Moving to Qatar with my dog

As a suggestion imrshhg (and I really don't mean to sound negative) I would suggest your offer to "help" be checked before posting. It doesn't look professional to not use capitals where needed, to misspell the opening poster's name etc.

To be honest, it doesn't inspire confidence in either your or your partner company if you can't take care to check your message.

That said good luck.

Signature line > "You can't fix stupid"

Hi riddik,

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Leopoldo - you have to adjust as much as the dog. By that I mean, you have to get up and take your dog out early (5am) during the hottest months - to take advantage of the lowest daytime temps. They'll still be in the 30s but the sun is low and the ground is much cooler on the dog's feet.

My dog has a double coat (being bred for a much colder climate) - she slows down in summer, I take a half frozen 1.5 litre bottle of water with us and a dish. She always has access to cold water when we are out in hot temperatures. I also make sure she doesn't get "too" active because then she over heats and it becomes difficult to cool her down - most housing here has their water tanks on the roof - even in summer at night the water is often in the middle to high 30C range - you can't cool a dog down with tap water as a result - you have to make sure it doesn't get overheated in the first place.

You will find that in summer you turn off your water heaters and use that water as "cool" water because the water heaters are inside and subject to AC and the cold water tap becomes your hot water. It's confusing at first but you do get used to it.

Signature line > "You can't fix stupid"

Hi Cristian, are you italian ?as me

I should be relocated in Qatar, I would ask info about dogs and weather.I have a big dog and am afraid he can suffer due to the weather..is hot for him, too much?what you think ?

thanks , bye

We're up in Al Rawda near the airport. There are loads of new houses being built in our area and rents are relatively cheap compared to others because of the airport but to be honest we've got used to the planes the same as everyone gets used to the mosques and you stop hearing them after a while. There's a brand new 7 bed villa across the road going for QR12,000!

:: A pet is for life and not just for Christmas ::

www.qaws.org

I brought my deerhound from the UK 4 years ago. He doesn't seem to mind the heat too much although he has developed a hatred of the rain. I am glad that I brought him but am lucky to have a villa with decent garden.

Chelsea and marycatherine - that's good to hear. I usually treat most people as those that are scared of dogs, and Riddick being big, he doesn't bark so much which is good. He is very chilled out!

In terms of your villas, if you don't mind sharing what areas are they in, as it'd be great if we have soem idea of where other dog lovers live! Send me a message if you don't want to post it here.

We have 9 dogs in a stand alone and the villa next door is used by our landlord for his guests very rarely. He loves our dogs as when they bark you can't tell which villa they are living in and he thinks they are a great security system for an empty villa!!!

:: A pet is for life and not just for Christmas ::

www.qaws.org

I would have to agree with Chelsea on this. I've lived in the GCC with as many as 3 dogs at a time. Never once has a neighbour complained (and I have lived in stand alone villas in mostly local/arab neighbourhoods. In fact, I have had good Arab neighbours help me with problem kids (ringing the bell to get the dogs to bark and then running away)by helping me communicate (my Arabic is not great) the problem to the parents of said children. I rarely had a second problem with the same kids.

Keep your animals under control, treat everyone you might meet as someone who has a fear or dislike of dogs (I do this in North America, not everyone likes dogs) until they indicate obviously otherwise. My "pet" peeve is the idiots who bark at my dog. She already knows how to do that - if I'm feeling particularly annoyed I ask them "Hey great! Can you do a cow?"

Signature line > "You can't fix stupid"

I think your experience was a very rare one. There's thousands of pet owners in Qatar and very very few problems as long as you respect the culture.

Occasionally there might be a problem with neighbours not liking your dog if you keep them in the garden and they bark at night or run loose around the compound which are valid complaints that even I would make. As long as owners are respectful then it's well within your right to have a dog as a pet and if they don't like it they can move house!

:: A pet is for life and not just for Christmas ::

www.qaws.org

please make sure that the certain compound/apt you move into allows dogs, weve had a tough time and many others and have had to move are dogs away. they can really toruture u if u have a dog for no reason.

Hahaha!! Riddick get used to that here - there are a lot of people that think all dogs need to get married! And then there's suddenly all these puppies they don't want that end up at the shelter.

We get daily phone calls from people wanting to "marry" their dogs. I don't think they understand what a rescue shelter is all about..

:: A pet is for life and not just for Christmas ::

www.qaws.org

V_A_T - thanks - I'll contact them for costs and times.

jdwhisper2009 - unfortunately he cannot mate with anyone as he has been castrated.

