I am picking my puppy up after a dog show that I have to attend. It is a 500 mile round trip so logistically have to do in same trip.

Breeder now concerned I may bring germs to her house when I collect pup, which I totally agree with.

I have offered to do the following,

Change my clothing / shoes.

Disinfect my other dog, crate, hands and feet

Keep pup away from other dog.

Wear overall when entering her property.

Anything else I can do at all??

Thanks                            P.S      PUP WILL HAVE HAD BOTH JABS BY THIS TIME

Have you not seen the puppy and its parent/s yet? Whilst I can understand the worry about germs, this is ringing a few funny bells for me. Does she not want you on her property, just a 'hand over' of puppy at the gate? I can understand her not wanting your other dog in, but this all sounds a little bit over the top. As the pups are fully innoculated, and I would think the mum is too, I wonder just what 'germs' she is concerned about, because what are you likely to pick up at a dog show that you wont pick up by simple socialisation anyway? How did you find out about this breeder? Has she a younger litter?

If the puppy is fully innoculated there shouldn't be a problem at all.   My puppies mix with my adults after they've been out on walks and I've never had a problem.  

i would have thought there were far more germs at a dog show! people visited my pups from 4 weeks and i only asked them to wash their hands. pups are immune whilst with mum and need to be around germs to become more immune. if they have their jabs i cant see a problem.

Well, I dont know, how many germs are there in areas where dogs are walked where the owners may not be so careful of health or even foxes and badgers may have been? :) How would this compare to a dog show? ( My thoughts, not to critize your comment :) )I mean, the puppy can go out now safely into all parts of the big wide world, mix with all dogs it meets, so I cant understand the worry of germs, and I wonder what germs?

Obviously its down to the owner of the litter who she has in her house, but i cant help but wonder why she would be quite so overly concerned. She could well have bought something in herself from just shopping, or when she walked the mum of the litter. Presuming the bitch has been walked whilst being a mum....maybe she has not been out either. What about the vet who innoculated the pups, was he 'sterilised' before he came in :D can't think of anyone more likely to carry germs than a vet that deals with very many sick animals, no matter how clean and careful he/she is.

Hi calmstorm,

I'm sure that is not the reason, danny does not sound like a green buyer to me, a lot of us buy our pups via reputation, I know I did!  The way I read it, she is travelling a good distance to a select breeder, she will have already checked all the necessaries re: health checks, KC, sire, dam, and probably knows one or both via the show circuit, danny shows and already has a dog, I understand your concern and if it was from jo blogs round the corner, I would be screaming at her too, but I think in this case all is well and this breeder has come via good resorces. If not I am sure danny will run out screaming herself. :-0

Take your point Carrington, but Joe Bloggs round the corner can also live 250 miles away...  ;) There have been 'reputable' breeders in the not to distant past that have been discredited due to their practices. Only Danny knows what enqs she has made regarding this litter and the breeder, so I guess for that its over to Danny...........:D :D

I would think stopping at services before you get to the breeder and washing your hands then changing your clothes and shoes is enough if the breeder also has a younger litter. There is absolutely no point in disinfecting the crate and other dog as the pup will be living with other dog anyway, it's had both jags so I don't see the problem. I visited one of my dogs at 3 weeks straight after a show and of course washed and changed clothes but sometimes I think people do go over the top. Surely the breeder must pick up germs just going to the local shop!

I can see where the breeder is coming from, she may have other pups there too and probably doesn't want the mum in contact also, you can never be too careful. After all you will have been mixing with hundereds of other dogs, I would be a little concerned, when you put time effort and take all procautions to bring about a healthy mum and litter you don't want anything to jepordise that.

Disinfecting your hands and shoes and a change of clothes is everything that you can do and I think you are being very reasonable not to take offence and understand.

Your pup having both inoculations already will be perfectly safe although there is the one weeks grace afterwards I am sure there will be no problems, the pup will be with your dog anyway. I would disinfect the crate also.

There is nothing more you can do, as others say there is no need but I always believe in prevention rather than cure, and I'm sure everything will be fine.

To be honest, if the pup's had both its jabs I can't see what the problem is. The pup will be at least 10 weeks old - has it not been out and about yet? Has the dam not been out for walks? Does the breeder take these extreme precautions every time she goes shopping? It sounds suspicious to me.

Breeder has no other litter at present. Pup will have only just had 2nd jab. Breeder very happy for me to see her home, parents etc.

