How I Moved to China With My Dog

Introduction

In 2024, my husband and I decided we would flip our lives upside down and move to Shanghai with our sweet blue heeler, Scout. As we researched the logistics of bringing our dog along, we quickly realized there was a surprising lack of clear information available. To help others navigating a similar journey, I’ve created this guide to outline the planning process, what to expect on travel day, and some helpful tips and tricks to make the experience smoother.

Contact me with questions or to see how life in China is treating us:

Instagram: @cheypope

TikTok: @offthechainy

Email: cheyenne.mcdougall@yahoo.com

Preparation for Travel:

Good to Know

Only ONE pet per traveler is allowed.
You need original documents of everything, NO copies. Make sure your vet is aware of this.
Make multiple copies of all the documents prior to leaving, because they will take these at customs. You need to have copies for police, landlord, etc.
There are pet relocation companies that can help you with this entire process. However, they are a bit pricey. They can range from $5,000 – $10,000.
- My husband and I did this on our own to cut down on moving costs, and had the wonderful help of an individual pet relocator in Shanghai.
- If you are relocating to China, contact me for this person’s WeChat.
In China, you need to register your pet (and yourself) within 48-72 hours of your arrival. They take this very seriously.
- Bring all documents to local police station for registration.
- They may insist your dog gets a local rabies vaccine before they can be registered. It is important to note that if your dog recently got a new rabies vaccine in America before traveling, it is not advised to give them another so quickly.
There will be a lot of documents coming in, keep everything organized in a designated folder.
Consider the time of year you are moving
- It is ideal if you can avoid flying in hot summer months or cold winter months.
- Flying in more ideal weather months also allows you more flight options to choose from. For example, we moved in July and many airlines had rules stating they do not fly dogs to Asia from June to September.

Steps

Purchase your dog’s travel crate immediately. You will want to get them used to their crate ASAP. Look up requirements of what is needed online:
- Be aware that sometimes there are weight restrictions on airline, i.e. “your dog and crate combined cannot weigh more than x pounds”
- The crate that I used
CRATE TRAIN!!!!!!!
- Look up videos if you are unsure how to do this. Feed your dog all their meals in the crate. You can start with taking the door off if it helps. Make the crate a safe and happy place for them.
- Start leaving your dog in the crate for longer stretches of time.
- Find airplane noises on YouTube, play on loud volume to get your dog used to the sounds.
- If you can, have another person help you move the crate around while your dog is inside. Start with small movements, praise and reward your dog enthusiastically.
- If the crate can fit in your car, take car rides with your dog inside of their crate.
Check requirements for bringing a dog from your departure country to the arrival country
- USDA: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. Take a Pet From the United States to Another Country (Export)
- China Specific Requirements
Find out if there is quarantine requirement for your destination.
- For China, there is a non-quarantine option. There are VERY specific requirements for this:
  - RABIES VACCINATION: Your pet must have been vaccinated for rabies TWICE in their lifetime, and be up to date at the time of entry in China.
  - MICROCHIP: Your dog needs an ISO compliant microchip (15 digits long). They will scan for this at the airport to make sure it matches what is on record.
  - RABIES TITER EXAM: This test measures the presence of rabies antibodies in the animal. If there are a certain measure of antibodies, it shows the animal has been vaccinated and is immune to rabies.
  - INTERNATIONAL HEALTH CERTIFICATE: This certificate is issued within 14 days of departure date (I think we did 10). It has all the above information on it, and the dog’s breed, height, markings. The vet will sign off that the dog is in good health to fly.
    - This certificate MUST be issued by a USDA ACCREDITED VET. Ask your vet in advance if they qualify, if not they can help you find a vet that does.
    - Once completed, the vet will send the certificate to the USDA to be officially stamped, and then it will be overnighted back to you.
Call your vet’s office and inform them of your plan, timeline, and questions.
- Our vet was helpful and did research on their end to make sure that we were all aware of what Scout would need to travel.
Make the vet appointments
- We made an appointment for a general checkup, blood work, boosters for any vaccines, and the rabies titer exam.
- Make appointment for the international health certificate exam within 10 days of your departure date.
Call the airlines before you book your tickets and ask if there is room for your dog on the flight(s) you want to book.
- They only transport a few pets per flight, and sometimes they fill up quick.
- Dogs cannot fly on certain types of planes because it needs to be temperature regulated.
- Make the reservation for your pet on the flight, you will pay at the gate on day of travel ($100 for Alaska and $500 for ANA).