Wow, I love dogees... which breed is he or she... I have a doggy too. We can get them to mate!!!! for some cute little puppies...

To move all of our household things, we used a company called Anglo Pacific, they were very good (we are from the UK).

Regards

Valerie

Chelsea - thanks for letting me know. Once hubby's visa is approved we (him and I), will come over as he will have a hotel for a few weeks. I am hoping to find accom during this period and then will go back home.

I then will go home for a while and come back in a few months - so we should be OK! Fingers crossed.

Just a quick query to those already there - did anyone use a UK firm to ship any of their belongings? If so, who did you use?

Thanks

The rabies shot needs to be at least 30 days old before Riddick can fly so the sooner you get it done the better in case your plans change and you want to get here as soon as possible! Obviously his other shots need to be up to date as well.

Will you be moving straight into pet friendly accommodation? You don't say when you are moving so please be aware that most of the boarding facilities are already full from June-September so if you are looking for boarding during these months whilst you house hunt you need to book fast!

:: A pet is for life and not just for Christmas ::

www.qaws.org

Hi all - thanks for your replies.

Chelsea - great news re the shelter, I would love to come down and help out and Im sure Riddick will love it too. I'll look up the facebook group and get involved in the walks as that sounds good! 9 dogs....that must be quite a walk you have!

marycatherine - thanks for letting me know where the beach is, have heard that places are quite easy to get to in / around Doha, but will bear this location in mind when we arrive.

Dem - thanks for the advice re BA and QA, I think I would prefer QA as well, esp with the direct flights etc. I have emailed Airpets, so hope thet can help me (sounds like they are a good company), I think he needs the rabies shot a month before we come, so as soon as hubby's visa is approved we will book him in for this.

Thanks everyone - you have made me feel happier about our decision, as I want him to enjoy it as much as we will : )

flew british airways, but on reflection I'd have used Qatar Airways because BA do a refuelling stop in bahrain (one more take-off and landing for the dogs to endure than direct with QA)

Doha vets contact details are here: http://dohavets.com/contact.htm

They deal with Airpets quite a lot, so they just speak directly to each other and co-ordinate the whole thing - it's a really good service at both ends.

Another thing - check up on the innoculation requirements, because you have to have a rabies vaccination 1 month (check this with Airpets) before the dog can arrive in qatar.

Like I say, if you need anything drop me a line: 00974 5626405.

Al Wakra beach is about a 10 minute drive past the airport. Until you find a place to live, it's hard to say how long your commute to the beach would be - if you're on the other side of Doha (but traveling early in the morning i.e. before 6am) you could probably do it in less than 30 minutes.

Signature line > "You can't fix stupid"

First of all let me say I wish there were more people like yourself who are fully committed to their animals and would take them anywhere around the world!

Once you arrive and get settled, please come down down to the Qatar Animal Welfare Society rescue shelter as we are always looking for new volunteers and it's a great way of socialising your dog as you can walk him (on lead) around the farm with our rescue dogs. Who knows, we may even find him a new brother or sister!!

There's also a group of dog walkers that go to one of the beaches regularly in a big group which is another great way of meeting other dog lovers and getting your dog some new friends too! If you're on facebook then search Dogs in Doha.

As far as villas go - you can always find something suitable. I live in a stand alone villa with a huge tiled outside that is plenty big enough for my 9 large dogs (smallest being 25Kg and the largest being 45kg). Compound villas tend to have smaller outsides but in this climate you'll find that in the summer you'll be walking at 6am and 10pm and in between all he'll do is sleep! Just make sure that the landlord accepts pets and get it in writing if you can.

We recommend Qatar Pet Relocators to bring him over but please do not hesitate to contact us if you ever have any questions.

:: A pet is for life and not just for Christmas ::

www.qaws.org

Yes that's very sad...am very worried that hubby will come home one day to find I have 'adopted' a few of the strays....unless I find a job quickly. : )

They're "Doha Specials" :)

The first one's an Akbash mix, the puppy is a Saluki mix. They're both rescue dogs that we've adopted and rehomed while being here in qatar. The first one we got when he was about 4 months old and had clearly been abused. The second we got at barely a month old where she had been abandoned and thrown in a dumpster by someone along with her siblings.

Yeah .. sad how some people treat animals here.

Thanks rkz,

What breeds do you have? I am hoping we can find a smallish compund as well, esp if there are other dog owners there as he loves to meet new friends and play so it'd be great if he doesn't loose that.