I understand her concern. All my dogs got kennel cough from a dog show encounter so I know what can be spread about. She commented that she does not want anything bringing to her home that may make her own dogs poorly. Puppy will not be handed over at gate, I fully intend to see where she reared pup and its parents.

Feeling a bit sick now, want my puppy very much and breeder's reputation is good.

I can see where this breeder is coming from, and I do understand her concerns.   The puppy will only just have had its second jab - immunity isn't full for 7-10 days after.

Unfortunately people do take sick - or sickening - dogs to dog shows - do a search on CD adn find out the number of instances of KC/parvo type illnesses being contracted after Champ shows etc.

I have personal experience of almost losing a litter of kittens when someone came to see my kittens after having viewed another litter - she even told me, as she was holding one of my kittens how much healthier mine were than the other litter that had runny eyes and noses!  Needless to say I grabbed the kitten from her and almost shoved her out of the door - and despite being vigilent, they did go down with an infection.

Could you just not go to the show?

When I picked up my first Dachsie the breeder would not allow my Mum's dachsie into the house[also bred by same breeder]as she had a couple of litters of a younger age,she was quite happy for us to come in and handle any of the pups we chose and showed us all the pups and parents. There was no hand washing etc.,we wiped our feet on the mat on the way in.

When I went to pick up my new pup who was 6 months old nearly the breeder encouraged us to bring our 2 in so she could see them. There were no pups on the premises except the one I was there to get.

I do think Danny what this breeder is expecting you to do is a bit over the top. There are germs blowing around in the air so unless these pups have been kept in a sterile bubble there will be germs coming in every time the door is opened.

Anyway have a good time at the show and Good Luck with your new puppy.

Rhona

The precautions that the breeder herself takes in her day-to-day life will be fine. Sure, I'd leave my other dog in the car (no need to stress out resident dogs by bringing in an interloper, no matter how healthy) but apart from that ordinary wiping of your shoes as you go in (as you would going into anyone's house, whether or not they had a litter) would be perfectly adequate.

Hi Danny......her concern is simply that you have been to a dog show, no other reason? Sounds as if shes being a bit over cautious then. understandable if she shows her dogs too ;)  She has both parents, so you can see what they are like, and any others in the litter that remain so you should be happy with what you see, which sounds good to me :) So long as the breeder has a good reputation, dont worry lass :D

I would generally not go to the show, But, before I found puppy I had arranged for two other friends/exhibitors to go with me in my car. They have paid for hotel, entries, so cant let them down.

Still feel sick about it,***** worried*** need chocolate**!!!!

There are going to be three people and three dogs in the car? So these other people in your car are happy to have to do everything you're offering to do? Bath their dogs (I assume that's what you mean by 'disinfect' your dog) and change their clothes etc?

Explain the situation to your friends - you're not letting them down - they must surely have other friends ?????

Danny.....I hate to say this, but much as it is a good idea to collect the puppy, with such a distance to travel, when you are in the area already, do you really think its the best thing for the puppy given the circumstances? You will have a car with three people and three dogs, tired after a long day traveling and showing, then add the puppy which is just leaving home for the first time. How big are the other dogs, how big is your vehicle, how many stops are you going to have to make on the way home to accomadate the other passengers and their dogs? If the breeder has gleaned all this info from you, I can see her being a bit wary of letting pup go.....and maybe she dosnt like to upset you by being straightforward. Is there no way you can either change the travel arrangements, get them to find another way, dont any of them have a car or alternate transport? What would happen if you couldnt make the journey, how would they get there then? Or could you go again with just a passenger to help?

i wouldn't get stressed danny! it does sound a tad over the top to me given that the pup has been innoculated already and is about to go into the big wide world anyway but on the other hand, that's an easy judgement for me to make since these aren't my pups that i've raised with loving care since birth. thus i can see why the breeder feels protective.  if you've also had all your contact with her by phone then it's much easier for an element of misunderstanding to creep in. if you'd met and spoken face to face you'd have a much clearer picture of where she's coming from. but what you have offered to do sounds very reasonable and i'd now just look forwards to the joy of getting your new pup and remain laid back about the handover.

But the puppy will ONLY JUST have had its 2nd jab - so it isn't fully innoculated!

Margot

By that token it shouldn't be travelling in a car with other dogs anyway.

i think you can get just as over the top about innoculations too only i've always taken my pups out (with some sensible precautions) straight after the 2nd jab on the grounds that they need to get socialising, pronto!

