Collecting puppy

I would just go as well. I wouldn't normally break the lockdown but in this case I don't see the breeder is going to be able to keep 10 large pups indefinitely. What happens to the other 9? are people collecting them? If you get stopped then £30 is not very much for a fine but I would have an argument prepared about animal welfare and how careful you have been distancing etc. Not about getting a youngster to socialise but about the breeder not being able to keep 10 pups etc etc due to work and there being no choice. With a good explanation you may get away with it. Even after the current 3 weeks is up I am not sure the lockdown is going to be released. I think it looks doubtful.
 
It’s a 3.5 hour trip each way.
I have been chatting to the breeder for months and have ‘known’ her for 2 years from the breed club.
I have seen the puppies via FaceTime etc as we haven’t made the trip down as I normally would have due to lockdown. I also have had weekly updates and a vet report. The parents are tested to the eyeballs (literally!)
The breeder has suggested putting the puppy in a crate that I would collect it from which could be an option. The breeder lives on a small holding and has isolated for many weeks so I think the risk is minimal, although present.

Personally I think the breeder delivering to 10 seperate homes would be more risk. I work with dogs so probably am exposed more at work than with this!
 
I travelled 3 hours to Colchester so I was in the exact same position as you, my breeder had my pup in a crate and she took it out and placed it in my travel crate, all whilst wearing gloves. How the breeder can successfully toilet train and do whatever socialising is possible for 10 pups whilst feeding them and caring for any other dogs she has I don't know.

Also a lot of people will automatically think you've just got the pup because of the lockdown so be prepared for that!
 
ester said:
ermmm have I missed a thread declaring said new arrival? :p
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I didn't mention the arrival on here as thought it might wind people up, which I'd understand in all honesty but if I had to go inside the house for first viewing I wouldn't have gone ahead with it. I've done the cowards thing and subtly dropped it on on this thread and ran for cover ?
 
It probably isn't an essential journey - on a 7 hour round trip you will need to stop at least once for bathroom, maybe more - while it is disappointing is the breeder able to find more local homes with less travel? I understand the litter were planned pre -covid but it is hard to justify either yourself or a courier doing long journeys just for a puppy in my head. Why not ring your local police and ask them?
 
Sukhpreet Aujla said:
I didn't mention the arrival on here as thought it might wind people up, which I'd understand in all honesty but if I had to go inside the house for first viewing I wouldn't have gone ahead with it. I've done the cowards thing and subtly dropped it on on this thread and ran for cover ?
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Nope absolutely not bloody good enough, we had the build up I must insist on puppy photos :p assistance provided if posting them is problematic :p we need all the cute we can get right now :p
 
If the breeder made it off the smallholding for the health tests and the mating (unless they own both parents, apologies!) and keep large breed dogs which I assume need to go to vets for injections/normal care etc then surely they have access to some sort of transport?
And are you sure about scanning at nine weeks?!
Personally speaking I would not want to be putting in those sorts of miles in my own vehicle at this time in case of breakdown or accident and putting strain on any services at this time, and I say that as an AA Gold member lol.
They're expecting you to come on a seven hour round trip, they can at least meet you half way or part fund transport?
 
A halfway meet might sound more reasonable - then only a 3 hour round trip for each so with careufl planning no need for bathroom stops etc. still - I would ring your local police for advice first - they will be the ones stopping you!
 
I would need a wee, a coffee and a leg stretch each direction and the puppy may well get car sick or have a really smelly accident requiring a pit stop. I’d get a courier but defo not MyHermes. Pup in wheelie bin, pup thrown onto extension roof, pup wedged in wisteria, pup stuffed behind recycling boxes and found two weeks later covered in snails, other people’s Christmas pups dumped in your garden for you to deliver. Just some of my personal experiences.
 
Clodagh said:
When we went to Exeter the day before lockdown we took a thermos and a picnic and only used a loo in a petrol station , while getting fuel, and wore gloves and so on.
Why is a courier not a potential threat to the nhs/aa/emergency services but an individual is?
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Because if every individual took that attitude, there'd be a lot more people on the roads.
 
Because it's their job/business, they'll be well insured, they may be carrying more than one animal on board during a run and thus avoiding individual journeys up and down the country. And a better kitted out vehicle, in case of accident.
I doubt my insurance would pay out if I crashed on a seven hour round trip to pick up a puppy during a Government lockdown.
 
