Buying a dog from Japan

Mark27

Hi my dad has for years wanted a 'Tosu inu' and now that he is retired he is going to Japan to buy one, Japan being their origonal home. We have looked up the conditions on the Dept of Argiculture website and they list things like microchipping etc which all seem fine. (Have been onto the breeder already).

However one of the conditions states that: The pet has been successfully blood-tested for rabies anti-bodies at least six months before entry.

This seems fine but we are buying a pup of approx 12 weeks and has not even been alive for this long. Does this mean we can only get a Tosu that is over 6 months in age?

Also does anyone know if there are any other complications that we might come accross.


Thanks a lot,

peasant

You mean any other complications besides a young pup that after this ordeal of a trip will probably have mental scars for life?

I'd say in the grand scheme of things they probably wouldn't matter that much.

Oh, and it's Tosa Inu ...maybe if you enter the correct name into google you'll find one closer to home.

Ruby Soho

I don't see a way around that I'm afraid, I think the dog may be eligible to enter certain EU states before the 6 months is up, but not Ireland or the UK. You must bear in mind that these measures have been put in place not to be inconvenient but to protect the residents of Ireland. I'm sure there must many more criteria the dog must be tested for if coming from Japan, the simple rabies test / titre is only for dogs travelling within the EU or other approved countries. As far as I know, if you are travelling from a non-approved country (i.e. not an EU member state or low-risk country) then you need to have the animal quarantined upon arrival.
Also bare in mind that the Tosa is a controlled breed that must be muzzled and on-leash in public at all times, I'm not condoning this for a second, but please be aware.
Have you researched the possibility of importing a pup from the EU? I'm sure there must be breeders somewhere, and it would save you a lot of stress. I know for a fact that there are lots of Dogo Argentino's in France and Germany (I have seen them) and they, like the Tosa, are banned in the UK.

kazza90210

i would say coming from japan he will have to spend 6 months in quarrantine, which isnt right for such a young pup. also just because you send your money to the breeder in japan doesnt mean you will receive your pup there are alot of scams out there....maybe its time to consider another breed!?!

hadook

Mark27 wrote: »

However one of the conditions states that: The pet has been successfully blood-tested for rabies anti-bodies at least six months before entry.

This seems fine but we are buying a pup of approx 12 weeks and has not even been alive for this long. Does this mean we can only get a Tosu that is over 6 months in age?

Yup - you need the pup tested and passported before you can bring him into the country (though you'll need to check - you may be able to bring him in and go through quarantine here but it'll still be 6 months before you can bring him home and that's no life for a dog especially a pup that needs training, socialisation etc. Quarantine for 6 months is not cheap either).

Tosa Inu are on the restricted list in Ireland which means they basically can't be in a public place unless securely muzzled and led by a strong chain or leash not exceeding 2 metres and by a person over 16 who is capable of controlling the dog and they're banned from Dublin City Council properties(along with the 10 other breeds). This may or may not cause problems.

They're also on the Dangerous Dogs Act in the UK so I wouldn't plan a route home that involved a stopover there.

liah

hadook wrote: »

Yup - you need the pup tested and passported before you can bring him into the country (though you'll need to check - you may be able to bring him in and go through quarantine here but it'll still be 6 months before you can bring him home and that's no life for a dog especially a pup that needs training, socialisation etc. Quarantine for 6 months is not cheap either).

Tosa Inu are on the restricted list in Ireland which means they basically can't be in a public place unless securely muzzled and led by a strong chain or leash not exceeding 2 metres and by a person over 16 who is capable of controlling the dog and they're banned from Dublin City Council properties(along with the 10 other breeds). This may or may not cause problems.

They're also on the Dangerous Dogs Act in the UK so I wouldn't plan a route home that involved a stopover there.

Wow, German Shepherds are banned in Ireland? Wtf? I see them all the time, happily unmuzzled..

That list is interesting.

hadook

liah wrote: »

Wow, German Shepherds are banned in Ireland? Wtf? I see them all the time, happily unmuzzled..

That list is interesting.

Not banned - restricted (an important point as some of the dogs on that list are also on the UK's banned dogs list) and subject to the restrictions on the link. The county council brought in legislation banning them from council housing but, afaik, that doesn't apply to people/pets already in place.

It's all a bit ****e to be honest. Any dog has the potential to be dangerous so the act should, IMO, focus on the deed not the breed.