Good point, JG!  

My car is a new Range Rover, the dogs are small toy dogs. They will be the boot, the puppy on the back seat with my friend. One of my friends is wheelchair bound so needs my vehicle, so No, other car options are not available.

Yes, my friends are more than willing to do all those things. 

Got a feeling some of you are going to damn me for this. I thank you for the advice anyway. Whatever, the pup is very important and I wont do anything to harm him.

Can I also say that Breeder well aware of my trip down before she took my money , so YES she has all of the info needed.

Hi Danny, no, not damning you silly :) Makes a difference that the dogs traveling with you are toy, not hulking exuberant Goldens, or Labs, or Great Dane....:D See what I mean ;) So, with the beautiful Rangie (yes OK, definate green glow to the eyes here ;D ) you have plenty of space and air con. Makes all the difference. Just leave the passengers in the vehicle, if thats what it takes, and go in yourself. Has the breeder actually refused to let you take the puppy with you, or does she just want to be careful?

Hi Danny

When I have pups, I take precautions some would deem to be excessive.  However, I have had a pup with parvo, and lived through a close friend's experience of loosing most of a litter to parvo, and I wouldn't want to have to live through that again.  If you take a change of clothes and have a good hand wash then I would think you'd be ok bearing in mind that the pups have now had their second jab, even though the recommended week to 10 days hasn't passed yet.  I expect the breeder will have disinfectant sprays - I use these on visitor's feet, and possibly special hand washes.  I'm sure your friends will understand being asked to wait in the car under the circumstances and I certainly wouldn't expect any of the dogs to be invited in either!! 

It sounds like there's plenty of room in the car, and it's up to you whether you are prepared to expose your pup to the possibility of germs picked up at the show - however, the dogs wont have had time to incubate them.  (I didn't mean that to sound judgemental!).    How long after the second jab will it be?

Pup will have last jab approximately 3-5 days before.

She is thinking about it at the moment. I am waiting to hear back from her , hopefully soon.  I've thought so hard today, my head is bursting. I just want to do what's right.

Dont be jealous of a Range Rover, you ought to see it's weekly petrol diet!!  Quite shocking!!  I did not choose it hubby did. You know what men are like with their toys!!

p.s Speaking of toys, don't laugh, but while i've been ironing, our pug has just chewed the corner off hubby's IPOD. Whoops!! Bad Puggy!!

Hi danny,

Just caught up on your post, looks a bit worrying to me that the breeder is 'thinking abut it' she is obviously very worried about the pup and her dogs being infected, which is her perogative and I personally do understand her worries.

I would have a back up plan ready, either a return trip, cancel going to the show altogether or a pet courier in readiness if you really want this pup.

Hi Danny - no I'm not damning you either - and if the puppy will have had the 2nd jad 3-4 days before (I read your first post as only just having had 2nd jab - ie within 24 hours), that would allay some of my fears.

How about this compromise?   You take your friends to the show, settle them in etc etc, and then YOU go on your own to collect the puppy? - then pick your friends up at the show.   Obviously, there is going to have to be an almighty amount of liaison, which might need to include others, if your wheelchair bound friend has to get back to your car (you obviously cannot leave puppy in a car on its own, nor can you take an under-age puppy into the show).  Could that be a possibility?  Either that - and I know its more expense, but look at getting the train up to pick up puppy a couple of days later.

Don't know what else to suggest.

margot

Hi danny...............Ok I'll keep the green eyes at a distance........:D Rangie  has a love affair with every petrol station it meets, I take it ;) Must admit I'd have gone for a diesel, but yes, I know what you mean, men and their toys :D Mine has a pash for OLD ancient cream crackered landies, which litter the field :D :D At least yours is nice to look at ;) (The rangie, I mean, not sure of the hubby )

Look, I think the pup will be fine, after all if you had gone to a show anywhere, even as a spectator, then collected the pup the next day, you could still have germs on you or the car, you could have walked them in the house, the car, anywhere. Your dog could be carrying something. You can go a bit OTT with all this.....I thought there was only one type of disenfectant that killed the Parvo bug? and any others were a waste of money...any light on this JG?

The only thing that does worry me is that she might tell you when you go to collect that you cant have the puppy. This really needs to be clarified as soon as possible, whatever her reasons, because you need to make alternative arrangements otherwise. If she knew about the travel arrangements before you paid your deposit, then she is being unreasonable now to refuse.