Also, does anyone know if there are any english speaking training schools available or do you have to stick to those on the list given by the Gemeinde?

Twiglet, I plugged your variables into the BVet site, and came up with:

Crossing the border with dogs, cats or ferrets

I bring dogs, cats or ferrets with me from: United Kingdom.
I live in Switzerland and want to bring dogs, cats or ferrets from a foreign country to Switzerland:

1 Dog(s), younger than 3 months
Entering Switzerland:

Microchip (ISO Standard 11784, which only contains digits as identification code)

EU pet passport or passports of other countries recognized by the EU (e.g. Croatia, Norway, Iceland or San Marino) if the animal originally comes from there.

A veterinary certificate in English, French, German or Italian, confirming that the young animals have been kept at their place of birth since their birth without any contact with wild animals which could have been exposed to an infection with rabies. The certificate is not necessary if the animals are accompanied by their mother, on which they are still dependent.

Puppies less than 56 days old may only be imported into Switzerland accompanied by their mother or foster mother.

Register your animal(s) with the Swiss customs and be careful to keep the documents on the correct declaration and, where applicable, the payment of value-added tax.

It is forbidden to import dogs with docked ears or tails into Switzerland.

This regulation only applies to pets, such as dogs, cats and ferrets, which are kept out of interest in the animal or as a household companion. They accompany their owners or a person designated by the owners.

Pets must not be taken over the border to be sold or handed over to new owners. Otherwise this is deemed to be a commercial import.



Has your pup been chipped?

And, have you verified that a letter from the breeder is sufficient? The BVet site says a veterinary certificate attesting to how the pups were kept is needed. If you haven't done so, writing the BVet for confirmation of the document needed would be prudent.

Good luck, and gute Reise!


ETA:

You can go to any SKN certified trainer you wish - but do make sure it is someone doing an age appropriate version. Or, if you wish you could attend a standard Welpenspielstunde (puppy play class, but not SKN qualified) and then later do the SKN when your dog is older, as you have 12 months to do the required practical course. I *think* there have been posts looking for English speaking trainers in Basel... search on 'SKN' or similar, hopefully the thread I'm remembering will pop up. Otherwise, use the BVet database of trainers to find those certified in your area. While a trainer might not do the course in English, he/she might be willing to switch back and forth for you. Can't hurt to ask.

That's great, thanks Meloncollie

Ny breeder lives opposite her vet and is hounding him daily to make sure that all is in order. It is the vet who will provide the certificate instead of the rabies jab.

She e-mailed me today to say that she is going to take him on a short car journey daily to get him used to it. I feel confident in her and lucky to have found her.

I will check out the dog training sites.

Do you mean English speaking training groups for the SKN practical course or in general? If you happen to find one near Basel(either type) I'd be happy to hear about it. Currently all the training classes we go to with our pup are in Swiss German or German, which is all right as my comprehension is quite good, but a bit more complicated when I just can't figure out what they're getting at.

That being said, I LOVE our training class at Lange Erlen. Lots of different dog breeds, different ages and progressive courses (Puppy class through expert). The trainers are all very nice, it is cheap by Basel standards (200 CHF per year for 30, 45 min classes) and there is usually a combination of obedience and agility or "games" with the dogs so it is mentally and physically stimulating.

Best of luck getting your pup here! What kind are you getting?

I forgot to mention...
We imported our dog from France when he was 11 weeks old. He didn't have a chip when we got him, but he had a passport and note from the vet that he was in good health and had not been exposed to wild animals. We ended up coming back on a Sunday night and all of the offices at the customs (pertaining to animals) were closed. We had a vet appointment the next day to chipped and registered and then headed back to the border to pay our import fee and get his passport stamped that we had indeed imported our dog to CH.

Best of luck!

Thanks Jules.

We are getting a Goldendoodle. Ideally I would like the compulsory training course to be in english, need to keep searching but will let you know if I find anything. My german is O.k. but would find it not only easier in english but more relaxing.

We often drive back from the U.k. and never see anyone at the border but just wouldn't risk it as our Christmas travel luck over the last few years has been..

twiglet, private lessons are available with most English speaking trainers if you dont think your German is up to scratch but for a higher price of course. Alternatively, you can post a thread on EF (or your trainer might already have a waiting list of English speaking people who want a course) asking if there are people in Basel who want to undertake the course with you in English.

Most English trainers will be happy to conduct the course in English if there are sufficient numbers. My contact in Zurich does so, try her basel contact or you can contact Carolina for help: www.animalcoach.ch

I wish that option was available to me then, I didnt know enough people and I had to stumble through the course in German. But it was good, as our class only had 4 people max and Carolina always made sure to check in with me to ensure that I understood her German instructions.

Wouldn't be easier to get a dog from Switzerland?

Odile, it is but the price difference is quite massive (even from the reputable breeders across the border) - about two times more for certain breeds. For some people, its worth the hassle.

Touch wood, it is all going smoothly. We visited our puppy today and have booked a flight home to Basel which will allows me to have him in the cabin.

It wasn't really a decision to do with cost. We were heading back to the U.k. for Christmas anyway, and everything about this particular breeder felt right. Being able to communicate so easily with the breeder has been a huge factor for me. We have chatted daily and I know she will be in our lives to help, advise and watch him develop. We plan to Skype. I had found breeders closer to home but I didn't get the same feeling and most would have involved at least 4/5 hour drive anyway.

He is a real sweetie and can't wait to bring him home

Yeah, we have our new addition to the family here at home with us after a stress-free journey. Thank-you for all of the responses

Congratulations, Twiglet!






(But... ahem... where are the photos? )

Exactly! We need pics!