Apologies if this has been on before--can anyone tell me about taking a puppy to the USA, ideally from Manchester to NY? The breed is a medium sized gundog and the puppy will travel as soon as it is old enough, so c 4 months old?

If a pup is under 3 months it won't need to have Rabies vaccination and any waiting period.

Check with the US authorities http://www.cdc.gov/animalimportation/dogs.html I see things haven't changed then they can travel as young as 8 weeks. I have had two pups go over one with owner in cabin at 9 weeks and the other shipped at 11 weeks

A lot will depend on the airlines policies and route.

Thanks Brainless, I had a feeling you would know. From what I can see so far it looks as though it might be possible to fly out of Manchester with Air France/KLM or Lufthansa, all of which allow pets to travel in the cabin if under 6kg (one or other of these allows up to 8kg), and then it would be a case of a transfer at CDG/Schiphol and on to JFK.

I feel that while I would consider sending a puppy to the US, it would have to be with me or the new owner in the cabin only. I know we sent our own dogs around the world with us and they all were shipped as cargo then, but I can't face doing that now.                                 

You might be better off going from Heathrow flying direct as I did with Inka, the cheapest was going with American airlines who do a flat fee if accompanied, for the dog whether in cabin or hold.

Personally I think the dog/pup would be more comfortable in the hold, it can be very hot in the cabin, and it's only a small holdall the in cabin kind of travel bag, and they are supposed to stay zipped up in it. 

Not pleasant if pup cries or poos and your fellow passengers are not dog lovers.

In the hold it will be dark, Quiet, a more pleasant temperature and the varikennel more comfortable.

I'd always use the airline of the entry country - from experience it seems clearence is faster that way, and as far as I'm concerned, not being kept waiting around at the airport on arrival is paramount, especially with a young puppy.   I have never shipped at under 4 months (and that was from Gatwick to Geneva).   My UK - Canada imports (when we lived out there) were 5 month and 7 months (separate times).   And I have always flown direct rather than having to switch/stop over.

I do agree that I'd always fly with the puppy in the hold - not only for the reason Brainless has given (heating), but because in a flight of that length, it's entirely possible the dog may need to 'go' which indeed wouldn't be pleasant for fellow passengers!!   In the hold, it's comparatively quiet, dark and with a regulated temperature - and the pup would be able to be in a bigger crate (within the requirements of the airline because actually the crate should 'fit', but not be overly big (turbulance injury).   My Basset puppy who I accompanied (same flight) from Gatwick to Geneva was in the hold even (he was significantly large, even at 4 months however!).

ps    Those we took or imported from the UK into Canada didn't have their rabies shots before entry - just a Health Certificate and the KC Export Pedigree so they could be registered with the CKC.   I felt the trauma involved with the flight was enough, without needing to be rabies vaccinated which Canada at that time, didn't require in any case.  It might be different with USA although I don't see why, given UK is rabies free.

I've travelled a few times from Manchester to the US with dogs. Use American Airlines - you arrive, the girls on the desk are very knowledgeable and will process it all, generally they will arrange for you to jump the queue to get yourself and baggage checked in so you can get the dog through the gates quickly. As far as I know they will only take dogs in the hold. The dog will be waiting for you in the excess baggage area when you arrive and you need to hand the passport in at the relevant window, so worth asking the passport people where that is as it's not always obvious. Oh and make sure there is a vet letter confirming "fit to fly" dated within, I think it's 48 hours of boarding.

Here are American Airlines pet Policies: https://www.aa.com/i18n/travelInformation/specialAssistance/travelingWithPets.jsp?anchorLocation=DirectURL&title=pets

Had a very positive experience, and the dog was away from me the minimum possible time, even though we were at the airport 5 hours before flight to check in, the baggage people didn't take the dog until a short time before boarding..

I sent one 7 years ago and the owners came over for a visit and flew him back in the cabin, it all seemed to go very smoothly.