Credit: Some of the information shared in this post was provided by Woofline Kennels

There are different rules and conditions that have to be met when you want to import a dog into Nigeria. Likewise, exporting countries have specific rules and requirements as well, which vary per country. It’s tougher to bring in dogs from certain countries than others because there are nuances when it comes to the rules that have been put in place.

Essentially, you have to ensure that requirements for both the country that is exporting and the country receiving the dog (Nigeria) are met.

General Rules

Dogs’ age: Each country has an age specification for dogs that are allowed to be exported. For example, countries like South Africa allow the exportation of dogs from any age, whereas, in Europe, dogs have to be at least 4 months old to be exported.

Tests and Vaccination: Dogs also have to get tested at a particular age, with varying health test requirements.

Airline Rules

A bit of research is required here because different airlines have different rules when it comes to transporting animals:

• There are airlines that don’t carry short-nosed dogs like Frenchies, English bulldogs, etc because of the risk of the dog dying (from not being able to breathe properly).
• Some airlines don’t take Pitbulls and Rottweilers probably because they are perceived to be aggressive.
• Certain airlines don’t allow two dogs to be paired in a crate, some only allow siblings, while others allow just one dog per crate.
• Different airlines have different Box/crate specifications as well, for example, Qatar airline won’t take a Rott in a plastic crate, only wooden and mesh crates are allowed.

Steps to Importing

Having laid down the general requirements, here are the steps to take when importing your dog:

• The first step is to decide on the dog breed you want to buy.
  
• Next, research and find the right country that has importation requirements that you can meet.
  
• Find a trusted breeder and ensure the breeder can connect you with an agent who will handle some of the paperwork and processing on your behalf.
  
• Once you have found a breeder and selected a puppy (videos, picture and other details about your dog are usually shared to help you select), then apply for your importation permit from the ministry of agriculture and livestock in Nigeria. Note that some vets can help you get this permit.
  One of the key tests that need to be done before bringing a dog into Nigeria is a Serological test. Getting results from the test can take weeks, so ensure that the test is taken at the appropriate time.
  
  Your dog has to be dewormed, vaccinated with all necessary shots, anti-rabies shots taken; all details of the dog are then sent down and used in applying for the import permit.
  
  Import permit expires in two weeks so make sure you are ready to ship the dogs by the time its ready.

• Pay the breeder and agent- as simple as this step seems, it can prove to be difficult because there are a lot of restrictions placed on money transfers from Nigeria to other countries. You need to find out the best money transfer option from your bank, bearing in mind that some options will have transaction limits, some available options are Western Union, MoneyGram, and offshore transfers.
• Find the right airline to carry your dog and ensure that you can meet all the necessary requirements.
• Once the dog arrives in Nigeria, you pay for duty and quarantine. You can also get an agent here to help you with the processing. If you don’t have an import permit, then you’ll be charged a penalty of N50,000

You can find more tips on how to import a dog into Nigeria here. It’s recommended to connect with Nigeria breeders, organizations, vets, or pet owners like Woofline Kennels who have experience in importing dogs to make things seamless and to avoid mistakes or getting swindled.

If you have more tips, please share in the comments ? .

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