Random Dog Questions

I was accepted to grad school and my lil man's rabies titre came back positive. Now just trying to decide what to do, what needs to be done, and how much money I need to make it all happen in 4 months.
There are so many things running through my head at moment...I hope that someone will be kind enough to answer my questions. Sorry if they have been answered previously.  

1. Do you think I will have any trouble finding flatmates and a place to rent considering I have my dog? (he's only 4.2#s) I'm assuming that I will need to live with 2-4 people in order to afford rent in London?
2. Can you take your dog on buses, the tube, or train as long as he's in a bag?
3. How much does a UK doggie passport cost + the normal cost of vets there?

  Sorry...I didn't mean to post this here...I thought I was in the PETS folder...and not quite sure how to move it....and just after I read the post that all the PETS questions were now sorted in their right place...sorry...

Buses: There is no consistent rule, it is generally up to the driver's discretion, so ask when you board.

Trains:

    * Passengers may take with them, free of charge and subject to conditions below, dogs, cats and other small animals (maximum two per passenger) provided they do not endanger or inconvenience passengers or staff.
    * Dogs must be kept on a lead at all times unless contained in a basket.
    * Dogs without leads, cats, birds and small animals must be carried in an enclosed basket, cage or pet carrier. It must be rigid and not open (to prevent escape) and the animal able to stand and lie down in comfort.
    * Animals and containers must not occupy seats, otherwise a charge will be made.
    * Animals are not allowed in restaurant cars except for blind persons' guide dogs or deaf persons' assistance dogs, which may be allowed into the restaurant car at the Steward's discretion. However, every effort is made to serve meals at blind or deaf persons' seats within the normal seated accommodation.
    * Blind persons' guide dogs or deaf persons' assistance dogs are allowed on Sleeper services provided the blind or deaf person and dog are booked into single-cabin accommodation. The guide or assistance dog is conveyed free and no cleaning charge applied.
    * ScotRail allows dogs to accompany able-bodied passengers in Sleeper services subject to a charge for a heavy duty clean. The booking must be Standard Class with two people travelling together, otherwise a Solo supplement is payable for exclusive use of a twin-berth cabin.
    * Booking for all dogs travelling in Sleepers should be made at least 48 hours in advance.
    * Byelaw 16 allows the train company to refuse carriage or entry to any animal. If a customer objects to the presence of an animal, the owner must move it to another part of the train or put it in a suitable container in the guard's van/luggage van where available.
    * When dogs are carried in the guard's van/luggage van (other than those in a container) they must be secured with collar and chain and properly muzzled.

Tube: as for trains. They must be carried on escalators.

Thanks for the input...Anybody else on the other questions?

Also as I like to take my dog with me wherever I go, I wonder how open people are about it in pubs, outdoor restaurants, and stores, etc. Maybe even at uni? tho prob not a good idea.
I know I have seen dogs in UK pubs before but ? I don't really worry about where we go in the US. I mean I feel confident enough to take him in places where I am not sure and if they tell us to leave, we leave...I'm not sure if I would feel as comfortable doing that in UK...wouldn't want to get us deported or something!    

Maybe this site will be helpful?

http://www.dogfriendlybritain.co.uk/

On vet fees, we live in Central London and a standard vet appointment is 40GBP.  Back in Boston, a standard vet appointment was $70.  We were pleasantly surprised, since both of our cats are elderly and have had problems since we arrived.  We've also found the treatments and diagnostics to be no more expensive than they would have been in the US (when converted from GBP).  Our Boston vet was defintely expensive, but I don't have any other comparison points in the UK.

I can't recall how much the pet passports were, but I do remember that it wasn't a huge amount.  We converted our US paperwork to a pet passport as soon as we arrived.  It was less than 50GBP each.  We had to have them re-vaxed at the time, because we only did 1 year vax in the US, so that added to the cost, but I am pretty sure the basic cost was under 50GBP.

 

I can't say enough good things about the vet practice we go to, so depending upon where you end up, I'm happy to share. 

Also as I like to take my dog with me wherever I go,

I think you are going to struggle with this.

I think you are going to struggle with this.

Most shops and practically all cafes and pubs will not let you in with a dog.

I was accepted to grad school and my lil man's rabies titre came back positive. Now just trying to decide what to do, what needs to be done, and how much money I need to make it all happen in 4 months.
There are so many things running through my head at moment...I hope that someone will be kind enough to answer my questions. Sorry if they have been answered previously.  

1. Do you think I will have any trouble finding flatmates and a place to rent considering I have my dog? (he's only 4.2#s) I'm assuming that I will need to live with 2-4 people in order to afford rent in London?
2. Can you take your dog on buses, the tube, or train as long as he's in a bag?
3. How much does a UK doggie passport cost + the normal cost of vets there?

I believe #1 will be practically impossible. It's difficult enough to find any place to rent which will accept dogs, to find an existing flat share to move into which will also accept dogs will be tough. There are loads of threads on this board describing the difficulties of finding rental accommodation with pets.

Suggest you try spareroom.co.uk you can put an advert on their describing yourself + dog and try to find a flat that way.

I believe #1 will be practically impossible. It's difficult enough to find any place to rent which will accept dogs, to find an existing flat share to move into which will also accept dogs will be tough. There are loads of threads on this board describing the difficulties of finding rental accommodation with pets.

I second this. I brought my dog (60lbs) and cat over, and must have called about at least 50 places - they were all theoretically pet-friendly but only 3 of them were OK with the dog (most were fine with the cat).

I do share a flat, and found my flat via spareroom. I posted an ad myself listing a flatshare wanted (and including a photo of my pets), but didn't have any success with this as I'd still get e-mails from people who wouldn't allow pets.

It's not impossible, as I have found a place that's fine with my animals, but it took around a month of hard looking and frustrating phone calls.

I don't know if it'll be easier with a small dog, but just be forewarned that it may be a struggle.

You may be faced with a cleaning bill; dogs do leave a smell.

I can't say enough good things about the vet practice we go to, so depending upon where you end up, I'm happy to share. 

I won't be in London, but I'm looking for observations on vet practice and overall professional attitudes in the UK:

http://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?topic=64694.msg908062#msg908062

Any input is appreciated!

I found a place(small house) to rent with my two small dogs.  It has a nice garden and doggie door to boot.  The leasing agents suck, I went with gumtree and maybe got lucky but found a good landlord and decent house.  I came to London about a month before moving here to find a place.  Only had a week and I found a place in three days.  One of the places I looked at with a leasing agent would have allowed dogs, I just did not like it as much and saved all those silly leasing agent fees. 
You will find a place that takes dogs, I dont know a thing about flatshares though.  I am in suburban London, that is cheaper and may have made things easier too.  I really dont know.  People will always tell you you cannot do something, but just keep pushing and stay determined, it will work out.

It be cool to find out if anyone know a restaurant outside of London, near by towns, that does allow dogs.
Though I normally would go for outdoor seating cafe, bakery places if I take my dogs along.

Pet passport, I think my fiance paid 50, my dogs had all the documents and stuff, so we didn't need to do anything as all hard work was done when I took my dogs to UK.