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moving with my dog to PT

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Milford008
  2/5/2023 09:21 EST

We have viewed several doz videos on YouTube on various cities in Portugal but find it unusual that so far we have seen only one dog caught on film. Many of these videos are walking tours through cities.
How challenging is it to relocate your pet to Portugal - in our case a Standard Poodle 5 years old? We are considering many factors such as heat during the summer months, grassy parkettes and places suitable to walk our dog who loves to socialize and meet people.
Are Veterinary clinics easy to find and is communicating in English
(while we learn the basics of Portuguese) a challenge? What about grooming? We know a chip is required for dogs entering the country. Any information based on personal experience would be appreciated!

fritz1956
  2/5/2023 10:20 EST

Curious as well - I have two Portuguese water dogs and travelled Porto to Lisbon and never saw one and very few dogs along the way.
Unlike say France or Spain where I’ve seen dogs everywhere.
I’ve read beach areas are very restrictive
Any info would be appreciated.

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natcorinne
  2/5/2023 11:35 EST

We are planning a move to Portugal with our two dogs and cat, so we've spent a lot of time looking into this topic. During our trip to Portugal, we saw a lot of dogs in parks and many pet stores and vet clinics. Some parts of cities have more green space than others, which is something to keep in mind when looking for a place to live, If you are coming from N.America, keep in mind that you'll need to protect your dog against leishmaniasis. (https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/leishmaniasis-in-dogs) There is a vaccine available as well as topical agents, We are going to try to get our dogs vaccinated before we arrive if we can find access to the vaccine in the US-- which has so far proven to be difficult. Hope this info is helpful!

finecatering
  2/5/2023 11:51 EST

Speaking of Lisbon, Porto and Coimbra, we noticed the same thing...far fewer dogs on the street than we are used to. We are about to move to Coimbra with our 12 year-old daschsund, and here is the first thing you should know. Within 21 days of arrival your veterinarian must sign an EU pet health certificate which must be certified by the USDA no more than 10 days before arrival You need a vet who is knowledgeable in this procedure, as they have worked out a system to get a return from USDA in 48 hours or less and understand the timing of the system. Also, if a rabies shot was required, it must be administered at least 21 days BEFORE arrival.
Speaking only for Coimbra and living downtown, we do find dogs sitting outside in cafes, etc...just not nearly as many as here in North Carolina. Plenty of parks, long walks etc....just don't expect to find any pet stations with poop bags and and cans. We've bought a six-month supply of poop bags because we're not certain we'll find them there.

Pooch
  2/5/2023 12:42 EST

Hi! I just got here yesterday with my chihuahua for our move and I think the hardest part about bringing your dog is the flight and all of the paperwork you need for that. I came from the US and we did these flights in the summer to check out Portugal. There are many dogs here and my impression is that most people love dogs. I already have a great vet that we found over the summer. The only thing that I have found that is a little problematic is that the male dogs here are, in general, not neutered so they can be a bit aggressive, especially with little dogs. Good luck with everything!

GeoffK
  2/5/2023 15:16 EST

The answer will vary according to where you plan to move to. I can only speak about the eastern Algarve where I brought my late German Shepherd. While the Algarve is hot in summer, where I moved from in Mexico was hotter and the dog coped easily in both places. Of course she was not left out in the heat and carriage in cars required common sense caution. As for vets the ones I used were as good as ones I had used in the US and Mexico. I found them expensive relative to other professional services e.g. doctors but cheaper than the USA.

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AnchorLess provides services to help you settle into your new life in Portugal. you are guaranteed to have access to a convenient, quick and reliable service, with a team always ready to answer all of your questions about your new adventure.

Click connect to have our partner contact you via e-mail and/or phone.

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AnchorLess provides services to help you settle into your new life in Portugal. you are guaranteed to have access to a convenient, quick and reliable service, with a team always ready to answer all of your questions about your new adventure.
Connect

Click connect to have our partner contact you via e-mail and/or phone.

Scarytrue
  2/6/2023 09:09 EST

Interesting about needing rabies at least 21 days before arrival. Everything I have read says NO MORE than 10 days before arrival.

Pooch
  2/7/2023 14:36 EST

The rabies and/or rabies booster needs to be done 21 days before the actual health certificate that you send to the USDA.

Matty119
  2/22/2023 14:47 EST

I have a question, we are looking to move to Portugal this fall. My dogs are due for their rabies shots now. I read somewhere, but cannot find it, that Portugal does not recognize a three year rabies and to only do a 1 year rabies shot. Is this correct? Any help will be appreciated.

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Turn relocation stress into success with AnchorLess. From obtaining your NIF to a complete VISA support, we will be your guide through Portuguese administrative.
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Turn relocation stress into success with AnchorLess. From obtaining your NIF to a complete VISA support, we will be your guide through Portuguese administrative.
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Turn relocation stress into success with AnchorLess. From obtaining your NIF to a complete VISA support, we will be your guide through Portuguese administrative.
Learn More

Contribute to Portugal Network Contribute
Help others in Portugal by answering questions about the challenges and adventures of living in Portugal.

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