Once upon a time, most gun dog puppies found their forever homes a few miles from their birthplace. Hunting breeds were rooted in communities that prized their skill sets. Old-time hunters in the Northwoods likely had a setter breeder nearby, while Midwesterners might have had a retriever kennel down the road. Only the most dedicated bird dog enthusiasts sought out kennels other than local, small-scale operations.
Times have changed. In the digital age, most people can own a high-performance gun dog of any breed, from anywhere. A quick internet search will reveal dozens, even hundreds, of professional kennels for most common gun dog breeds. Oftentimes, the best options at the end of this process are nowhere near a buyer’s home. If you have picked the (hopefully) perfect breeder, litter, and puppy you are immediately faced with a daunting question: How do you get them home?
Traveling with other puppies from their litter helps to lessen the stress of travel for a young dog. (Photo courtesy of Mark Atwater) Driving to Pick Up Your Puppy Arguably the simplest method to retrieve your new hunting buddy is to simply jump in the car and drive to pick them up. Of course, the attractiveness of this method erodes with distance. One must consider the cost of gas, lodging, dining out, and vehicle wear on the financial end of the equation.
On the mental end, it’s important to weigh the stress of hours or days of driving. Safety on the road can vary, depending on if you have to drive at night or during inclement weather. Many gun dog puppies are picked up in the spring, when much of the country is experiencing late-season snowstorms or severe thunderstorms. Then there are the delays inflicted by numerous potty breaks, difficulty finding pet-friendly lodging, dealing with accidents, and trying to manage puppy rowdiness while driving.
Despite these drawbacks, driving to pick up your puppy can give you the most control over the entire situation. Carla Fryar operates High Fly’n , a Llewellin setter kennel in North Dakota. She likes a face-to-face exchange, “...so we can meet, they can see the dam and sire, and we can give some puppy go-home advice.” Bridget Nielsen of Wall Canyon Vizslas in Montana not only prefers a face-to-face transfer, she requires it for almost all of her puppies. She explains, “I personally want to meet each owner and spend an extensive amount of time with them, discussing the raising of their potential bird dog.”
An in-person pick-up also gives you the double advantage of being able to see your puppy before finalizing the purchase. Some breeders let you pick your puppy from those available, while other breeders assign puppies from a litter. Most make use of photo and video sharing to help with these decisions. Seeing your puppy in the flesh and chatting with the breeder can help ensure that your puppy will be a good match for your needs.
Ideally, you can drive home with a companion who will care for your puppy on the road, but that’s not always an option. Either way, you need a pet crate that you can prevent from shifting in the vehicle. Pick one that your puppy can turn around in but isn’t much larger than that.
Nielsen suggests bringing essential supplies such as a leash, collar, training pads, wet wipes, water, and a two- or three-day supply of food. She also suggests bringing a “fluffy toy, preferably one that has a battery-operated beating heart inside of it. It helps soothe the puppy’s separation from its litter by mimicking the heartbeat of a littermate.” Similarly, Fryar says, “We also send home something with momma’s scent on it.”
It’s best to supply the same kind of food that the breeder has introduced to the puppy. Avoid the potential gastrointestinal issues of switching foods, at least till you get home. For the same reason, Fryar suggests bringing a jug of water from the breeder’s home, as changing water can be hard on a puppy's stomach.
There are many options for pet transports that pick up and drop off dogs along their route. (Photo courtesy of Ben La Londe) Shipping Dogs with a Ground Courier Service Demand for low-stress pet transportation has fueled a rapidly growing industry over the last decade. Also known as pet taxis or pet transports, ground couriers specialize in moving your puppy from their breeder to their new home. Pet transporters usually follow main travel routes, detouring to pick up and drop off puppies and other pets. It’s important to find a courier that not only provides the care you expect but also has a travel route that works out for your needs.
Shaun Bailey owns Bailey’s Best Care. He thinks his company and other pet couriers provide attractive transportation options. “Ground transport has proven to provide a great combination of convenience for everyone involved, safety and comfort for the pet traveling, and an affordable price for the new pet owner."
The obvious benefit to using a pet transport service is that you can avoid many miles of stressful driving. Instead, you hire someone to do it for you. Costs for this service range, with most being around $500. Costs could be significantly more if you want an exclusive ride for your new buddy, or if you want a travel route that diverges from the norm.
While paying someone to drive your dog has benefits, you should remember that the shared care provided by a courier will be less than the one-on-one focus you provide your dog if you drive the puppy yourself. In addition, leaving the litter can be stressful for a pup, and transportation in an unfamiliar truck can add to that stress.
Puppies often don’t have a complete suite of vaccinations when they go home, making them vulnerable to diseases. Most pet transporters have safety and cleaning procedures to mitigate this risk, but it’s something to inquire about. Shaun Bailey explains, “Any time a puppy under 16 weeks of age travels, the attendant must be concerned about parvovirus exposure. No one should travel with a puppy of this age over long distances unless they have educated themselves in how to mitigate these risks.”
