Hi Eveyone
               I'm new on this forum, I am going to ship 2 SBT puppy's to Chicargo, has anyone done this before any help is much appreciated, I have been in touch with Defra and they said they need only a health cetificate from my vet to say that the puppy's are fit and healthy to fly.

Thanks Carrie

I have always used a professional to export.  Having compared the costs with sorting it all myself, there was very little in it, and with the exporters you know they know exactly what they are doing, know exactly where they are going at the airports etc, it is a lot less stressful.

Also having the new owner deal with the export company means you don't have to deal with the finance side of that at all, just the cost of the pup and certification, extra vet costs etc.

I have dealt with Overhill Kennels import/Export for several exports and importing and quarantine, with excellent personal service and care for the pups welfare and comfort.

They have also happily given me advice in cases where the new owners were coming to get pups themselves.

Check with the airport on the receiving end what the customs requirements are and also whether the airline you will be using accepts live stock as cargo from an individual rather than a dedicated animal courier.   I sent a pup to NYC and in order for the puppy to fly direct (no stopovers etc) the airline I was forced to use insisted on dealing with a registered courier.  I'd recommend only ever accepting a direct flight as it's more than long enough for pups to be in a crate and deprived of food and water.  Although water funnels are part and parcel of the crate, remember there is nobody there to attend to them when loaded!  Sending them with food is not permitted.  All this has to be taken into consideration as of course there could be flight delays, cancellations etc.

The pups will need to have specific crate sizes for their development at the time of flying.  Measurements are nose to tip of tail and toe to top of head.  Pups can be sent in larger than required crates but this can really hike up the costs so it's better to have the pups in crates which are the correct fit for their size and comfort throughout the journey.

Depending on the time of year there are additional costs to the airline which can come into play re temperatures in the cargo area the pups will be travelling in (particularly relevant in summer months).

Pups must be under 12 weeks of age otherwise they require a rabies vac.  Your vet health certificate should show the pups' microchip or tatoo number, confirm free from parasites, disease etc and that males have two descended testicles.  You should also have noted any vacs and treatments carried out on the pups before leaving your care.

If sending to show homes you will also need the appropriate UK and AKC forms plus export pedigree but these can be sent separately to the receiving owner.

There may be some other things I've forgotten - it was over 3 years ago :) but hopefully this helps meantime

regards Teri

Hi
   I've been in touch with American Airlines, they will ship the puppy's together (thats what i wanted to do) and also Virgin which was more than double the price. I no that they are unable to have food in their crate, i am thinking of shipping them at 11 weeks of age as they are only 7 and half weeks now. Its hard to no what size they will be at 11 weeks of age. I was looking at a crate size of 32inches for the pair of them does this sound ok? I have been in touch with a few couriers but they want over a £1000, does anyone no of any couriers that are reasonable??

You mentioned about their KC documents, do i have to apply for the export of the puppys as they are going to show homes? You both sound like you have had the experience of this before i am new to this shipping but i don't think i will be doing it again, i am not looking forward to placing the puppy's on the plane on their own.

I am also trying to trace the judge Liz Cartlidge if anybody no's her email address as someone mentioned that she dealt with shipping as a courier.

Thanks so much for your help

Carrie

Liz Cartledge owns Ryslip Kennels, and they are very helpful with shipping enquiries.

M.

Hi again Carrie

I think THIS was the company we used (unfortunately I have building work going on around me and can't access my records!)  I'd shopped around a fair bit as prices were extremely varied and found the company I used to be more competitive than most and above that more informative as to requirements etc :)

If you decide to do this yourself I would not recommend getting the travel crate at this early stage - pups grow so much in the first few weeks and of course not all at the same rate.  The company I used delivered my crate 24 hours before the flight and I'd only sent them the exact measurements 24 hours before that!  A friend recently ended up buying FOUR different sized crates - not very cost effective and three now occupying space in the garage

Re Liz Cartlidge, apologies, I don't have contact details for her but perhaps someone else will :) - I see that's sorted!

regards, Teri

My friend has sent several dogs abroad through Liz Cartledge at Ryslip Kennels. They are VERY good, and no more expensive than anyone else!

be very careful doing it privately, a close friend of mine sent a pup to usa recently and it was impounded on landing because the dept. that dealt with it was off for the weekend :( and because of some small thing in hte paperwork it was shut in an unmanned kennel block for 48 hours without food whilst the frantic owner tried to get it sorted. Unless someone was coming to personally collect it then I would only use Ryslip.

I agree with a professional shipper the T's are crossed and the i's dotted.

If the owner is not coming to accompany the pups on the same flight then use an expert.

Hi, it was a long while ago, but I shipped a pup to the USA.  We did it ourselves and used American Airlines.  They were great - we were allowed to wait with the pup in its crate until they put her on the plane.  They did this after everything else was loaded.  The new owner was at the other end to meet the puppy though and he said she came off the plane as if she had just got on.  I had checked and double checked all the requirements, both ends and we sent our pup at 8 weeks - we thought it was better as they sleep more when young and thought the flight would be less distressing at that age.

carrie i will email you..............

Hi
   Well i have been in touch with alot of different pet exporters and they all range from £1000, if i do this myself i will be looking around £700, i have decided to go with American Airlines as these seem to be in the puppy's best interest, as Alexandars says the new owners will be waiting at the arrival destination and i can be with them till the last moments before take off. I am looking to do this around 6th May so i will let you no how this works out. Thanks for all your imput.

Carrie

When I compared prices it worked about £30 difference between the kennels and doing things myself.  Remember you have to add the cost of getting them and yourself to and from the departure point.

Hi All
       Just to let you all no i managed to ship my two puppies without complication.

Carrie