For those of you who trip with a dog, how do you bring food for your dog through customs, specifically when entering Canada by car? Technically, it is supposed to be sealed in its original packaging, but that is kind of inconvenient when packing for a trip. Do you bring an unopened bag with you and then just portion it out once you cross, buy the food once you cross, or do the custom agents kind of turn a blind eye to this?

Up to 20 kg (45lbs) in its packaging.

Check this page...

Canada Customs page re: Petfood

goatroti: "Up to 20 kg (45lbs) in its packaging.

Check this page...

Canada Customs page re: Petfood "

I've seen this page, but share the dschult2's curiosity and wonder how fully and regularly they enforce the "sealed and original bag" thing. It's highly impractical to cross the boarder this way just before a canoe trip. Just like human food, I like to have my dog food properly portioned in bags that are fully closed or resealable and fit in my barrel or Ursack.

I know a number of folks here have traveled Q or WCPP with dogs and wonder if this is something they have seen regularly and fully enforced? My one trip across the boarer with a dog was just to pick up a new canoe then head back the the BW to paddle. The customs folks just asked if I was going to leave anything behind in Canada, and my "no" was all they needed. Any other personal experiences?

I have crossed with dog food in ziplocks en route to WCPP, portioned for each meal. No issue...but I knew if customs wanted to be firm about it, I might be hitting a store to buy new kibble.

sns: "I have crossed with dog food in ziplocks en route to WCPP, portioned for each meal. No issue...but I knew if customs wanted to be firm about it, I might be hitting a store to buy new kibble."

Did they know that you had it in Ziplocs or did they just not ask?

Here's the guidelines for coming into the USA.

"Pet Food. If you absolutely must bring pet food with you across the border, it must be in its original packaging, be under 20kg, have a label with a clear list of ingredients and place of origin. Certain animal by-products won't be allowed into the US, including pet foods that contain any sheep or goat meat."

Would you want your border people enforcing this or just letting it go because you're a canoer in a hurry?

dschult2: "

sns: "I have crossed with dog food in ziplocks en route to WCPP, portioned for each meal. No issue...but I knew if customs wanted to be firm about it, I might be hitting a store to buy new kibble."

Did they know that you had it in Ziplocs or did they just not ask?"

They did not ask. They usually ask about perishable foods/fruit/veg, firearms and alcohol.


The obvious answer is "Yes to all three! Going to get drunk and shoot pomegranates off the hood of my car!"

goatroti: "Here's the guidelines for coming into the USA.


"Pet Food. If you absolutely must bring pet food with you across the border, it must be in its original packaging, be under 20kg, have a label with a clear list of ingredients and place of origin. Certain animal by-products won't be allowed into the US, including pet foods that contain any sheep or goat meat."


Would you want your border people enforcing this or just letting it go because you're a canoer in a hurry?"

What we want our border patrol enforcing could probably be a whole other topic:-). I am just curious what to expect and have no issues with bringing an unopened bag. The only issue I have is if I don't use the whole bag than I am forced to throw away the rest before crossing back, which seems very wasteful to me.

As someone who has crossed the border at five different entry points perhaps two dozen + times since 2007, I have learned that you don’t want to try to slip things by the border agents. If you happen to get pulled into the inspection bay and they find that you were not truthful with them, you risk this being noted in their computer systems (which I assume both countries border agencies share with each other) and you can end in the inspection bay regularly. Almost all my crossings have been relatively quick and uneventful. But when you are directed to inspection you will likely be there for awhile.

If a Customs agent goes through your stuff and they find the dog food in the zip locks, they will confiscate it and more if they want.

I have never in my life encountered an agent that let something slip by just to be nice and I’ve crossed the border many many times.

There is no turning a blind eye to anything with them, nor should there be. Just bring an unopened bag of food across and split it out once you are there.

Funny story:

I once was returning from Canada with a dozen custom-made wood canoe paddles to sell in the US. I was stopped and declared the paddles to the US agent. He asked me to come in and bring a paddle with me. I came in and all the agents inside were in awe at my paddles since they were so beautiful. None-the-less, I failed to put a “Made in Canada” Identifier on them which is required by law. I did not know this. They had me make up some tags that said “Made in Canada” and attach them with string and then let me go on my way unscathed.

Tom

O.k., just to be clear, I don't think anybody - myself included is looking to "slip something by". Myself and everybody here I believe wants to obey the law, hence the questions. I'm just looking for people's firsthand experiences that have actually brought a dog canoeing to Canada from the U.S so I know what to do and what to expect when crossing the border.

P.S. The thing that does kinda bug me about the whole unopened bag thing is what to do with the rest once I divy it up because I more than likely would never use it all. I can't leave it in my vechicle because of bears and can't bring it back accross the border anyway being opened. Me thinks a call to the info line might be in order.

I am not a dog lover... probably the opposite.

But I am curious. Is it easier to take a dog across the border than dog food?

bobbernumber3: "I am not a dog lover... probably the opposite.

But I am curious. Is it easier to take a dog across the border than dog food?"

It would seem that way. You do need a current rabies vaccination certificate, but they don’t need to be sealed in their original bag.

I have only been asked about dog food once during the Mad Cow era.
Otherwise never been asked
Don't volunteer. Do have your bear spray visible on the seat next to you.

I have taken my dog in twice and they did not ask either time about the rabies cert or the food. The first time I had the rabies cert in my hand because I thought they would want to see it. They asked what it was and then said they did not want to see it. I knew the rules and was prepared but they seemed to have no interest in my dog. They were very excited about taxing the wine I had with me but did not care at all about my dog.

deerfoot: "As someone who has crossed the border at five different entry points perhaps two dozen + times since 2007, I have learned that you don’t want to try to slip things by the border agents. If you happen to get pulled into the inspection bay and they find that you were not truthful with them, you risk this being noted in their computer systems (which I assume both countries border agencies share with each other) and you can end in the inspection bay regularly. Almost all my crossings have been relatively quick and uneventful. But when you are directed toa inspection you will likely be there for awhile."

Seen where van going into Canada and they didn't tell the truth. They tore up that van and inspected every little space than.

dschult2: "O.k., just to be clear, I don't think anybody - myself included is looking to "slip something by". Myself and everybody here I believe wants to obey the law, hence the questions. I'm just looking for people's firsthand experiences that have actually brought a dog canoeing to Canada from the U.S so I know what to do and what to expect when crossing the border.

P.S. The thing that does kinda bug me about the whole unopened bag thing is what to do with the rest once I divy it up because I more than likely would never use it all. I can't leave it in my vechicle because of bears and can't bring it back accross the border anyway being opened. Me thinks a call to the info line might be in order."

Sorry if you felt my comments were directed to you. I was trying to offer a general comment/observation to all who participated in this discussion. As I stated, I have crossed the border numerous times and I know of a number of instances where friends have taken things across which were not declared probably thinking it wasn’t that big of a deal. And it probably wasn’t until they get caught. I have never been pulled into the Canadian border inspection bay but have been several times when returning to the states. Three or four years ago and friend and I were asked by a Canadian border agent if we had anything with us which we intended to leave in Canada. We told him we had a 1/2 gallon container of lawn weed killer a Canadian friend asked us to bring. We were told nothing over a 500ml container of this was allowed into Ontario and were advised to make a u-turn and return it to the US. The US CBP agent told us to leave it on a table near the employee car park area if we wanted to abandon the item before returning to the Canadian border. So some US CBP agent had a nice weed free lawn that summer.