USDA regulations require that commercial transporters obtain a health certificate for your puppy, so be sure that your breeder can obtain proper documentation prior to pick-up.
Airlines differ in their rules and regulations for pets in the passenger cabin. (Photos courtesy of Patrick Dewaal) Flying to Pick Up a Dog If you live near an airport hub and your new puppy lives far away, it might be cheaper and easier to fly to pick them up. Flying with your puppy could be more stressful for everyone involved, but for a shorter period of time. In the United States, the FAA allows travel with pets. As you might expect, restrictions apply, and every airline varies in their policies. Consequently, if you are interested in flying your new puppy home, you must do your own homework.
Some airlines allow pets in the passenger cabin. Your puppy and its FAA approved crate will need to fit under the seat in front of you and remain there through the flight. This could pose a problem for some larger breeds. Puppies must be at least eight weeks old and have been weaned for at least five days prior to travel. On top of FAA regulations, each airline has their own age, weight, health, and breed restrictions.
Flying with your puppy in the cabin can be stressful should your new-found friend whine, cry, or have an accident during the flight. Predictably, airlines charge extra to fly with a puppy, usually $100 to $150. When you go through security, your carry-on crate and supplies will have to go through luggage scanners, but you can carry your puppy through the walk-through scanner in your arms.
You can also put your puppy on your flight as checked luggage. This saves you some headache during the flight but could expose your puppy to more stress. It will also take longer for you to address any issues that might arise.
Plan well in advance if you want to fly with your puppy. Airlines typically require a clean bill of health from a veterinarian prior to your trip. Book your flight with the goal of expediting the experience. Avoid checking bags and try to find direct flights without layovers. Be sure to outfit your bag with an ID collar, leash, dog food, treats, bottled water, bowls, and training pads. Pet-safe wipes and waste bags are also smart additions to your travel kit.
Consider shipping your airline-approved crate directly to your breeder. That way, they can introduce the puppy to time in the crate. This will greatly reduce the emotional stress for your new dog when it’s time to fly. Don’t feed your puppy for four to six hours prior to the flight to reduce their chances of vomiting. Don’t sedate your puppy without consulting with a veterinarian and test any medication prior to your flight.
It is possible to send dogs as checked luggage if you can't take them in the cabin. (Photo courtesy of Navarone-Dreamstime) Flying Pets with Air Couriers If you are unable to fly to get your puppy, air transportation is still an option. Multiple companies offer air courier services, including commercial cargo transportation and airline cargo. Much like ground courier services, these relieve you of the stress and time required to retrieve your puppy personally. Similarly, they don’t allow you as much control over the process.
Your puppy might get to you faster via an air shipment but could be more stressed in the process. Even if you and your breeder live near major airports, there will still be ground transportation needs on both ends. This will require careful coordination of flight departure and arrival times.
This transportation method demands close coordination with your breeder. In fact, some shipping services require that the breeder initiate the shipment. Air courier services often have restrictions on how and when a puppy can be shipped. They must be over eight weeks old and have a health certificate from a veterinarian less than 10 days before the shipment. Some air couriers have restrictions against certain breeds.
As you won’t be there to provide an approved shipping container, your breeder will have to supply one to an air courier, or you can order one and have it shipped to your breeder. Air couriers are an option if you are hoping to get a puppy internationally, but additional regulations and restrictions apply. If you are hoping to use an air courier, it is wise to research your options as soon as your puppy is born, if not before. Cost for air shipping ranges from about $400 to over $1,000 for more exclusive services.
Family and friends are a great way to help you get your dog home. (Photo courtesy of Mark Atwater) Enlist Family and Friends to Help Transport Your Dog It takes a village to raise a bird dog. Don’t be afraid to recruit help on the front end of your new adventure. If you have family or friends that live close to your breeder, ask if they can stop by to look at the dogs, or if they can pick up your puppy when the time comes.
Ask your breeder if any puppies from the same litter are being placed close to you. If so, you could carpool with another puppy buyer, or split travel costs and have one person pick up both puppies. This requires trust, but it’s reassuring that most people in the gun dog world are honest and care deeply about the well-being of dogs.
“I usually introduce both buyers, allow them their own private discussion about fees for transport and care, and I do this only if I’m good friends with, or know, the buyers who are asking for transport from another buyer.” explains Nielsen.
Plan for Success It is a daunting process to bring home a new puppy, but don’t forget to take a deep breath and enjoy the journey. You can take much of the stress out of the process by planning ahead and carefully considering the best method to get your gun dog home. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Always consider the well-being of your new companion, and you will have a joyful homecoming.
