Shipping Dogs and Puppies

I get frequent questions about shipping. Is it really safe? Isn't is scary for a puppy? Is it ok to ship an adult dog? Should the dog or puppy be sedated first? Isn't it better if I travel by car 10hrs, to pick up the puppy? Are there any other options?

Shipping has become common place. It's convenient for a buyer to have the option to shop for a good breeder across the nation.

There are 2 methods for shipping, ground and air. Ground shipping would be an option for relatively close distances. But it is usually more expensive ($300 and up?) and I do not recommend it for long distances due to the time necessary for travel. We want to make transport as short as possible for a puppy.

Air shipping is the other option. It's safe, convenient, and affordable at $225-300, depending on the airline, location for shipping, and this includes the breeder's expenses. The buyer keeps the crate the puppy arrives in, which at Crooked Creek Cairn Terriers is the perfect size for crate training your puppy.

A breeder usually chooses an airline based on cost, convenience for their location, and I personally only work with a few of the top quality pet shipping services. Temperatures usually limit shipping due to extreme hot or cold conditions. Puppies can not be shipped if temps are over 85 degrees. Extreme cold temps are also hazardous. However, Conintenal airline's pet services are temp controlled even during transport to and from the airplane. Pets are either hand carried to the plane, or placed on a cart specifically for pets. They are handled with care and personel that I have met are excited to see cute puppies arrive.

Since incident reports are public knowledge, you can check on different airlines and see if they have had any issues. The reports that I read were related to a crate that was not properly secured (therfore we zip tie crates closed), or animals that were elderly or had health problems to start with.

Is shipping overly stressful to a puppy? Cairn Terrier puppies are generaly fearless little creatures. I've had them run into the garage to investigate the loud noise when Rick was sawing a piece of lumber! Most of our puppies are not bothered by traveling in cars and loud noises. Puppies are resilient creatures, learning at a very high rate, and investigating new things and their surroundings. Is it stressful to take them from their litter mates and mother? Yes, they've never been alone before so just going home is stressful. Is traveling by car vs traveling by air, or being presented with new circumstances unhealthy? NO, not in my opinion. From 8-16wks, puppies are like children in that they soak up new experiences like a sponge. I recommend exposing them to scary and loud objects like blow dryers, traveling in cars, clipping their nails, visiting with strangers (after fully vaccinated), etc. Introduce them to as many things as possible and they don't know it's any different than exploring the world they're so inquisitive about! Start them early and they don't know it any differently than normal life. So is shipping too stressful? No, not in my opinion.

Adults who have not had proper socialization or who are fearful of car travel should not be shipped. Since it is not known how a dog or puppy would react at high elevations under sedation, we never sedate an animal for shipping. If there are concerns about an adult, don't ship them. But I've never had a puppy that wasn't wagging their tail and happy to see their new family upon arrival.

For those that live 5-6hrs or more from their breeder, we do not recommend traveling by car. Frequent stops are not healthy for a puppy that is not full vaccinated before 14-16wks of age. With so many people traveling with their pets, rest areas, gas station grassy areas, and stops along the way could be contaminated with parvo, distemper, etc and your puppy can get sick and die even after 2 vaccinations. It is somtimes best to place a puppy in a crate and send them straight to their destination than to risk stops along the way by car.

Another option would be to fly to your breeder's location and pick up your puppy in person. Small dogs and puppies can be carried on to an airplane and hand carried home.