gulliver433

We are actually taking our dog to Germany in 3 weeks and we've been researching extensively. Germany requires that bilingual form 998 be filled out and stamped by an official USDA vet and the rabies vaccine needs to be given at least 30 days before travel and the form has to verify that. Before the vaccine, the dog needs a 15 digit ISO compliant microchip. The international microchip our dog was given is 10 digits (that is the more common international microchip in the us) so we are bringing our own microchip reader that we bought from avid based on the recommendation of the munich airport. If you have any questions, here is the email address ([email protected]) and they can confirm if you need to do all this for a service dog too. This email is the veterinary inspection post at the munich airport. also, we've been talking with the usda office at jfk and they helped us figure this all out and i'm sure your local airport with a usda office can help as well.

we've traveled with our dog internationally before and he's flown all over the US and he's always fine on long flights on the floor under our seats, and i'm sure your well trained dog will be too. the only slightly scary part is during take off because of the rumbling of the plane's floor and otherwise it is fine. once you land, germany is a very dog friendly country and during the summer most places have outdoor dining and people will be eager to meet your dog. some people might not know what "service dog" means; when we were in sweden we were told the phrase is "disability dog" although with the oxygen tanks they'll probably figure it out even if the phrase isn't a direct translation. you may want to try saying "disability dog" though just in case.

when is your trip? we are also flying luftansa and can tell you how it goes when we return. i'm sure you'll be fine when you explore the country. we were in berlin a few years ago and couldn't get over how dog friendly germany was and it compelled us to return with our dog.

Hans

"...during the summer most places have outdoor dining and people will be eager to meet your dog."

Most restaurants also don't mind if you take dogs inside.

Jeff_Griffith

Gulliver,

Thanks for your info. Is your dog a service dog or pet? We are traveling from 31 July to 21 August. We would be most interested in your adventures.

Thanks again!
Cheers,
Jeff

Jeff_Griffith

Good to know Hans. Sounds like you have experience. - Thanks!

LSky

You may find this helpful but sounds as though you have already read this:

http://apps.mhf.dod.mil/pls/psgprod/...210.0.0.0.0,39

Or here is the tinyurl


http://tinyurl.com/3eo4kch

Jeff_Griffith

My wife, Lori, took our Labs, including Abbey, in for a check up with the Vet yesterday. They checked her microchip and found that it was not what the European readers are compatible with (U.S. is a 10 digit microchip). They implanted a new 15 digit chip which will put us in compliance with European standards. Her rabies is up to date and she will return to the Vet (probably with Lori's help) 10 days prior to our European departure for a final check up and we will receive some sort of certificate of good health status that we can present to German officials.

I will provide a trip report when our holiday begins to keep you up to date on Lori & Abbey's adventure.

gulliver433

Jeff -- Our dog is a pet, but we like to take him with us whenever we're going to a dog friendly destination and Europe in the summer certainly fits the bill. He's just small enough to sit with us on the plane so he's traveled quite a bit. Actually, "Gulliver" is our dog's name and that's how I picked the screen name. I'll keep you posted on the trip when we return. We leave this Friday.

Jeff_Griffith

Thanks Gulliver433 - I look forward to a summary of your and Gulliver's travels (wink)! That is a great name, BTW.

gulliver433

I'm back from Germany and you'll be happy to hear how dog friendly Bavaria was. Luftansa was incredibly welcoming to our dog (more so than any other airline we've flown on) and the flight attendants were very gracious and constantly wanted to be sure our dog was comfortable (did he need water, did he want to stretch in the back of the plane, could they pet him, etc.) We walked straight through the airport and didn't have any trouble (nobody even bothered to look at our papers the entire trip.) Once in Bavaria, all restaurants (even fancy ones) allow all dogs to dine inside and the metro also allowed dogs. I really can't think of a better destination (perhaps other than France) to visit when traveling with a dog.

