Been there done that - our dog from Montreal to London a few months ago.

Here's the official version: https://www.gov.uk/bring-pet-to-great-britain

First off, I would absolutely recommend using a pet relocation service, ideally one that is a member of IPATA: https://www.ipata.org/

For travel direct from the US to the UK, it's going to cost you. Prepare for sticker shock and if you love your dog, suck it up. The dog will (among other things) have to travel cargo (not baggage) on a UK Government-approved airline (the list is on its website and it's usually the big-name carriers including BA and Virgin). Besides the transport fee and the pet relocation service fee, you'll also be paying a customs clearance fee on the UK side plus fees at the Animal Reception Centre at Heathrow (where the staff is young and energetic but bloody-minded when it comes to ensuring the paperwork is perfect).

If you go the direct-to-London route, I'd favour an airline that does its own cargo handling at point of departure (rather than a contractor). A reputable pet relocation service will typically have one airline they've worked with for many years. For both those reasons, our dog flew Air Canada. By all means, try to be on the same flight as your dog. (I was told by a gate agent that if hooman and dog are booked on the same flight, and the dog somehow isn't loaded onto the plane, then the hooman will be denied boarding. Not sure how universal that rule is, but I like it.)

The biggest stumbling block is the paperwork, and the most common error in the paperwork (per the Heathrow Animal Reception Centre) is a rabies certificate that identifies the name of the vaccine manufacturer, but fails to identify the type/brand name of that vaccine. If this happens, your dog will linger in the kennel at the Animal Reception Centre whilst you pay 90 pounds for them to send an email to your vet requesting that particular detail. Fingers crossed your vet will reply within hours - ours did but YMMV.

Do not arrive at Heathrow on Saturday or Sunday, because the Animal Reception Centre is closed on weekends and you won't see your dog until they reopen on Monday. (It's also first-come-first-serve, you could be waiting many hours for your dog to come out even if all your bureaucratic ducks are in a row.)

Other alternatives:

- Private jet from Teterboro, NJ to Farnborough. Costs about $9000 but includes a seat for one hooman. I don't know for sure, but I assume you'll have to do all the preparatory legwork (vet visits, USDA certification, ringworm treatement, etc) yourself, which is stressful just days before departure day. Plus it's a fair distance from Farnborough to London.

- Fly to an EU member state with your dog as checked baggage. Paris would be a good gateway, as there are several outfits that will pick you and your dog up at the airport and then drive you through the Channel Tunnel into the UK. But you'll still have to get an EU animal health certificate before departing the US, in addition to the UK rigamarole.

- Forget going by sea. The only approved route is via the Queen Mary 2 and the earliest kennel availability on that ship (dogs not allowed in staterooms) is January 2026. Yes, 2026.

I know this can look overwhelming. The good news for you is that you're starting this process early. (I first contacted our pet relocation service about six months in advance, which gave me lots of time to avert some potentially nasty gotchas.) Console yourself with the knowledge that the UK is dog-friendly to a degree unseen in the US or (worse) Canada. Imagine Sunday roast at the pub by the fireplace with your dog at your feet. Long hikes in the countryside. No dog runs in the parks, because dogs can go anywhere - within reason and often unleashed - in most parks.

And a parting word from our pet relocation specialist (who's been in the business for decades). Do not give any sedatives to your dog prior to travel. In his experience, this is the number-one way to ensure that you're dog will die en route. In all likelihood, you'll be more nervous - your dog will just snooze the entire journey.

Good luck and I hope this helps.

PS: If your dog requires meds, buy them in advance in the US and carry the vet's prescription with you to get them into the UK. Pet meds are eye-wateringly expensive here.