Shipping or Delivering a Puppy

Once you have found a secure and loving home for your puppy, a new challenge presents itself: How to ship the animal safely. This dilemma really isn’t that complicated; it’s mostly just a matter of common sense. But for those of you who have never shipped a dog before, it can be difficult to remember everything during this somewhat hectic time. Here are a few tips to help you make this process run smoothly for you and safely for the animal.

Please note: We can't guarantee this information is up-to-date with the latest regulations, it's up to the seller to verify everything before shipping or attempting to do so.

Requirements to Ship

Animals must be at least 8-10 weeks of age.
Shipping kennel or cage must meet standards for size, ventilation, strength and design.
Animals must have enough room to stand up and turn around. Kennels must be equipped with one food and water cup. Kennels must be marked with shipper's name, address and phone number and pick-up person's name, address and phone number (if different from shipper), Live Animal Stickers should be applied to the kennel and the last time fed and watered indicated. Place newspaper or absorbent material on the bottom of the crate.
Animal may not be exposed to temperatures of less than 45 degrees Fahrenheit unless there is an acclimation statement by a Veterinarian.
Health Certificate must be issued by a licensed Veterinarian and be no more than 10 days old.
Animals may not be brought to the airline more than 4 hours before a flight.
Animals less than 16 weeks of age must be offered food and water if transit is more than 12 hours. Older animals must have food at least every 24 hours and water at least every 12 hours.
Animals over 16 weeks must have rabies shots current.

Things to Consider

If shipping international (including Hawaii) check the quarantine laws.
Do not give your pet solid food in the six hours before the flight.
Do not give your pet sedation without your veterinarians approval.
Try to schedule a non-stop flight and avoid heavy travel times.

Airlines that Ship Pets

Alaska Airlines
American Airlines
Delta Airlines
United Airlines

Organizations that Ship Pets

CitizenShipper

A Visit to the Vet

Taking the puppy to the veterinarian before shipping them to their new owners is the first and probably the most important aspect of shipping your dog. Puppies who are unhealthy will be miserable during their travel, and they also pose a significant health risk to other animals that may be traveling.

While at the vet’s office, be sure to explain to the doctor the details of your puppy’s travel itinerary so that they can get a good idea of the time involved and the stress level of the animal. If you’re worried about the mental and emotional health of the puppy, the doctor might prescribe anti-anxiety medications to keep them relaxed throughout their journey.

Once your veterinarian has finished his examination, administered any vaccinations, and written any necessary prescriptions, ask him or her to provide you with an official clean bill of health in the form of an Airline Veterinary Health Certificate. This document usually costs about $50 and will expire within 7-10 days of the visit, so make sure to plan accordingly. (Usually the price for the Airline Veterinary Health Certificate is not included in the animal’s cost, so be sure to keep that in mind when conducting the transaction.) You’ll also want to request the puppy’s vaccination records, as many airlines, pet transportation companies, and different states may require verification before allowing the animal to travel.

Safe and Comfortable Containers

Along with the health of the animal, keeping the puppy safe and comfortable on his or her travels is paramount. If you do not have a kennel or if your current kennel is ill-suited for the animal, you will want to buy a new one for his upcoming adventure. (Usually the price for the kennel is not included in the animal’s cost, so be sure to keep that in mind when conducting the transaction.) Line the kennel with a doggy bed or towels to keep the puppy comfortable and help absorb any accidents.

The kennel should be big enough so that the dog can sit, stand, and lie down without restriction and should be made of sturdy material with plenty of ventilation. Make sure that the door and its latch are in good working condition without a lock to avoid a potentially dangerous situation for the puppy. Also, the kennel should have a handle on top making it easy to carry without touching the dog. Lastly, make sure that the kennel is labeled with “This Side Up” and “Live Animal” stickers, along with a photo of the puppy with its name and your emergency contact information.

Pet Transportation Companies

Dogs cannot be shipped via USPS, UPS, or FedEx, so unless you are looking to take the trip along with the puppy, you might want to look into hiring a pet transportation company. These companies must be licensed by the USDA and you should only work with those carriers who are willing to provide insurance for the loss, injury, or death of the puppy while in their care.

Many pet transporters specialize in carrying specific animals, so it’s wise to make sure that whomever will be delivering the puppy to its new owners has extensive experience transporting dogs and a stellar rating with the Better Business Bureau. When your carrier takes possession of the puppy, be sure to provide them with the dog’s Airline Veterinary Health Certificate, vaccination records, your contact information, and specific directions to their destination along with the contact information for the new owners.

Don’t Forget!

Finalizing the purchase and delivering a new puppy is an exciting time for everyone. The breeder is excited that the dog they have been nurturing since its inception has found a good home, the new owners are excited to expand their family to include an adorable new member, and we at Puppies.com are excited that we were able to help! To make this transition as seamless and convenient as possible for everyone involved, here are a few extra items that you may want to include in addition to the requirements listed above:

Leash
Chew Toy
A small bag of food
A small dish with frozen water
Collar w/ ID tags

One last bit of advice: Make sure to follow up with the new puppy owner to make sure that the delivery went smoothly and that the dog is adjusting well to their new family. Not only will this give you peace of mind that the puppy you worked so hard to bring into this world has found a loving home, but it will also breed further goodwill with the new owners. Many owners are willing to give good ratings and testimonials for quality, caring breeders, so following up could really help you place more puppies in the future.