As for the flight, there was a bit of a delay due to weather, which made the trip a little longer than expected and made us nervous for our dog at first, but it was fine. Based on our vet's suggestion for all long flights, we gave Gulliver half a benedril and he was fine the entire flight. The Munich airport and Luftansa are so efficient that quickly after landing we are able to gather our luggage and leave the airport so Gulliver could relieve himself after the long flight. Based on our experience, I'm sure you'll be fine traveling with your dog.

hausfrau

I can't offer any further advice than what's been given here, but having flown my dog to Germany (via Lufthansa cargo) and living there with him for 2.5 years, I can vouch for the dog-friendliness of the country. Kudos to you for continuing to travel (with your sons!) despite health constraints, and have a wonderful time with Abbey in Deutschland.

flpab

I have seen these areas at airports great for your Abby

Chicago: O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
Animal relief areas are located curbside, on the lower levels of Terminals 1 and 5. They are gated areas designated for service animal relief and are accessible at all times. All animals must be accompanied and leashed by the owner.

flpab

Pets / Animals at Frankfurt FRA Airport
How can I travel with my pet? Like many people, you may live with a dog, cat or other loved pet. But what should you do when you go on a trip?
In case you don't want to forego your pet's company during your holiday, here you'll find important information on the applicable rules and guidelines as well as useful tips to ensure your pet's comfort and wellbeing during the flight. Ask your airline about its rules for traveling with animals Every airline has its own rules on flying with pets. As a general rule, dogs and cats weighing up to 6 kg may be taken on board inside a suitable kennel. You are responsible for making sure that the kennel does not exceed the maximum weight and measurements stipulated by your airline. Please note that many airlines do not allow certain animals — e.g., birds and rodents — to travel in the aircraft's cabin. Instead, they must be transported in the cargo hold. So please contact your airline directly well before your trip to find out what its rules and requirements are. For loading into the cargo compartment, rigid plastic or wooden crates are mandatory, equipped with food/water bowl and absorbent material. Each animal in the container must have enough space to turn about normally while standing, to stand and sit erect and to lie in a natural position. Animals also require travel documents: a pet passport

To facilitate traveling with pets, since October 2004 an EU directive has required every animal to have a standardized pet passport. This document can be obtained from any authorized veterinarian. It contains information about the animal's state of health and verifies that it has been vaccinated against rabies. Additional Information on the Internet

For additional information on pet passports and the relevant EU regulations, visit the website of the German Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection at www.bmelv.de (search for "pet passport") or use the following links: Information on pet passports Healthcertification Import regulation List of countries and regions List of certified laboratories in the EU and in other countries Veterinary Service at the Airport The Veterinary Border Inspection Office of the State of Hesse at Frankfurt Airport is glad to inform you:
Phone: +49 (0) 69 69 -1506 or +49 (0) 69 695 - 02414
Fax: +49 (0) 69 69 - 2608 or +49 (0) 69 695 - 02412
E-mail: [email protected] Information on Health Regulations Our animal protection officer will be happy to provide you with complete information on all relevant health regulations. Simply call or send an e-mail:
Phone: +49 (0) 69 - 690 21366 or +49 (0) 69 690 – 74332
E-mail: [email protected] You'll find additional information on traveling with pets here (pdf).

For information about regulations and procedures on travelling with pets and animals from the United States to Germany please visit this site. Your canine will be lovingly cared for at the Frankfurt Airport Dog Hotel: Appropriate accommodations for canines in a large area with plenty of vegetation Professional care Contact and play with other dogs Veterinary care Requirement: Your dog must be perfectly healthy and vaccinated against rabies. Price: € 14.50 per day plus a cleaning fee of € 15.50 at the end. Open: Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Phone: +49 (0) 69 690 - 66542, Fax: +49 (0) 69 690 – 59995
E-mail
To ask questions of the animal protection officer:
Phone: +49 (0) 69 690 - 21366 or +49 (0) 69 690 - 74331
E-mail: [email protected]

