What, if any, are the guidelines for a US citizen to take a dog into Canada, via a motor vehicle?

Answer 1

Proof of current rabies vaccination.
The guidelines also say you need a certificate of health from a vet, but I have never been asked for one, only for the rabies proof ... For two years I crossed twice weekly with four pets.

Answer 2

Travel with a clean bill of health from your vet. The main concern is rabies and that your dog has had its rabies vaccination. You have to show that for any dog over 3 months old.

Answer 3

Excerpt.... Domestic or pet dogs can enter Canada for any period of time (permanent stays, temporary visits, or in transit visits) without quarantine from any country. Because rabies is a federally regulated disease affecting dogs, Canada's import requirements take into consideration the rabies status of the country of export.

Countries Recognized as Rabies Free for Domestic Cats and Dogs

The following countries are currently recognized by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency currently as being free from rabies:

Antigua
Australia
Bahamas
Barbados
Bermuda
Cayman Islands
Fiji
Finland
Iceland
Ireland (Republic of)
Jamaica
Japan
New Zealand
Norway
St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla
St. Lucia
St. Martin (Netherlands Antilles)
St. Pierre et Miquelon Islands
St. Vincent
Sweden
Taiwan
Turks and Caicos Islands
United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland)
Uruguay

1) Domestic or pet dogs between the ages of three (3) and eight (8) months, which are accompanied by their owners, require rabies certification in accordance with Section 2 if from a rabies-free country, or in accordance with Section 3 if from a country that is not designated as rabies-free. No additional certification is required.
NOTE: Dogs less than three months of age do not require rabies vaccination or certification that the dog comes from a rabies-free country.

Importations of Domestic Dogs - Section 2
Dogs three (3) months of age or older from rabies-free countries

1) EITHER
Domestic or pet dogs may enter Canada if accompanied by an export certificate issued in either English or French, and signed by an official government veterinarian(1) of the exporting country. The certificate must clearly identify the animals and state that:

1.1 rabies has not existed in the exporting country for the six (6) month period immediately preceding the shipment of the animals; and,
1.2 the animals have been in the exporting country for the six (6) month period immediately preceding their shipment, or since birth.
2) OR
If an export certificate as described in paragraph 1) above is not available, dogs may enter Canada if accompanied by a valid rabies vaccination certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian(2) in either English or French, which clearly identifies the dogs and state that they are currently vaccinated against rabies. The certificate should identify the animal as in breed, colour, weight, etc., and indicate the name of the licensed rabies vaccine used (trade name), including serial number and duration of its validity (up to three years). Please note that if the duration of validity is not indicated on the certificate, it will be considered to be valid for one year.

There is no waiting period imposed between the time the animal is vaccinated for rabies and the time the animal is imported into Canada.


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If the animal arrives at a Canadian port of entry and does not meet the requirements of either paragraph 1) or 2), an inspector will order the owner-at the owner's expense-to have the animal vaccinated against rabies within a specified period of time and to provide the vaccination certificate to an inspector.
The above requirements also apply to dogs that were originally from Canada and are being returned to Canada directly from a country designated as having been free from rabies for six (6) months. This would include dogs leaving a quarantine imposed by the exporting country before that quarantine period is completed.
Dogs less than three (3) months of age may enter Canada without an export certificate and are not required to be vaccinated for rabies.
(1) An official government veterinarian is a veterinarian who works for the government veterinary service in the country of origin.

(2) A licensed veterinarian is a veterinarian who is licensed to practice veterinary medicine in the country of origin.

Importations of Pet Dogs - Section 3
Dogs three (3) months of age or older from countries Canada does not consider to be rabies-free


1) Domestic or pet dogs may enter Canada if accompanied by a valid rabies vaccination certificate, which is issued by a licensed veterinarian(2), in either English or French and which clearly identifies the dogs and states that they are currently vaccinated against rabies. This certificate should identify the animal as in breed, colour, weight, etc., and indicate the name of the licensed rabies vaccine used (trade name), including serial number and duration of validity (up to three years). Please note that if the duration of validity is not indicated on the certificate, the vaccine will be considered to be valid for one year.
There is no waiting period imposed between the time the animal is vaccinated for rabies and the time the animal is imported into Canada.

If the animal arrives at a Canadian port of entry and does not meet the requirements above, an inspector will order the owner-at the owner's expense-to have the animals vaccinated against rabies within a specified period of time and to provide the vaccination certificate to an inspector.
Rabies vaccination or certification is not required if the dogs are less than three (3) months of age.

NOTE 1 Assistance dogs that are certified in canine vision, hearing ear, or other special skills are exempt from import restrictions when the person assigned the dog accompanies it to Canada.
NOTE 2 If you frequently import dogs or import several dogs at one time, you may be asked to certify that they are your personal pets and that they are not for resale.
NOTE 3 Commercial breeders can import dogs under eight (8) months of age (without an import permit) on a temporary basis for entry in competitions if they can provide an inspector with proof that the dog is entered in a show or trial organized by a recognized association. Valid rabies certification is also required.
NOTE 4 Dog owners must not import pit bulls into the Province of Ontario in contravention of that province's ban. For information on Ontario's pit bull ban effective August 29, 2005, visit the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General's Web site.


Importation of Domestic Cats and Dogs
Inspection Fees

Fees are payable for inspection of cats and dogs being imported into Canada from countries other than the United States. In certain cases, dogs and cats imported from the United States will require inspection for which inspection fees apply. Upon arrival at the first port of entry in Canada, dogs and/or cats and their accompanying paperwork will be inspected. The fee must be paid at the time of inspection.

The current fees are:
$30.00 + tax for the first animal in the shipment; and
$5.00 + tax for each additional animal in the shipment.
If the shipment does not meet Canada's import requirements (even if the animal is being imported from the United States), the animal will be ordered to undergo vaccination against rabies within two weeks of its arrival, and the following fees apply:
$55.00 + tax for the first animal in the shipment; and
$30.00 + tax for each additional animal.

Frequently asked questions about the importation of domestic dogs... http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/anima/heasan/import/dog_chien_queste.shtml