Travel Day

Good to Know

STAY ORGANIZED!!!! Have a folder with multiple copies of all documents.
Make a flyer showing your dog’s information and travel itinerary, tape it to the top of crate.
Put your dog’s name and your contact information all over the crate (phone number, WeChat, etc.)
Bring zip ties and nail cutters. The crate door will need to be zip tied closed for the flights, and the nail cutters are for when you arrive to destination. You will have to cut them off yourself.
Attach Air Tag to your dog’s collar.
Attach a leash to outside of crate in case of emergency.
Attach a full water bottle with a note to refill the dog’s bowl if it gets empty.
You need to attach your dog’s food in case of emergency, there also must be a dog food bowl attached to the crate as well.
Line the dog’s crate with potty pads in case of accidents.
Luggage carts are your BFF. Find and use them to carry your luggage and dog crate.

Steps

Prior to travel day
- The vet prescribed our dog gabapentin. Very light sedative to make the trip easier.
- I did multiple test runs of gabapentin to make sure Scout did not have adverse reactions.
- Called all the airlines we were flying to triple check that Scout’s reservation was on my ticket.

Day before travel
- Line the crate with potty pads in case of any accidents.
- Pack a couple trash bags, paper towels, wet wipes, for clean up if there are accidents.
- The night before, freeze the dog’s water bowl so it will melt slowly and not spill.
- Vet recommended we give dog gabapentin before bed.

Day of travel
- Long walk during morning to do all potty.
- Give dog light sedative (gabapentin) before going to airport

DENVER (Alaska Airlines, 2-hour flight)
- Get to airport EARLY. At least 3 hours early.
- Airline workers will inspect the crate to make sure it meets guidelines and food, water, etc. is there
- They give you a ticket to fill out with your dog’s information. You give the pet ticket to the flight attendants.
- Your dog cannot wear a collar in their crate for safety reasons. Attach the collar (with Air Tag) on the outside of the crate.
- We went to a security screening in a private room.
- Then they took Scout and kept her in a private room until it was time for the flight. She got on the plane last.
- I gave my pet ticket to the flight attendants and asked them to let me know when my dog was on the plane.

SEATTLE (ANA Airlines, 12-hour flight)
- Scout was the first to be unloaded from the plane. I tracker her Air Tag.
- When I got to Seattle, I picked up Scout at baggage. She was waiting there. I couldn’t let her out of crate.
  - Most stressful part was moving my 3 suitcases and huge dog crate by myself. I found 2 luggage carts and maneuvered to ANA Airline desk.
  - Dropped off my bags with ANA.
  - They brought us to the side of the service desk, and they inspected the crate and checked all the documents thoroughly.
  - Walked with a woman who worked for airline, dropped scout at a private room. She would be last to board
- When I got on the plane, I told them my dog was flying under the plane, and to please let me know when she was on board.

TOKYO (ANA Airlines, 2-hour flight)
- Did not get to see Scout during the 2-hour layover and plane change.
- I tracked her Air Tag; she was in a room waiting to be boarded onto the plane.
- When I got on the plane, I told them to let me know when my dog has been boarded. She was last to board the flight.

SHANGHAI
- Arrived in Shanghai, the flight attendant told me my dog is being brought off the plane first.
- Scout’s crate was at baggage collection next to carousel.
- Had to find luggage carts for Scout’s crate and my suitcases to be able to go to customs
- There was a language barrier, and I couldn’t get anyone to help me carry everything. I found 2 luggage carts and tried to push them to customs while I also tried to pull myself together. Was emotionally exhausted and stressed about Scout at this point.
- At customs, they asked for all the paperwork. They checked it over thoroughly and scanned Scout’s microchip.
- Then, they asked me to fill out forms on WeChat, but they were all in Mandarin.
- I was crying and couldn’t figure it out. It was going to take me a long time to translate everything. The sweetest couple that was behind me stepped in to help me, they translated everything for me. They would read the question like “the dog’s microchip number”, and then I would find it on the documents, read it back to them, and they filled it in on my phone. They saved me and told me they wanted my first impression and new start in Shanghai to be a positive one. I am forever grateful for these two and think of them often.
- Finally, all the information was accepted. Customs kept all the original documents we brought.
- That couple stayed with me and helped me push the luggage carts to get to the pick-up area to find my husband. I was beyond emotionally drained. They were incredible to me, and so kind. My angels that day!
- I was reunited with my husband after being apart for a month! This was especially emotional because he moved out to China 3 days after our wedding. Talk about the opposite of a honeymoon!
- We went outside and took Scout to go potty. Somehow, she did not have a single accident in her crate during her travel day.
- We broke down the dog crate, and then we took a Didi (like uber) to our new apartment.