Lou, we have a Newfoundland (surely you've seen the piccies!') and an Old English Sheepdog. It cost us ?5k to bring them out and probably aother ?1500 to get their passports and all the other tests and inoculations. We used a company called Ladyhaye, they gave us the cheapest quote and we're really helpful and very professional, they made it easy. Some of the other companies actually admitted to us that they couldn't compete when it came to bigger dogs. Daisy the OE had the same sized crate as a retriever so you can estimate yours would probs be between 2k and 2.5k. You get to keep the crate by the way and they have certainly come in handy.
We haven't seen them for a month because they've been with a friend whilst we've been on the road. I spoke to her today to arrange to fetch them at the weekend and she was saying that every time a car comes up their drive they run to the gate with their tails wagging just in case it's us! We really miss them and can't wait to get them back.
As for stress - well Daisy is a really nervy dog, she's a proper Nancy. She's scared of most things and we were worried about how she would cope with the experience more than Hugo but honestly they were both fine. When we got them off the plane they really were none the worse for wear, they seemed to withstand the journey much better than we did to be honest.
By the way peeps, we have secured a rental now. We picked up the keys today and will be in tomorrow fingers crossed. We have beds and electrical appliances being delivered 2moz and then we can get in and get on. We feel really motivated now, as if they reality of having a property and all it's binds has kicked us back into reailty mode. Good thing!!