'Our friends paid $14,000 to move their dog': Pupper pawrents share the expensive and ugly truth of moving with cute canine companions

Author image for Blake Seidel
Blake Seidel • Managing Editor & Brand Manager
May 17, 2025 9:00 AM EDT

Happy weekend, animal fam. We are one of the pawrents who takes our doggos with us everywhere. They come with us to friends' houses, they sit with us when we go out for a drink, and they love to make trips to grandma and grandpa's house for the weekend. We wish they could come with us on our trips, but after reading through this article, we know that that won't be pawssible unless we find a magical money tree. We knew that getting a dog could be expensive, but we never imagined it would be this expensive.

One pupper pawrent is relocating from Japan to Australia, and wants to take their pawdorable golden retriever with them. The quote they got for the relocation is around $9,000! So they asked the internet if this was a normal price or a rip-off, and the unfortunate answer was that this pricing is about normal for such a service. Scroll down to read through the expensive and ugly truth of moving with your cute canine companions.

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  • 01

    Is $9,000 USD a fair price to relocate a 39.5 kg Golden Retriever from Japan to Australia?

    'Figuring out how to do it... is honestly not fun at all.'
    via Damedeeso

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02
    Hi everyone, I'm planning to relocate from Japan to Australia with my Golden Retriever (weighs around 39.5 kg) and got a quote from a well-known international pet relocation company. Their minimum price is $9,000 USD for full support services, which includes:
    via u/Green-Butterscotch-5
  • 03
    Travel crate Home pickup & delivery Vet exams & health certificate Government endorsements
    via u/Green-Butterscotch-5
  • 04
    Import permit & quarantine booking Flight booking, check-in, and airport supervision Quarantine fees and delivery to facility
    via u/Green-Butterscotch-5
  • 05
    I understand large dogs cost more, and quarantine is mandatory in Australia, but I still wanted to ask:
    via u/Green-Butterscotch-5
  • 06
    1. Is this a fair/normal price for large dog relocation from Japan to Australia? 2. Has anyone done this recently and can recommend any other reliable but possibly more affordable companies? 3. Any tips to reduce the cost without compromising safety or legal requirements?
    via u/Green-Butterscotch-5
  • 07
    Thanks in advance - this is a huge part of our move and I want to make sure my dog travels safely and comfortably without overpaying.
    via u/Green-Butterscotch-5
  • 08
    Top_Caterpillar_8122 There's only so much competition in that area. My friend had to pay nearly 4000 with the military to have his dog relocated to the states. This is probably 12 years ago.
    via u/Top_Caterpillar_8122
  • 09
    sovereign01 That is roughly what a family friend paid to relocate a similar sized dog from Norway to Australia
    via u/sovereign01
  • 10
    itmustbeniiiiice YES. Our friends (military) paid $14,000 to move their dog to Perth in 2016.
    via u/itmustbeniiiiice

  • $14,000? $14,00??? That's outrageous. Who has that kind of money lying around just to pay to move a dog? We certainly don't. We know it's a service that is quite complicated, but that's a lot of money.

  • 11
    Cheezburger Image 10505028608
    via Gajus

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 12
    sendmespam $9,000 sounds high but it's an expensive service. Does it include the 180 day quarantine after you arrive? Or is that a separate fee you pay to Australia?
    via u/sendmespam
  • 13
    thinbuddha 20 years back, my buddy paid $5-6K for a cat. I think that's just what it costs.
    via u/thinbuddha
  • 14
    horticulturallatin Honestly I have friends who spent like 4k years ago to fly a cat to Oz, though not from Japan. 9k for a large dog doesn't sound unlikely, unfortunately.
    via u/horticulturallatin
  • 15
    My sister wants to move here and I want her to, when she can, but figuring out how to do it with multiple cats is honestly not fun at all.
    via u/horticulturallatin
  • 16
    samskuantch $8,000 USD is what I paid to move two dogs from the US to Japan with a company that helps move pets abroad.
    via u/samskuantch
  • 17
    I believe it can be cheaper if you do it all yourself. I was glad I used their service though. I didn't really understand the process and having someone hold my hand and walk me through everything was worth it.
    via u/samskuantch
  • 18
    AlbaMcAlba Based on my research and eventual transport of my collie. US to UK I'd say that price is about right, the home pickup and delivery will add a major cost.
    via u/AlbaMcAlba
  • 19
    I paid $5k in 2023 for a fully inclusive package from Chicago to London UK. I drove him from Cleveland to Chicago and collected him in London and then drove him to
    via u/AlbaMcAlba
  • 20
    Scotland. Had I had pickup and delivery this would have added upward of $3k. The money wasn't the issue I just wanted him back with me ASAP.
    via u/AlbaMcAlba
  • 21
    TOYS
    via Robert Kneschke

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 22
    Ikerukuchi That's a pretty good price to be honest and looks like they've included everything. It's a lot more involved and expensive than people realise.
    via u/Ikerukuchi
  • 23
    learningaboutstuff88 I've taken dogs from Vietnam, Canada, US, Jordan and HK (which is the hardest) and always did it myself. I was quoted $5000 per dog to go to HK, did it myself for $1600 a dog.
    via u/learningaboutstuff88

  • If we really had to, we would find a way to do it. There is no universe that exists where we would leave one of our precious doggos behind, but that is a steep price to pay.

  • 24
    watson-chain I relocated a 33kg Labrador from nz to Australia using Pet Transport and Hanrob this year. It cost me $5500 including domestic transfer. So from Japan I feel that
    via u/watson-chain
  • 25
    sounds reasonable considering additional quarantine (nz to aus doesn't require quarantine)...if Pet Transport or Hanrob does transport from Japan I would recommend either of them highly. They took care of my dog like he was their own.
    via u/watson-chain
  • 26
    Shlankster I paid USD 12k for 2x 36kg dogs from Singapore to Middle East. There's was no quarantine requirement though.
    via u/Shlankster
  • 27
    dq_debbie I just imported my 25kg dog from NZ to Australia (so shorter flight, no quarantine and lighter dog) and paid about NZD$4500. With that in mind, your quote sounds about right to me?
    via u/dq_debbie
  • 28
    4SeasonWahine I paid about $2500nzd to bring my dog from NZ to Aus and that was with no quarantine. $9k usd sounds quite reasonable considering quarantine costs. I used Aeropets, unsure if they service Japan but I was very happy with them
    via u/4SeasonWahine
  • 29
    Roadgoddess My friend had her golden retriever relocated from India to Canada two years ago and I think it was almost $7000 USD then. And I can only imagine prices have gotten more expensive since.
    via u/Roadgoddess

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Tags

dogs pupper truth canine doggos doggo pawrents Travel moving expensive companion ugly money animals
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