So many families don’t want to leave their four-legged family members home hen they hit the road. If you have big holiday plans, that include your beloved 4-legged companion, be sure to check out this reference guide before you book those tickets!
The insurance experts at International Citizens Insurance have created a rundown of some of the countries which have restrictions in place if people want to enter with their furry friends.
Australia
Australia has a ban on breeds that were specifically bred for fighting, to safeguard members of the public and other dogs. Prohibited breeds are:
Pitbull Terrier breeds
Dogo Argentino
Fila Brasileiro
Japanese Toso
Presa Canario
Australian law also prohibits the entry of domestic or non-domestic hybrid breeds (such as wolf crosses). Travelers, expats or émigrés traveling with a dog must sign a declaration stating that the dog is not an ineligible breed.
Switzerland
Switzerland bans the import of dogs with cropped ears and docked tails. Dogs with these features can travel into the country temporarily for vacations or other short stays, but if you are relocating as an expat or émigré you will not be able to bring your dog with you.
Laws in Switzerland restrict travel for breeds perceived as being predisposed to attack. Travelers hoping to bring any of the below dogs into the country must first ensure the dog passes a behavioral test, neuter the pet and obtain pet insurance. These breeds are:
American Staffordshire Terrier
Boerboel
Bullmastiff
Cane Corso
Dogue Argentin
Dogue de Bordeaux
Fila Brasileiro
English Mastiff
Matin Espagnol
Matin de Naples
Pitbull
Presa Canario
Rottweiler
Thai Ridgeback Dog
Tosa Inu
Canada
Unlike many other countries, Canada does not have a blanket ban on dog breeds. Instead, certain provinces prohibit certain dangerous dog breeds. Expats planning to relocate to Canada should first ensure they are up to date with the most recent legislation for their destination. Travelers should ensure their route through the country does not include certain provinces if they are accompanied by a banned breed.
In the province of Manitoba, Winnipeg bans the following dog breeds as well as dogs that have physical attributes of the below:
American Pitbull Terrier
American Staffordshire Terrier
Staffordshire Bull Terrier
In Ontario Province, the following breeds are banned along with any mixes where these breeds are prominent:
American Pitbull Terrier
Pitbull Terrier
American Staffordshire Terrier
Staffordshire Bull Terrier
United Kingdom
Expats and travelers coming in or out of the UK will not be able to bring with them any of the dog breeds that have been banned in the country. The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 outlaws types of dogs perceived to be too dangerous for ownership. The below breeds are banned from entering the country:
Pitbull Terrier
Japanese Tosa
Dogo Argentino
Fila Brasileiro
According to UK regulations, If a dog has visual characteristics of any of the above it may be banned even if it does not match the breed. Whether or not the dog is to be banned could be decided in court, and if the dog is already in the country it could be euthanized.
The UK government looks set to soon pass legislation that will ban importation of dogs with docked tails, cropped ears and dogs younger than six months. Dog owners looking to travel or relocate should be sure to monitor the situation in case their dog falls into these categories.
France
Much like Australia, France also has breed-based regulations in place to prohibit types of dangerous dogs from entering the country. France categorizes breeds into either banned or restricted. Category 1: banned breeds are defined as attack dogs and cannot be imported into France:
Staffordshire Terrier
American Staffordshire Terrier (Pitbull Terrier)
Japanese Tosa Inu
Boerbull Mastiff.
Category 2 covers restricted breeds in France. From these breeds, only dogs registered with a pedigree recognized by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry in France are permitted to enter the country. They can be transported on flights in the cargo hold only.
Pedigree Tosa Inu
Pedigree Staffordshire Terrier
Pedigree American Staffordshire Terrier
Rottweiler (Pedigree and Non-pedigree).
Mexico
Mexico does not have a blanket ban on breeds across the country, however there is a list of regulations that any dog owning travelers, expats and émigrés must oblige by before traveling into the country including microchipping, rabies vaccinations and a parasite treatment.
Dog owners must also obtain a health certificate unless traveling to Mexico from the United States.
