How to travel from the US to Canada with your pup
- Scarlett “Boney” Begonias
- Nov 6, 2017
- 3 min read
Traveling across the border from the United States to Canada is surprisingly easy if you have the right checklist. I made a list to help you out if you ever decide to travel across the border with your pup.
1. Don’t forget your paperwork.
It would be seriously embarrassing to get to the border after a long drive and realize your dog’s not allowed in without the proper documents. For travel from the United States into Canada, your dog must have signed proof of her current rabies vaccination. If you visit your vet before the trip, you can ask for a rabies vaccination certificate. An EU pet passport is also accepted if you have one. We were traveling over the border from Washington to British Columbia, and the entire process took only 5 minutes! The border patrol woman asked for my rabies vaccination and my friends’ passports, and we were ready for our trip.
2. Beware of breed restrictions.
Every country enforces specific banned breed legislation, and Canada is one of the more discriminatory countries. Since I am an American bulldog, I am usually toward the top of banned breed lists. British Columbia is extremely dog-friendly, so I had no issues crossing the border. However, the entire province of Ontario is not Pit bull or “pit bull-looking” breed-friendly, and there are literal deadly consequences for people sneaking their dogs through. If I were you, I would do considerable research on this topic before risking your dog’s life just to travel to or through Ontario. We are boycotting Ontario because we hate discrimination. I always carry my vet paperwork that says my breed on it just in case I’m mistaken as a pit bull while traveling. You should, too!
3. Remember your dog’s suitcase.
Okay, I don’t actually have a suitcase, but I do have a few necessities I couldn’t travel to another country without. It’s cold, rainy, and snowy throughout the year in Canada, and your dog is going to be cold. My mom forgot my raincoat, and I was freezing after fetching in the lakes and hiking in the forests. I would suggest remembering a raincoat, a warm blanket and towel for the car, food and water bowls, and a travel water dispenser, so your dog stays hydrated throughout the trip. If you bring your dog’s food, be sure it’s an unopened bag of food, so it doesn’t get confiscated at the border. My food is actually Canadian, so we just bought a small bag when we found a good pet shop in Vancouver. Here’s a lovely picture of me after hiking without my raincoat:
I hope you have an amazing time in Canada and that you get to go on plenty of incredible adventures!
Thank you for reading my dog-friendly adventures!
Scarlett “Boney” Begonias is an American bulldog and dog-friendly-travel blogger. She is a passionate foodie, loves marrow bones, and enjoys hiking all over the country with her parents. She was rescued from death row in Miami as a pup, and thus is a breed advocate for bulldogs, pitbulls, and other restricted dog breeds. Scarlett’s mission is to educate people on breed restrictions and help people find the best destinations to travel with their best friends. To learn more, check out Scarlett’s blog, BigDogTravelBlog.com. scarlettboneybegonias@gmail.com.
