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myredracer · 04-18-2013, 01:33 PM

We live near the Canada/US border and have a seasonal campground minutes from the border. Dog food is a real nuisance. You cannot take opened packages into the US OR ELSE. We took a baggie of 2 day's supply across once and forgot all about it and didn't declare it. Big mistake. We were detained, interogated and lectured for what seemed like hours (really maybe 1/2 hour). Our dog was made to stay in a crate outside while our TT was searched. From inside, we could see the crate bouncing up and down off the ground he was so upset.

My question is, what do other Canadians do about taking dog food across the border for short term trips? Does any manufacturer make really small packages of dry dog food? Is there any real solution to this? IF our campground had small lockers available for rent that would solve it, but they simply won't do that.

If we take our dog for 2 days, that's only 4 cups of food. The smallest bag of suitable food and without cornmeal filler in it is 3.5 lbs. It's over $10 at the grocery store near the border but as low as $6 something at Walmart. So we bought a few bags across the border and took it home to stockpile. Each time we come back, we mix a little with his regular food so our dog doesn't get sick or break out in a skin rash or something. We normally buy a large 28lb bag of duck and potato mix but the closest thing we can find in a small bag in the US is chicken and whole wheat. If we can't find the small bags of dog food from the US that we use some day, we may end up having to feed our dog something that doesn't agree with him and makes him sick.

Canada Customs does not seem to care about what you take back. It's US Customs that you have to comply with. I think it is primarily products with beef in it that's a problem. A US Customs person told us that some people were emptying new bags of food and putting in their own special blends that could contain banned substances so now it must be in sealed and original packaging. And you can't mess with Customs or you could lose your Nexus cards.

Caveman CBB · 04-18-2013, 04:21 PM

Is there anyway you could get a veterinarian prescription for the food and then declare it that way? like people and medication? I don't know I'm just making a guess.

chuydog · 04-18-2013, 04:34 PM

How about putting doggies food in a box of Cheerios? Hard to comprehend US Customs at the Canadian border are that serious about a little dog food.

We used to live in Buffalo NY and made many trips to and from Fort Erie to enjoy Cuban cigars. Guess things have changed a lot.

powerboatr · 04-18-2013, 04:47 PM

does seem unreasonable. I could see them concerned if you brought an open 50lb bag. but a Ziploc come on...hard to believe they get so concerned but let alot lot more cross over
write our state department and ask why and be a pest.

Mitchyb · 04-18-2013, 06:25 PM

We have 2 chihuahua's and I know your pain! Lately we have made sure we kept an old empty dog food bag and put the 4-5 cups of food we need for the weekend in their, haven't had an issue yet but usually the kids acting up and the dogs barking out the window gets us through the border pretty quick!

Murf2u · 04-22-2013, 06:09 AM

Talk to the folks at the pet food store you buy your food from. Almost every pet food manufacturer produces trial size packages. They are distributed to pet food stores so that folks can try the food with their pet without buying 10 pounds of it.

In most cases if they know you, and you explain the problem, they will help you out.

I also know of one person who contacted the manufacturer directly and purchased a whole carton of trial packs.

Raist11 · 07-20-2013, 12:06 PM

You mention Canada Customs has no issue with it coming back. So just buy the smaller sized bags while at home in Canada (that are still large for your requirements) and don't open until you're in the States. Bring it back and just add that to your large bag of food at home. When you go again, repeat. You're going to use that dog food anyways.

Dr4Film · 07-20-2013, 12:15 PM

We are full-timers and we carry everything that we own. There is always 25 - 40 lb bags of dog food in our rolling garage and usually some that has already been mixed together in a 5 gallon pail sitting on the floor of the coach. We also have small pouches of wet dog food that we mix in with the dry.

We have been up to Alaska and back twice now so that's 4 crossings and not once have they said anything about dog food.

I has some oranges taken at the US border in Alaska that I had purchased in Montana 8 or 9 days earlier.

That's been it!

Dr4Film ----- Richard

sadiebug · 07-20-2013, 04:43 PM

They will not confiscate small children at the border. We asked.

myredracer · 07-20-2013, 11:32 PM

We've ended up buying small packages of Dog Food at Walmart in the US that has no corn meal in it. We've stockpiled a dozen bags of it. It's the cheapest price we can find anywhere and can't find small packages in Canada. Yes, the leftovers back home go in the bin with his regular supply.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr4Film

We are full-timers and we carry everything that we own. There is always 25 - 40 lb bags of dog food in our rolling garage and usually some that has already been mixed together in a 5 gallon pail sitting on the floor of the coach. We also have small pouches of wet dog food that we mix in with the dry.

We have been up to Alaska and back twice now so that's 4 crossings and not once have they said anything about dog food.

I has some oranges taken at the US border in Alaska that I had purchased in Montana 8 or 9 days earlier.

That's been it!

Dr4Film ----- Richard

All I can say is that you've been lucky. If they ever happen to do a search and find restricted or banned things, you can be in serious dodo. And if you happen to have Nexus cards, do you want to risk losing them? Better to at least declare it and be safe.

Raist11 · 07-21-2013, 07:11 PM

Whoops, from reading your OP it seemed you said there were smaller bags of food in Canada. What brand is it you feed your dogs?

SarahW · 07-21-2013, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuydog

How about putting doggies food in a box of Cheerios? Hard to comprehend US Customs at the Canadian border are that serious about a little dog food.

We used to live in Buffalo NY and made many trips to and from Fort Erie to enjoy Cuban cigars. Guess things have changed a lot.

I doubt if "a little dog food" is the issue. It's the possibility of illegal substances transported in open packaging pretending to be dog food. Personally I would not mess with the border patrol over dog food.

myredracer · 07-22-2013, 02:07 PM

The regular stuff we use at home is Natural Balance potato and duck formula. It's something like $60-75 for a big 28 lb bag. The small 3.5 lb bags we've bought in a US Walmart is Purina One Beyond lamb and barley formula. He seems to do okay on this, at least for a few days. We will probably switch over to this permanently so he doesn't end up with skin or other problems from switching back and forth, plus we can switch over to larger bags of the Purina at a much lower cost at Walmart or elsewhere.