If I needed to use a courier service for a 13 week old puppy from Liverpool to Kent which is about 300 miles what would be your thoughts on this be?  Should I? etc;

I have never used a courier service, but when looking at various litters of both puppies and kittens recently I have noticed that a number of breeders stipulate that they will not hand over to a courier service. Would you really be happy to have a total stranger in charge of your new baby? Hopefully someone with more knowledge than me will be along soon to offer more advice.

As a breeder I would not use one unless the pup was going abroad. I would however deliver the pup for cost of petrol,  and have done. It has the added advantage that you get to see how the pup reacts when arriving in its new home.

The only time I, sort-of, used a pet Courier Service was when we moved from the East down here in the SW.    We bought 3 with us and with a loaded car etc. and not feeling up to doing the entire trip in one day (we stopped off overnight and I later discovered I had walking pneumonia) we had this Service pick up our 3, keep them overnight and deliver them to our new home the next day.    I wasn't terribly happy about doing that and for sure, the one of the 3 I thought would take it in her stride, wasn't really the same again, with strange people.   They were however, all adults.

I'd never do that to a puppy I'd bred and in fact flew with one I sold to Geneva.   On the other hand, when I bought our foundation bitch, and then a male, they came from the UK to Canada via a Courier at the UK end.   I picked them up myself at Toronto International.

If you are buying this puppy, go collect it yourself.   You should always meet the breeder face to face, see how they raise their puppies, mum etc.  When I bought my two, I knew, personally, the breeder of each and what I was buying (bloodlines) plus I trusted them not to send me 'a dud'.

If this is you sending a puppy off, then I'd prefer to have the new people come collect him, or take him to the new home myself.

Hi Zoi
I used a courier service to transport a 16 week old puppy from Kent to The Highlands of Scotland. For various reasons neither of us could drive ourselves. Have to say that the couriers were fantastic ! Due to really bad weather it took over 3 days. However the couriers kept her overnight at their home she was already vaccinated. The puppy who was going to a friend arrived wagging her tail and had obviously enjoyed all the attention.
This was over 8 years ago and she continues to give them great joy.
Just to add that she was a very laid back character who took everything in her stride.

Thank you all for your replies.   Everything worked out well.

Did you use a courier in the end?