Birdwalk Farm Owner
Help - Shipping Your Puppy
We ship at 8 weeks of age. About
5 weeks of age we take mom away part of the day to start getting the
pups weaned and her milk drying up. At 6 weeks we take mom away during
the day except for play sessions to finish weaning the pups and get
them used to doing things on the own. They get a few hours a day to
explore the living room and experience multiple stimuli. We encourage
them to use newspapers at this time. By 7 weeks old we take mom away at
night and back for play session during the day, plus we break them into
smaller groups and mix litters (if we have more than one litter) so the
pups experience other pups as well as getting to play with non-mom
adults. They will also spend a few hours alone in a crate several
times before shipping. This not only makes the big day at the
airport just one more lesson, it helps the transition to the new home
and that first night alone in a crate.
Our preparation of puppies here at Birdwalk Farm makes for a smooth
transition to their new homes and minimized trauma if the puppy is
being shipped. The biggest problem experienced elsewhere with shipping,
is breeders that take the pup away from mom for the FIRST time at 8
weeks. The puppy has had no prior experience learning about life and
its events until that fateful day when its world changes. With proper
preparation the puppy takes this in stride as a new learning experience
and exploration, not a traumatic experience.
On the "technical side", shipment
by standard airlines within the
continental US is $275; Canada averages $325. This includes
crate,
airline cost, flight certificate, insurance and the miscellaneous
surcharges that are encountered. Shipment
is priority handling,
NOT bare-bones cargo with excessive layover. Direct flights will be
arranged whenever possible. Average in-transit time is 4 hours,
depending on destination due to our centrally-located site. Pups
are
usually in your hands before passengers have claimed their baggage, as
live animals with priority handling are given excellent care and
attention.
A common misconception is that
pups are in the cold cargo hold with the luggage. Animals are in a
special hold in the aircraft, with strict USDA regulations dictating
temperatures between 45 and 85 degrees. In actuality,
temperatures are more like cabin conditions within these areas as the
planes' air circulators clean and exchange air throughout the plane –
from the passenger cabin to the special hold and other pressurized and
acclimatized areas of the plane. So, your puppy is experiencing the
same conditions as the passengers in the cabin, not the cargo and
luggage.
For shipment to Canada, the
procedure is similar to within the US except you will have to go
through customs. We provide necessary paperwork for you and arrange
shipment to allow you plenty of time to get through customs during
their normal business hours. You will be required to have the pup micro
chipped – this has a $20 charge and is done here before pup leaves. You
may incur GST or duty – although many times they allow an exemption on
all or part of pups' cost. We will check cost to your airport but
usually it will be $325 total cost (US). For other international
shipments we ask you check with your equivalent of the Minister of
Agriculture for and import restrictions and/or quarantine. We will
handle booking of flights and let you know the cost (usual average is
$400 - $500US). You may incur duty on your end at customs – this
may be 10% of cost of pup. For the military, some of the requirements
may be waived or different (your base is technically US soil). Many
times military is exempt from local restrictions. Overseas shipments
require a layover period for the dog's comfort and well being, and we
will arrange this with the airlines. All arrivals are given as
local times and are just as accurate as the ones you get when flying.
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Last updated 1/06 Copyright 2000, Birdwalk Farms