Shipping puppies

[Linda,Yankee & Finn]

OK, I would like to hear the pros and cons of shipping a puppy versus driving a long way with a puppy. I see some breeders refuse to ship puppies while some have no problem with it. Why is that?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I have never had a puppy shipped and I don't think I would. Here's what concerns me:
The puppy has spent his entire life in a secure, familiar environment with his mother and his litter mates. If you go to the breeder's facility and take him home with you, even that is slightly traumatic and certainly a big adjustment. Now imagine that this puppy is taken from his home and put through all the noise, confusion, transfers, conveyor belts, etc. of an airport. Even with a separate climate controled area, it is my understanding that the noise in the lower section of the plane is deafening. Then the airport on the other end, and the whole thing in reverse. I can't imagine that this isn't frightening for this little dog. That's not ideally the introduction to his new home & life that I would want for my puppy. I know a lot of people have done it with no problem, and their dogs are just fine, but it just doesn't feel right for me. (The private plane thing sounds better to me.)
Of course, a very long driving trip wouldn't be ideal either, but at least it would be quieter and calmer, and you would be there the whole time to provide comfort. To me, if I couldn't find a great breeder close to home and had to use air transport, the best solution would be to fly there to get the puppy and bring him back with me in the under-seat passenger section. A lot of breeders who won't ship puppies will agree to that. Yes, I know it's expensive, but hey, might as well get used to spending the big bucks on your new little money pit right from the get-go, lol!

[fergie11]

Re: "new little money pit" Karen - I have horses and trying to get out of that. Talk about a "money-pit"!!! I could have 10 doodles to the price of 1 horse so all of this is relatively cheap to me.

[LuvMyAbby&Kaela]

Oh I forgot to add why I HAD to have her shipped. Kitimat/Terrace are located geographically in such a way that as the bird flies (or plane) it is not all that distant from the major center Vancouver (1-2 hr flight depending on plane and weather). But if I want to drive there I have 2 choices. I can drive from here to Vancouver all the way in the car it is 16 hours. Then an 1.5 hr ferry and another hour drive. So it would take me parctically 2 days of driving to get there. Or the other route involves the Prince Rupert to Port Hardy ferry which is a 15 hour ferry ride plus and additional 5 hours of driving time to the Comox Valley (2.5 to ferry and 2.5 off ferry). If you look Kitimat or Terrace up on google earth you will see how..and why. We are smack in the middle of major mountain range after range after range. And they built the easiest road they could around them all.

[Karen Gaffney]

Both of mine were shipped from PA to California. Both dogs survived happy and secure. Find a good airline.

[Margaret Erwin]

Ella was shipped from Lincoln, Nebraska to Wausau, WI with a 3 hour layover in Minneapolis. She developed a severe bacteria overgrowth which the vet said was probably due to stress. I would not ship a puppy again!

[LuvMyAbby&Kaela]

In response to the post: "No REPUTABLE breeder will consider shipping a puppy. Breeders who ship puppies to people they've never met, are not the type of breeders you want to be buying a puppy from. A simple google search of the American Kennel Club or the Canadian Kennel Club or the term "backyard breeder" will give you instructions on how to find a reputable breeder. Backyard breeders will always want to meet the family, be sure that you have the best intentions for the puppy, will always agree to take the puppy back if you can't handle it.

Anyone who ships their puppies probably won't be willing to take the puppy back if you can't take care of it, or if it develops a health problem.

I encourage you to do more research before getting a puppy shipped to you."

Sorry but this is a pile of nonsense!

[Steve Drury]

PuppyMillFighter, those are very sweeping and generalized statements to be made in such an emphatic manner. Personally I give no credence to such statements coming from someone who posts anonymously and clearly has an agenda to push.
My suggestion, if you wish to attract people sympathetic to your cause, first don't hide your identity and second don't attack your audience.
Peace; out.

[Adina P]

I'm confused about this statement:

"Backyard breeders will always want to meet the family, be sure that you have the best intentions for the puppy, will always agree to take the puppy back if you can't handle it."

"Backyard Breeder" or BYB is considered a negative thing...it refers to breeders who aren't educated and breed their pets or a small handful of dogs -- it does not refer to responsible breeding. Here is one link that pits the BYB against a responsible breeder...http://www.jlhweb.net/Boxermap/reputablebreeder.html/

[Debbie, Brianna and Duncan]

I had decided to travel to Maine from Chicago to pick up our pup when the time came and travel back in the plane with the little one. I had even researched/bought the best travel bag to use for fit and comfort. Well, plans changed and we adopted an older dog ..then two, we had three shipped, including Bogey, from WA state to Chicago with connecting flight. I had100% confidence with our breeders and truly they spent hours with me, getting to know us, and all of the very, very important questions before agreeing to ship us their loved ones. And I did my research and knew I was going with the best. The day of the flight, I was type A personality (kinda still am lol)....on the phone with breeder preshipping, on my drive to the airport, at the connection with cargo and the lady in Seattle who loves dogs by the way the transition was great, and then they brought them direct from the plane in an air conditioned van. My little girl was all smiles and none the worst for ware from her flight. Duncan was very calm and happy just like he is today. Bogey is my in laws dog who shipped from the same breeder to Chicago. They say he was great when he arrived so..Do your homework from whom you are receiving, is all I can say and recommend.

[Debbie, Brianna and Duncan]

Oh, I forgot to add one more type A thing I did while all three where on their flight...http://flightaware.com/ You just type in the flight number and follow it all the way! Oh, I was right there with them the whole way! As best as I could .

[Adina P]

For me it would depend on the length of the flight. We drove 6 hours to pick up my puppy. I would not have felt as comfortable if the pup had to fly 6 hours. But I know many do it and their pups are fine.

I know one breeder of English Pointers who shows in conformation, obedience and has written a book on the breed. She is a very responsible dog owner and breeder and ships.

[Kai Doodle (Kathy & Keith)]

In response to No REPUTABLE breeder will consider shipping a puppy. Breeders who ship puppies to people they've never met, are not the type of breeders you want to be buying a puppy from. A simple google search of the American Kennel Club or the Canadian Kennel Club or the term "backyard breeder" will give you instructions on how to find a reputable breeder. Backyard breeders will always want to meet the family, be sure that you have the best intentions for the puppy, will always agree to take the puppy back if you can't handle it.

Anyone who ships their puppies probably won't be willing to take the puppy back if you can't take care of it, or if it develops a health problem.

I encourage you to do more research before getting a puppy shipped to you.

It is clear that Puppy Mill Fighter has no idea what they are talking about. There are many reputable breeders on this site who ship puppies, and those animals end up in loving homes. If Puppy Mill had done their research they would know that you will not find a Labradoodle breeder on the AKC site as a Labradoodle is not an AKC recognized breed.

I find people who post anonymously to be cowards. They are certainly not any one I would allow to influence my researched and educated decision about whom to purchase a puppy from, nor would I allow their biased and uneducated opinion to influence how that puppy arrives in my home.