Its great to know there are other dogs at the beach too, so he will make some friends.

Sorry - Dem which airline did you fly them with?

Thanks Dem,

Is that quire far from Doha then?

I am still finalising who will bring him out, have just started to look and saw Airpets...are they a good company then?

I have also spoken to qatar pet relocators and someone else, cant remember their name. If you have the details for Doha Vets that'd be great.

As he is on the banned breed list we are having to pay a little extra to get the permits etc so want to make sure he is all OK.

How were your two on the flight? Are they big dogs?

With villas, it really depends on the landlord I guess. I live in a small compound with my wife and two dogs (one's pretty large at 42kg and the other is a 3 month puppy) and our neighbors also have a dog. We usually take them out on walks behind the compound where there's a big empty lot. However, you can't really walk your dogs everywhere (ie Corniche).

There's a beach in an area called Al Wakra (which is about a 10-15min drive from Doha) where my wife and I usually take our two dogs out for a run and swim on Friday mornings with another friend who also has a dog.

You'll see quite a few dog owners out there on the beach with their pets and as long as your dog is well behaved it's all good. It's a pretty big public beach and not crowded at all so you're bound to find a huge "vacant lot" where you can do your own thing and not bother anyone.

There are a lot of people here in qatar with dogs, and you sound like you've got him under control, so thats fine.

You're bound to find people with dogs to socialise with. Unfortunately I'm living in Dukhan now, so we don't come to Doha with the dogs anymore else I'd meet you up with my two :-)

Who are you having bring him out? I used Airpets, down near heathrow. I had all the paperwork done here for their arrival at dohavets - I'll dig out the numbers for them both if you need.

Dem.

Thanks marycatherine,

Is there only one or two beaches where they can run? He is very good and will come back to me so no probs. He is slightly bigger at 45 kgs...but he is my baby!

Also what are the vacant lots? Are these just contained areas where this is nothing?

Are there any groups that meet with dogs? It'd be great to meet some other dog lovers as well, and let him socialise.

I would always be careful of others feelings towards dogs, as I know not everyone will love him.

I have a largish dog (25 kilos) - we go to the beach (early in the morning to avoid inconveniencing those who are not keen on dogs) and she runs off lead. However, she is good at coming when she is called - if your dog is not, start working on that now.

There are usually large open (vacant lots) that you can also allow your dog to run off lead, IF there is no one else around.

Contrary to popular belief, dogs are not haram (forbidden), but there are certain steps a muslim must take after touching a dog or if a dog touches something a person uses. You can read up on it online. There was an article today in the Peninsula newspaper about how animals are supposed to be treated in Islam.

Basically, just treat everyone you meet (until you know better) as someone who is uncomfortable/afraid of dogs. IMHO it's common courtesy to give way to the people, Hey I love my dog but I won't let her run "wild". I wish more people with kids felt the same way LOL

Signature line > "You can't fix stupid"

Thanks Dem,

Is that a pic of your dog? I have quite a large dog, so he def needs to run and if we can drive to these beaches that'd be great.

Yes that is such a pain re brining him back and the quarantine, but we don't have anyone we can leave him with for so long here in the UK - which again is a pain.

So, if we walk him anywhere else in Dpha he needs to be on the lead?

In terms of the villas etc, I am guessing he will be inside most of the time, becuaee of the heat.

The villa's don't tend to have very big gardens, more of a yard. But on the plus side, you can take them to the coast or desert 10 mins outside doha and run them off lead. Like Cristian said, most other nationalities aren't too keen on dogs, especially if they're not viasably restrained.

One thing I would advise, is to maybe to come out for a few months without your dog and make sure that the job and lifestyle are right for you, because once you've got your dog here, getting him back into the UK is a pain ( 6 months quarenteen) as qatar isn't on the pet passport scheme unfortunately - there is talk, but it may be a long way off!!

Any probs or questions feel free to drop me a line!!

Dem.

Thanks Cristian,

Great to know he can run free on some beaches...are these far to get to? Are the villas generally with a big garden as he does love to run about!

they will accommodate that`s no problem. I have a dog as well but you will not be able to let him run free in parks cause it`s not allowed. But if you will go somewhere far to a beach outside doha it wont be a problem and you can take him with you along the sea side but not free. They don`t have the same mentality like us and some of them are not allowed to touch them because of their religion but it`s ok they will just ignore you. Nobody will bother you as long as you keep it close to you. In the end of the day is better for the dog to be with you cause he is part of the family already so even if will be different for him here at least he will be with you. Cheers