Crossing Canadian Border

Anmacc2 wrote:

BCSnob wrote:
You are also limited in how much dog food you can bring in for personal use.

Well this won't be an issue... I personally don't use the dog food... It is strictly for the dogs to eat! :h

I don't know how strict they are now - but when we were crisscrossing borders on our trip to Alaska - having the original dog food packaging was VERY important coming back into the lower US, because Mad Cow disease had been found in a few cattle in BC, I think? We fed Iams chicken-based food just for the simplicity of crossing - if you bought it in Canada, it was still made in the USA, so crossed over easily.

The first time we crossed into Canada, we were instructed to go to a special parking area, parked and went into the office to show our passports and insurance rider (and I brought the dog's papers, too)

Then - our RV was inspected. It took about 1/2 hr, the guy was very professional and polite and VERY thorough; we sat on the curb with our dogs while the inspection was done. I suspect we were entered into some sort of database, because after that (they didn't find anything of concern and we only had the essentials we needed for that trip) all we had to do to cross a border was recite our license number and show our passports. Easy-peasy. This also carried over a year later when we visited Nova Scotia.

One more thing - don't buy any souvenirs that are organic in nature (no carved moose antlers, or even wooden hiking sticks) because those could get seized as you cross back into the lower US. If you MUST have a carved moose antler - SHIP it to your home.

BCSnob wrote:
You are also limited in how much dog food you can bring in for personal use.

Well this won't be an issue... I personally don't use the dog food... It is strictly for the dogs to eat! :h

Just got back from a week of sheepdog trials in Ontario. We needed rabies certs for our 8 dogs. You are also limited in how much dog food you can bring in for personal use; according to CA border website it must be in original packaging.

and for goodness sake, just have one person in the vehicle answer questions at a time.

Entering Canada, had my mother in law and her granddaughter along with us. The wife's niece. Anyway, Canada Customs officer is talking to me at the window and the wife and mother in law just started blurting out stuff, getting everyone totally confused.

I thought we were in deep trouble for awhile, cause since the niece was not the child of anyone in the vehicle, well then of course we'd need permission to take her into Canada. And with all the info being blurted out at once, the poor Canada Customs guy was just overwhelmed with useless info.

Once we got settled down and one person at a time speaking, things went smoothly.

Have your travel documents in your hand or the hands of the person in the passengers seat. The DW has a folder that is well organized and has trip info, passports,insurance papers and pet's papers are in my hands. I don't know about now but the pets papers had to include a statement regarding being in good health and vaccinations. Our Vet had a form he filled out.

If you have a long gun or sport shooting handgun with you, you should have the proper forms issued by their customs office indicating why you have a gun and if the gun is locked up someplace have the key as well.

No sunglasses on anyone in the RV. Best to let the BG see that you're were wearing and removing before approaching the station. Look at the BG's face, your eyes tell them a lot.

Answer quietly and quickly, usually a yes, no, USA type response. Always be truthful and don't joke or volunteer info. Don't answer for others who are asked questions.

Those guys are just working stiffs with a thankless job. And if you are forthright and respond quickly their job is easier and theu appreciate your help.

You should be just as respectful to our BGs and have all the papers you need to cross back into the country ready for them too.

When we crossed going into Canada and coming back into the US, they asked if our dogs had their papers, but we hadn't thought of that, they were stored in a slide. We showed the rabies tags on one of the three dogs to the border control and they were good with that. Think it depends on the person you get. Safe travels.

When we stopped they saw the dog's papers in my wife's hand and asked whats that? They never asked to see them and we crossed over in to Canada twice. They were more interested in how much liquor, tobacco and guns than our dog.

http://www.inspection.gc.ca/animals/terrestrial-animals/imports/policies/live-animals/pets/dogs/eng/1331876172009/1331876307796

Dogs may enter Canada if they are accompanied by a rabies vaccination certificate.

Rabies Vaccination Certificate
The European Union pet passport is an acceptable alternative to the rabies vaccination certificate as long as all the required elements outlined below are included.

The rabies vaccination certificate must:
be written in English or French;
be issued and signed by a licensed veterinarian;
identify the animal (breed, sex, colour, and weight);
state that the animal is vaccinated against rabies;
indicate the date of vaccination;
indicate the trade name and the serial number of the licensed vaccine; and
specify the duration of immunity (otherwise, it will be considered valid for one year from the date of vaccination).

Canada does not require a microchip or tattoo identification for pet dogs.