There's a post on a guinea pig group today (big rescue group)

Just personally spoken to a lady at defra today
Animal couriers or breeders are allowed to deliver stock following all the social distancing rules and hand cleaning etc but local authoritys may stop and send you home and you will have to do what's asked
Breeder's and rescues can sell/ re-home stock as long it's delivered by them or a courier as it's classed as buisness again following social distancing and govement guidence
 
Sukhpreet Aujla said:
But its a one-off jourmey not something to do daily or weekly, admittedly I am biased but I considered the pros and cons very seriously picking up my pup. If you do things carefully it can be done.
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I think that's the problem it's easy for someone to justify their journey when they want to. That's how the rules get broken.
It's a one-off for that person but there's another 9 puppies in this scenario...
 
If everyone did their one off journeys the spread vastly increases- e.g. 'just a run to the dump' , e.g. 'just a run to pick up a birthday cake ' and on the way you need to use the toilet stops, visit a service station with lots of other people - some working on essentila tasks, lots not - then you get a flat tyre and need a mechanic etc etc
 
Gosh OP I really sympathise :( This time last year I was also waiting to collect a very much planned puppy (not an easy breed to find in the first place) and I have thought several times about what I would do had it been this year!! I too had to do a 7-8 hour round trip to collect said pup. If it were me, now I would probably go and collect - leaving very early morning, taking refreshment and planning the journey very carefully. If stopped I um, errr, dunno what I would say but I might think of a 'work-related' reason. However I do understand why this would be seen as unacceptable by most people really - it's not essential travel but really important to you and there is potentially a welfare issue with puppies left with the breeder. It is a huge shame the breeder can't drive/deliver or meet half way. Courier sounds amazingly expensive too :( . I have been really, really compliant with lockdown regulations and would find it very difficult not to find a way to collect the puppy myself so on balance of how careful I had been generally on a personal moral front I would excuse myself but if everyone did that it would be bad news!! Not an easy problem to resolve - next time make sure your breeder lives nearer or drives - sorry, not helpful!! :oops::rolleyes:
 
The guy who got done in Ireland gave the cops a load of jackanory too, I wouldn't advise it to be honest. He was only a short distance away from his destination and got turned back and then had another go and was stopped a second time and arrested.
 
M
CorvusCorax said:
Because it's their job/business, they'll be well insured, they may be carrying more than one animal on board during a run and thus avoiding individual journeys up and down the country. And a better kitted out vehicle, in case of accident.
I doubt my insurance would pay out if I crashed on a seven hour round trip to pick up a puppy during a Government lockdown.
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I’ve used animal couriers a few times and they have always turned up in a piece of shit van much older than my Focus. They are usually a day late.
A friend had a puppy transported a few months ago and the courier was so late picking it up they (the courier) kept it at their house overnight. No harm done but I wouldn’t want that to happen to an animal of mine.
 
I'm sorry to hear that Clodagh, like I say, mine came in a very swanky affair with individial air conditioned compartments, most of the guys people I know use, travel in branded/detailed vehicles and as everyone knows everyone else, I suppose it's a bit easier to club together and save costs.
 
CorvusCorax said:
The guy who got done in Ireland gave the cops a load of jackanory too, I wouldn't advise it to be honest. He was only a short distance away from his destination and got turned back and then had another go and was stopped a second time and arrested.
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Yes it would be a 'difficult' conversation and not really likely to end well!! :( I do feel for the OP and others in this situation - if you do it properly collecting a puppy that you have carefully selected and waited for (and probably saved up for) is a big deal and is the start of a long term committment. It doesn't feel like a trivial trip ime but in social/civic terms it is an unneccessary journey. No idea what the answer is really. It's frustrating too isn't it - I know that there are kids trooping to the local shop to buy sweets etc (albeit one at a time) and other people DO travel to exercise but this journey is a long one which makes it more vulnerable to police attention. I hope the OP finds a good workable solution soon.
 
Look forward to seeing photos of your puppy when he arrives ?
I’ve used a dog courier to transport a dog from near London to myself in Scotland in the past and it was a fab service. I’ve also used Eric Gillie twice Lev (best in the business ?). Prior to lockdown I think EG would have been happy to transport pups too.
 
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