Additional information is available at: www.verbraucherministerium.de

Jeff_Griffith

Thanks all. Much appreciated. Sorry was out of pocket and did not check back here recently. Boy have we become educated! Mostly my wife, Lori, has done the grunt work. We found that the USDA has to get involved with Abbey heading overseas. Our veterinarian works as an agent for the USDA and fills out some paperwork certifying that Abbey's health meets the standards for travel to EU countries. Lori then took the paperwork to our local USDA office for their review and official stamp. BTW, this is required for all animals whether they are pets or service dogs. However, for service dogs, the USDA waives their fee (this is a recent change). Now, all that is left is a last check up by the Vet w/i 10 days of departure which Lori has scheduled for next Monday. We are departing on Sunday the 31st of July and are feeling confident that we are ready. Will post our progress in DE as we go.

Is it possible to post photos directly into our postings (not links, but actual digital photos, i.e. hosted on another website?

Thanks again.

Jeff_Griffith

Lori has some good info about borrowing phones for Europe from Verizon including the fees for use. She will chime in later. In the mean time, here are few shots of Abbey over time. She will be meeting another yellow Labrador that belongs to the family that we will be staying with....

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v6...20Stuff/Abbey/

Nonconformist

She was an adorable puppy.

gulliver433

Your dog is SOOOO cute!

Jeff_Griffith

We think so too, but it's a good thing she doesn't know it!

Hunter_Hutchinson

My wife and I are planning to travel with our 6 lb. Yorkshire Terrier. We've had him overseas before to Colombia, my wife's country. Now we are going to Europe, to Germany. He's very good, very well behaved, very smart.

We'll check with the Airline, but we want to put him in a soft, collapsible pet carrier that can fit under the seat and have him in the cabin with us. We'll book on a direct flight from Dulles airport to Frankfurt. The pet carrier does have a lower plastic pan where you can put folded pee-pee pads in case he has to tinkle. And, being a little guy, he doesn't tinkle very much. He's crate trained, so he should feel comfortable in the soft pet carrier for a long trip.

We plan to check with the German Consulate in DC as to all the requirements to take our Yorkie. We should be able to get all needed paperwork finished, and any documets authenticated by the consulate. All shots and vererinary certificates will be taken with us. He is Microchipped. Colombia required it, and uses the European standard of 15 digits. So that has been taken care of.

My question for anyone who may have experience taking a Yorkshire Terrier, or other small toy dog to Europe in the cabin of a plane in a collapsible pett carrier, is what are we overlooking here? He's a healthy, five year old neutered male. He doesn't suffer from motion sickness, and has had no problems when we took him to Colombia on Avianca. He's a very small little guy, well behaved. Any advise on travelling to Europe (Germany) with a Yorkshire Terrier would be appreciated. Will Lufthansa allow the pet carrier under the seat? We haven't purchased the tickets yet, as we are still in planning stage. Would he have to be quarantined in Germany?

One last question, please! We also want to go to Spain. Has anyone ever taken a small toy dog on a plane to Spain?

Thanks
Hunter

janisj

Welcome to Fodors Hunter. I'd suggest you start a new thread of your own instead of tacking on to an old one. Some will respond to the original post and not even see your questions.

(and I might reconsider taking your Yorkie - depending on where all you are going, for how long, and what you plan on doing, he might do better kenneled or w/a pet sitter back home)

southeastern

Just got off a flight Tuesday from Vienna to Washington and there was a yellow lab service dog in ecomomy. Didn't even know it was there until the owner got up to use the restroom and the dog came out in the aisle. It layed down and then went back after owner used restroom. The dog was in the middle 3 seat with the owner on the end. Empty in middle seat. Must have stretched out between owner and empty seat. My husband said it had more leg room than we did. LOL They stayed on the plane and were waiting until everyone got off so saw it a second time on leaving. Had it's head in owners lap. Really a touching sight. There have been many a time when I wished I had a yellow lab next to me rather than the person I was sitting next to. As Martha Stewart would say, "It was a good thing."