So f'ing pissed off

Bruno is only 7 weeks old when flying and the airlines specify 10 weeks. I asked the breeder to tell the vet to please just leave his birth date blank. The receptionist of the vet just phoned me to say they refuse to leave it blank, I just have to fly him at a later date!!
I mean what the ****!!!
She knows someone flying to Cape Town the 15th and he'll be old enough then, she'll ask them to take the puppy. Cape Town is a ****ing 450km drive away, in peak holiday season! I'm working my arse off and can't just drive to Cape Town for the day.
Everything is booked and paid for and now this receptionist wants to decide what we should do???

I know you want him with you asap. So would I, but....

Most airlines won't accept a pup under 10 wks if they are travelling as luggage/cargo. But some will allow a young pup in the cabin with the owner. Most don't before 10 wks because, as for young babies it can cause problems in their ears & as a result, their balance.

As annoyed as you are, the vet has done the right thing. I think he is too young to fly & I know you want him with you but, I also know you do not want him to have any lasting damage from flying so young.

A couple of weeks of waiting is painful, but well worth it for a long & healthy life together.

As for the receptionist....

Tracy we have flown 6 dogs under 8 weeks of age. The transport companies I contacted have no problem flying a a puppy over 6 weeks but I have a lift for him on the 7th of December that costs me a 10th of the price, hence me doing it myself.
Pets fly in a special area on the plane that has the same pressure and temperature as the passenger cabin. They don't fly in the luggage/cargo hold, they would freeze to death. It can get to -30C in there.
It's only a hour flight with him being booked in 20 min before the flight and being unloaded immediately. It's not like with cargo where they have to be booked in 2-4 hours before the flight and it takes another hour to get them off the plane.

In another 3 weeks he will have to fly cargo, there may not be a flight for him as it's our peak holiday season and our airlines only take 4 dog crates per flight. I might also not be able to get away from work to collect him at a specific time as we are insanely busy during this time.

Ok, I know they don't actually fly IN cargo... that's what we call it as a pet is classed as 1 item of baggage here. I have flown numerous times with a pet, no luggage, only carry on & it costs me no more to take a pet than it would a suitcase.

When I have flown with animals here (5 times now) they are checked in at least 2 hrs before the flight in the cargo terminal, but are loaded after the baggage. You would not get an animal under 10wks on any flight here, & a blank D.O.B would exclude it from flying even if it looked old & grey.

Oh, Theresa, I know how you must feel!

But I have to agree with Tracy - the vets can't lie & if they leave it blank the chances are the pup'll be refused passage anyway.

If you can't get the time off to pick him up, would anyone else be able to do it for you?

We would fill the date in ourselves. I chuck that book in the rubbish when it gets here anyhow as I get one from my own vet with their details on the front.
The breeder can't keep him after the 11th as they're going on holiday and their dogs are going into kennels till the New Year.
I don't have many options, he has to come or never come and sorry but that's not an option.

I hope you manage to get something sorted!

I do understand, but I'd rather the law was in place than risk abuse (not you, obviously!).

If the breeder's going on holiday, why on earth did they plan the litter?

I just don't see what choice you have other than to wait.

He's coming. I won't wait.

Caryll wrote:

If the breeder's going on holiday, why on earth did they plan the litter?

This! Or vise versa, plan a holiday when the puppys were planned.


Hope he gets there all ok.

Because all the pups will have gone to their homes before they go on holiday. They planned around the pups and times the new owners want to collect.

They certainly cut it a bit fine!

I don't know what to suggest - if the airline won't carry him, what are you going to do?

It's only Bruno that's left. The rest have gone to their homes. It might be different with you guys but here it's very, very rare for a puppy to still be with a breeder at 8 weeks.
The airline will carry him. I'm just overly paranoid because I'm a control freak and this is out of my control.
The airlines are only worried about the vaccinations, they're not even going to look at his birth date. If there's a problem I will deal with it.
This is South Africa we have bigger problems than a slightly underage puppy on a plane.

I'm amazed that pups are let go to their new homes at such a young age! Here it's supposed to be a minimum of 8 weeks, although some leave earlier. It's considered to be bad breeding to let them go earlier!

It's rare here to get them under 8wks. 8-10 is average here.
hope all goes well & you can cuddle him soon.

Off topic but personally I want my pups at 5/6 weeks. I definitely would have to be seriously in love to take a pup after 8 weeks. I've had one pup after 10 weeks and he ruined my life.
A breeder can harm your puppy and teach it lots of bad habits. At 10 weeks your pup is also 2 weeks into the first fear period and can already have developed life long social issues.
The norm here is 6 weeks with some going earlier and some later.
Being totally hypocritical; if I ever bred and had pups I wouldn't let them go before 8 weeks because I can teach them some good manners to help their lives.

If the breeder is a good one then young pups can learn so much from the family, but also invaluable lessons from their siblings.

I wouldn't get a pup under 7 weeks of age. An older pup (ie older than 8 weeks) is okay as long as they have been taught manners & have been socialised with everything living & inanimate!

Caryll wrote:If the breeder is a good one

That's the problem. If they're good and if the have the time in their schedules. I've found that my dogs that come from homes with kids are much better ... balanced, for lack of a better word.

Yes! Pigs, kids, goats, chooks.....
So... when is Bruno arriving?

Sunday afternoon!!! Why his 'lift' couldn't take a bloody early fight grrrr....

Yeaaaaaah!  I can't wait!  What time?

Don't forget pic's from the second you see him.

Later afternoon, around 17:00.
Just 2 more sleeps! and a wedding to get through. One of my friends is getting married tomorrow.

Forget the wedding! Just make sure you get loads of pics when Bruno gets home!!!!!!!!!

I'd think you guys would know me better by now!

Can't wait!!!!!