with me to view the pups originally, and her husband. To them I am eternally grateful. I picked my puppy from their home. She too is settled at home. She is very appealing, looking promising and is even more mischievous than I imagined.
The cost - The price of pups is inevitably a little more expensive than you would pay in the UK and of course the transport costs are on top of this.
Would I do it again? Yes, of course I would!
If you would like any other help and advice on importing a Lagotto puppy, please contact me: Geoff Lilley, beebear45@gmail.com Or contact the Secretary for details of a "Collect from Europe" service offered by an LRA member.
Read more about the Pet Travel Scheme which is operated by the Government's DEFRA department.
- Step 1 – Have your pet microchipped – Before any of the other procedures for pet travel are carried out, your pet must be fitted with a microchip so it can be properly identified.
- Step 2 – Have your pet vaccinated – After the microchip has been fitted your pet must be vaccinated against rabies. There is no exemption to this requirement, even if your pet has a current rabies vaccination. Rabies boosters must be kept up to date. The length of the waiting period before entry to the UK is 21 days after the first vaccination date. A waiting period is not required for subsequent entries into the UK, provided rabies boosters are kept up to date. If the vaccination is in two parts the 21 day wait will be from the date of the second vaccination.
- Step 3 – Get pet travel documentation – For animals being prepared in an EU country, you should get an EU pet passport. If you are preparing your animal in a non-EU listed country or territory you will need to obtain an official third country veterinary certificate (apart from Croatia, Gibraltar, Norway, San Marino and Switzerland who also issue pet passports).
- Step 4 – Tapeworm treatment – (dogs only): before entering the UK, all pet dogs (including assistance dogs) must be treated for tapeworm. The treatment must be administered by a vet not less than 24 hours and not more than 120 hours (1-5 days) before its scheduled arrival time in the UK. There is no mandatory requirement for tick treatment. No treatment is required for dogs entering the UK from Finland, Ireland or Malta).
- Step 5 – Arrange for your animal to travel with an approved transport company on an authorised route – Your pet must enter the UK from a listed country or territory travelling with an approved transport company on an authorised route.
All easy-peasy – as long as your breeder agrees to keeping the pup an extra few weeks and getting all the jabs done.
The tick-list of steps was completed and everything was arranged for the transportation of my pups.
I could have driven to Hungary and back but being a reluctant driver with an aversion to long distance driving (after years of traversing up and down the country as part of my job before retiring) I decided to go with an approved transport company to fly my dog puppy to Heathrow. There were a few hiccups with regards to the original company changing plans mid-stream which meant the pup would need two flight changes and an overnight stop. I would not allow this and the breeder contacted another company who drove my pup to Frankfurt and I picked him up at the Animal Centre at Heathrow Airport. There were a few hiccups here too….the shippers wanted extra money for handling. Anyway, it was all sorted as it had all been arranged at an agreed price. On top of this there was a three hour delay in the flight from Frankfurt. All was well, in the end and he is safely living in our home. He is lovely natured dog, the sort of dog you like to be with, though I have to admit, he’s very verbal!
Three weeks later, the bitch puppy was collected by a friend, the one who went with me to view the pups originally, and her husband. To them I am eternally grateful. I picked my puppy from their home. She too is settled at home. She is very appealing, looking promising and is even more mischievous than I imagined.
The cost - The price of pups is inevitably a little more expensive than you would pay in the UK and of course the transport costs are on top of this.
Would I do it again? Yes, of course I would!
If you would like any other help and advice on importing a Lagotto puppy, please contact me: Geoff Lilley, beebear45@gmail.com Or contact the Secretary for details of a "Collect from Europe" service offered by an LRA member.
Read more about the Pet Travel Scheme which is operated by the Government's DEFRA department.