Moving an Olde English Bulldogge across the US/Canada border is a paperwork problem first and a logistics problem second. Done correctly, an adult dog crosses in a single afternoon with the right documents in the right order. Done incorrectly, the dog is turned back at the border or held in quarantine. Most border issues come from the same handful of mistakes: missing rabies certificate, microchip not registered, expired health certificate, or trying to import a puppy under the new age threshold.
Two regulatory bodies apply: CDC and USDA APHIS for dogs entering the United States, and CFIA for dogs entering Canada. OBBA registration is irrelevant for the border crossing itself: the customs officer does not check breed registry status. What matters is the rabies certificate, the health certificate, the microchip, and the age of the dog.
Honest framing. The information below reflects 2026 regulations as of this writing. Both countries update import rules regularly, often without much notice. Always confirm current requirements with CDC.gov, USDA APHIS, or CFIA before travel. The single biggest 2026 change is the US import age rule on puppies, which has caught many Canadian breeders off-guard since it came into force in 2024.
The 2024 US puppy import rule
The CDC's rabies-vaccine import rule, in force since August 2024, requires that dogs entering the United States be at least six months old, microchipped, and have a valid rabies vaccination administered after the chip was implanted. This rule applies to all dogs from all countries, with stricter requirements for dogs coming from high-risk rabies countries (Canada is not currently classified as high-risk).
What this means in practice for an OEB:
- You cannot import an OEB puppy into the US under 6 months old. Period.
- The puppy must be microchipped before its rabies vaccination, not after.
- The rabies vaccine must be at least 28 days old at the time of import (primary vaccine) or current within the duration of immunity for booster doses.
- A CDC Dog Import Form must be completed online before travel; the receipt is required at the border.
Canadian breeders selling to US buyers usually adapt by holding the puppy until 6 months old (raising the puppy themselves and coordinating later pickup), or referring the buyer to a US-side OBBA breeder, or shipping the dog at 6 months once all paperwork is current.
Importing a dog into the United States
For an adult OEB (over 6 months) entering the US from Canada, you need:
- ISO-compliant microchip (15-digit, ISO 11784/11785 standard) implanted before any rabies vaccination
- Rabies vaccination certificate showing date of vaccine, manufacturer, lot number, and the chip number. Vaccine must be at least 28 days old (primary) or current.
- Health certificate from a USDA-accredited veterinarian, dated within 30 days of travel for personal import (10 days for some commercial transports)
- CDC Dog Import Form receipt (filed online at CDC.gov/importation/bringing-an-animal-into-the-united-states.html)
- Dog appears healthy at the border crossing
For commercial imports (a breeder selling a puppy across the border), additional documentation is required including USDA endorsement of the health certificate and potentially APHIS approval. Most pet movers handle this paperwork.
Importing a dog into Canada
CFIA's requirements for dogs entering Canada from the US are simpler than the reverse:
- Rabies vaccination certificate in English or French, signed by a licensed veterinarian, identifying the dog and the vaccine
- Microchip recommended though not strictly required for personal pet import (commercial import requires it)
- Health certificate recommended within 30 days of travel
- Dog must be at least 8 weeks old for personal pet import; commercial puppy import has its own age and licensing rules under the CFIA
Canada also has an import permit system for commercial dog imports (sale of a puppy across the border counts as commercial). The CFIA permit is filed through the purchaser's side and verified at the border.
Ground versus air transport
- Personal ground crossing. The owner drives the dog across in their own vehicle. Lowest stress for the dog, lowest cost. Available at any land border crossing. Customs officers see thousands of pets a year and process them efficiently when paperwork is complete.
- Air cargo (in-cabin or checked).Required when distance is prohibitive. Airlines have breed-specific rules: most carriers restrict brachycephalic and short-nosed breeds from cargo holds in summer. The OEB's longer muzzle usually qualifies for cargo year-round, but verify with the specific airline. In-cabin requires the puppy fit in an under-seat carrier (only OEBs under ~20 pounds qualify, so usually only puppies).
- Professional pet transport. Ground or air services that handle the dog door-to-door. Useful when the buyer cannot travel and the breeder cannot ship personally. The transporter handles paperwork, scheduling, and customs broker relationships. Cross-border specialists like Dreamer's Bliss Pet Transport handle this for NB-Ontario and broader US/Canada routes.
Costs in 2026
- Microchip (if not already chipped): $30 to $80
- Rabies vaccine (if not current): $30 to $80
- USDA-accredited vet health certificate: $75 to $200
- USDA endorsement (commercial): $173 base fee plus $7 per additional dog
- CFIA import permit (commercial): no fee for personal pet, varies for commercial
- Personal ground crossing: gas only, no border fee for personal pet
- Air cargo: $300 to $1,200 depending on weight, distance, and airline
- Professional pet transport: $500 to $2,500+ for cross-border ground service
Common mistakes that delay or block imports
- Microchip implanted after rabies vaccination. The rabies certificate must include the chip number, which means the chip has to come first. If a dog was vaccinated, then chipped, the dog needs a fresh rabies vaccine to reset the timeline.
- Health certificate too old. Both USDA and CFIA expect health certs within 30 days of travel for personal pet import; commercial windows are tighter. Plan the cert for 7-21 days before travel, not 28+.
- Missing CDC Dog Import Form receipt. The US-bound CDC form must be filed online and the receipt printed for the border officer. No receipt, no entry.
- Vet not USDA-accredited. Any vet can issue a Canadian health certificate but the US requires a USDA-accredited vet to sign for export. Confirm accreditation before booking the appointment.
- Trying to ship a puppy under 6 months to the US. The 2024 CDC rule is inflexible. The dog will be turned back. Adjust the timeline.
- Forgetting to update the chip registration.The chip must be registered under the current owner's name and contact info. A chip registered to the breeder still works at the border but causes problems if the dog is lost.
OBBA records and cross-border ownership
OBBA registration is independent of the country the dog lives in. A dog born in Ontario, registered with OBBA, and sold to a buyer in California is still OBBA-registered. The transfer-of-ownership flow updates the owner field on the public profile when the dog moves households, regardless of country.
OBBA does not maintain country-specific kennel branches. There is one OBBA archive, accessible from anywhere. Breeders and buyers in both countries use the same flows.
Where to go next
- How to find a verified OBBA breeder
- Transfer ownership when the dog crosses borders
- Full cost of owning an OEB
- CDC: Bringing a Dog to the US (current 2026 rules, primary source)
- CFIA: Importing Dogs to Canada (primary source)