Mr. Presentable

Hey OP, who's your Da, David Bowie?

For crying out loud, what is wrong with people that they will happily torment a poor animal for the sake of ostentation. Go to your local rescue and do some good for a dog.

Kiab

If they already have an aggressive personality, would it be wise to aggrevate and torment such a young dog? If the breeder was responsible he wouldn't allow the pup to take such an arduous journey.

EGAR

Sigh, I am going to go on my soap box now.

Tosa's are a restricted breed here in Ireland, ie they must be muzzled, leashed and walked by someone older than 16 years of age. Tosa's are banned in the UK and Northern Ireland since 1991 under the Dangerous Dogs Act.

They are not an easy breed to keep as there are several issues, apart from temperament. They tend to overheat im humid weather and need lots of exercise. They can weigh in at up to 160lbs and are very very wary of strangers and need proper socialiation with PEOPLE and ANIMALS. Or else you have a giant breed who goes for both. They are a specialist breed who need an owner who knows what they are doing or else you are in trouble. The formative age of such a dog is when it is young, just like any other breed. But 6 months quarantine will ruin ANY chance you have to socialise it properly.

Tosa Inu's are NOT a beginners breed, they can be exetremely aggressive with people and other dogs if raised wrong and require ongoing socialisation.

Tosa's tend to protect their own "pack" which includes his or her human family. You might end up with a situation wherein the Tosa feels it has to protect the human children of his pack from other human children. Is this a risk you are willing to take??

Many many dogs are sitting in pounds and rescues. Maybe this should be your first port of call.

""off my soap box now""

Ruby Soho

OP, I'd really question your motivation to travel around the world to buy a dog that has achieved worldwide notoriety for its aggression and fighting instinct. Would a regular pet dog not do?

olaola

The 6 months will apply - it will actually be 7, since the titre test has to be done a month after vaccination and then it would be 6 months hence.

anniehoo

+1 to everything EGAR said.
While im reasonable in trying to understand most peoples requests for "different breeds" ...this breed is not something i would recommend at all for all of the reasons EGAR listed. Please get your dad to think twice about this decision.

Morganna

I agree with egar and annie

Mark27

Hi guys, thanks for the replies. I have since done some more research and it seems Japan is one of the recognised safe countrys of rabies and with certain conditions it can come straight into the country.

However i wrote an email to the breeder and it turns out he is actually based in South Korea, which is not on the list of acceptable countrys and therefore is compulsary to spend 6 months minium in quarntine. Of course theres not a chance we would put a young pup through that torment so that place is out of the question.

Currently looking at a place in romania that breeds them and provides EU pet passport

MoonDancer256

I think you'll find that importing an animal from Romania will require either blood test + 6 month wait for passport to be valid, or 6 month quarantine before entry into Ireland or the UK. Given that the pup would have to be a couple of months old before having a rabies jab, then 1 month wait until blood test, and then 6 months wait until import, you're looking at getting a dog that's at least 9 months old.

I've looked into a lot of this myself, as I recently imported my 5 cats and 2 ferrets from France to Ireland when I moved

BillyRalph

Hello Mark27-importing a dog from any country other than the UK requires a pet passport indicating vaccination against rabies and that the vaccination has been successful.This wait for the pet passport can take place in any country that accepts the animal-France is a common destination for European dogs coming to the UK or Ireland.There the animal is hopefully looked after until all the papers are in order,this usually means as a previous person has mentioned that the dog will be 9 months old before you get it.The other option which you are not in favour of for very good reasons is quarantine in Ireland.There is another quarantine option but it is very expensive.It involves setting up your kennels according to the dept. of agricultures advice,regular visits,including random visits by your local vet etc.

One thing to consider before embarking on whatever approach you choose is that you will miss the very important socialisation period from 8weeks to 6 months.This is especially important with large domninant ,guarding breeds like the Tosa.If you have experience of large breeds and understand pack rules for dogs and more importantly don't have children and are able to control such an animal then go ahead and import.Alternately choose one of the large guarding breeds available in the UK or Ireland eg Neapolitan mastiff,Dogue de Bordeaux etc.
Best of luck with whichever you choose.

00112984

I think that, when it comes to certain breeds, you have to look around and why they're not readily "available" in Ireland and the answer is very simply that they do not do fantastically well with our weather and climate. Tosas are an example of this.