Pet Shipping

I get a great deal of inquiries related to pet shipping, most of them from people wanting to buy a pup but live a great distance away and are either unsure of the process or are hesitant about shipping a puppy. In this article, I want to inform people of the exact process and also to dispell some of the concerns related to shipping pups. Shipping is done via major airlines such as Delta, American, Northwest and US air.  Some people think the pup is treated like luggage and arrives at the baggage claims.  Not true, unless you happen to be traveling with your pet, then chances are your pet will arrive at the baggage claims. Each airline has a Cargo facility which is seperate from the hustle and bustle of the main airport.  Airline Cargo facilities take on a multitude of items and this includes live animals, even those for zoo's. There are specific regulations that have to be followed by the airlines before they can allow a pet to fly and these include but are not limited to: Veterinary Health Certificate. Certificate of Acclamation. Proper immunizations for age. Airline approved/animal safe shipping container. Import permits for International Flights. The experienced breeder that is familar with shipping can take care of all needed paperwork and documents so you do not have any additional worries. For International flights, the breeder may need your help to contact the proper agencies in order to get all required permits and regulations before the pup can enter your Country. Stress is another big factor when flying pups.  If a puppy is properly crate conditioned prior to the shipping date, this will eliminate any if not all of the pups fears and the new owners as well. To properly crate condition a pup, the breeder should introduce the pup to the shipping crate, begining a week in advance of the flight.  The pup will use this crate to sleep in and will soon feel very secure only after 3-5 days.  The breeder should take the pup out for rides in the car while in the crate to help stimulate the vibrations he or she will feel when on the plane. Once at the air cargo facility and on the plane, the pup will have less worries because he is locked in his den which is a secure area for him. Shipping cost for pups will vary from airline to airline. Typically, here in the US, shipping between cities can cost anywhere from $80.00 to $200.00  with the average at $180.00.  International flights can range from $400.00 to well over $1000.00. Distance, hot and cold weather all are factors when shipping pups.  Many airlines will have embargoes on live animal shipping if the temps exceed or drop below the recommended safe levels.  Airline fight times and changes of flights can also impact the shipping.  Sometimes it is better to use the Air Cargo express shipping services to insure the pups gets to his destination in the quickest manner.  This can cost a bit more but if the connecting flights cause a long lay-over or if weather is bad, this may be the only option a breeder will allow in order to get the pup to you. Shipping can be a very safe and reliable method to get puppy to his new home. I would far more recommend to ship a pup if you live more than 4 hours from the breeder.   A car trip of several hours can be way more stressful for the pup and more dangerous as the pup can come into contact with many diseases at rest areas or places where other dogs have been let out of vehicals for a "potty break". To date we have never had a bad experience shipping any of our puppies or older dogs and some of these includes very long International flights which required overnight lay-over and qaurantines. The pups can handle the fights much better than the worried breeder or new owner!