International travel has become somewhat easier for dogs in the last few years, and they can now visit more countries with fewer quarantine requirements. But travel abroad with a dog is still nothing to be taken lightly. Meeting the new requirements can mean starting preparations nearly a year before you plan to travel, and several vaccinations and blood tests may be needed. For a one- or two-week vacation, you're probably better off leaving your Yorkie behind. But if you're going to be away for a month or more, or are traveling to one of the less-regulated countries, you'll probably want to bring your dog.

Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean

The nearest neighbors to the United States are all relatively friendly toward visiting dogs. Canadian regulations call for a current health certificate and proof of vaccination within the last three years. If you drive across a border, you may not even be asked to show those.

In Mexico, rabies runs rampant in the dog and coyote populations, so you'd want to have your dog vaccinated anyway. Regulations require that the vaccination take place within a year before entering the country. You will also need a veterinary health certificate dated no more than a week prior to your visit.

The various islands of the Caribbean may differ slightly in their specific requirements. Puerto Rico simply asks for a veterinary health certificate and a rabies vaccination certificate. Bermuda requires a health certificate dated within ten days of entry and an import permit issued by Bermuda's Department of Agriculture and Fishers.

The European Union (EU)

Taking a dog to Great Britain used to be nearly impossible because of the six-month quarantine. Now it's merely difficult. Ireland and Sweden are similarly difficult to enter with a dog.

It will take more than six months to gather all the necessary paperwork. Your veterinarian will have to give your Yorkie a rabies vaccination, wait a specified time, then draw blood and send it to Kansas State University. The results of blood work and vaccination details then have to go to a veterinarian approved either by the United States or Canada, who will issue a special certificate. Your Yorkie will have to have an ISO-approved microchip (those commonly in use in the United States are not ISO approved). One or two days before you disembark, your veterinarian must treat your dog for ticks and tapeworms, and issue yet another certificate.

Other EU countries are a bit less forbidding in their requirements, though they still have hoops you must jump through. They require a microchip or tattoo to identify the animal. The dog must be accompanied by the owner, and the dog must have his own pet passport. For the passport, your veterinarian must complete and sign APHIS form 7001, detailing vaccination information and certifying that your Yorkie is free of parasites and in good health. You then have to deliver or mail this form to the APHIS/USDA veterinary office in your state. You will have to pay a fee for each form. Your veterinarian can list several dogs on one form. Once you arrive, many EU countries, most notably France and Germany, are extremely dog friendly, allowing them to accompany you almost everywhere.

Other Countries

It's a wide world out there, and this book can't cover every country you might choose to visit. But here are a few more examples to consider.

Australia and New Zealand both still maintain their mandatory quarantines, for a minimum of thirty days. Japan requires that visiting dogs receive a rabies vaccination within thirty days prior to arrival and have an International Health Certificate. Hong Kong has no quarantine provided the dog meets their specifications for age, health, and current vaccinations, but you do need an import permit.

Within the United States, Hawaii has long been known for its lengthy mandatory quarantine. This has now been shortened to five days, provided that dogs meet requirements for rabies vaccinations.