is it really possible to buy a dog online? If so what exactly is the process?

Question

Hello, I've seen so many websites with dogs being sold online, and how they can ship it to the nearest airport or you home, but how is the whole process, for example if its being shipped to your home? I've ordered so many things online and I get them delivered by UPS, FEDEX, but what about a dog, how will it get delivered??

Answer 1

My dog is coming on Friday on Continental Airlines. He is almost a year old toy poodle.

The process was.. emails back and forth to see if we were a good match for each other.

Then a phone call for an hour to get more details-- I wanted details about her kennel so I wouldn't be supporting a puppy mill. Then another phone call for a half hour with more details.

She may have lied, but why would she give out detail after detail for an hour and a half over two phone calls? Plus she was trying to make sure that *I* wasn't a puppy mill after her dog.

The poodle is AKC registered as well which is also a good sign.

After the phone calls, contracts were emailed and signed and scanned back. Then the sale was "pending." I deposited the money into her bank account and since then I have been receiving emails about my dog's status-- such as his vet check for the flight and when he went to the groomers. Then I received an email with all the formal flight information.

Now pick up the dog at the airport, show identification, have food (deli ham) and water in the car. I'm glad the dog is almost a year old because I think he will take the flight better than a younger puppy.

Why did I buy online?

My last dog was a senior shelter dog who was amazing! I do highly recommend a shelter dog.

His death was very hard-- and even our vet said, "Hug a puppy" when we left his body there to be cremated.

I wanted a very young dog. Pure and simple. I also wanted a very small dog that will someday be able to live in an apartment. I also wanted a dog that doesn't shed. Okay, that's a lot of requirements and you aren't going to find a poodle puppy at a shelter. I check petfinder all the time and I've never seen purebred poodle puppies there.

Why not local?

I was contacting breeders locally-- some I thought were local puppy mills-- the professional AKC breeders were not very forthcoming about their kennels either. I wasn't having any luck locally... then I saw my little guy online.

He is quite unusual because he is a red and white parti poodle. I've never seen another dog like him. He's unique and very handsome. That's why the owner was so worried that I was a puppy mill after him.

So I wanted a very specific kind of dog-- and I found a unique one that met my requirements.

Hopefully, everything goes well on Friday. Sure, it could be a scam, but so far it would be a pretty elaborate one.

A lot of online breeders ARE puppy mills. Especially when they sell more than one breed of dog. But I do believe there are reputable breeders online, too.

Why would a reputable breeder sell online? Because they live in a rural state.

Edit: I just received another long email from the breeder. She is wonderful and I do plan on keeping in touch with her-- especially the first few months and then send a card at holidays.

Answer 2

You can't be truthfully sure what the dog looks like, its personality, or its health condition despite what it may say on a website or other form of advertisement. People lie up and down, and left to right, and diagonal, and all in between all the time. The biggest problem I have read and heard of with shipping a dog in the mail or by plane is it makes the dog stressed out really bad from the trip causing all kinds of complications like vomiting and diarrhea or catching kennel cough, distemper, flu, or any of those other deadly puppy viruses since you don't know for sure if the breeder has truthfully vaccinated the puppy against any of those. Even death is imment since when flying the air pressure increases ( why we chew gunm on plance to pop our ear drums) and some small puppies cannot handle that causing their ear drums to literally explode, and they can panic and have a heart attack and die. Once thing planes do not have on board is a certified vet. tech. Why? I am not sure, but I will never fly my dogs anywhere (unless it is an emergency) unless there is one avaliable for obvious reasons stated before. You would need to obtain medical records\vaccination history, and other papers on the dog from the breeder. And even then they could create fake or fradulent papers, so how can you really be sure? Oh, and FYI: if someone ever asks you to send money before they send you a dog\ask you to meet them somewhere to pick up a dog, do not ever do that! They could be some stranger waiting to rob you or kill you when you get somewhere to meet them. When\ and if you do ever send your money you may never ever see a breeder or a dog. This is one of the many scams that those horrible puppy mills breeders and backyard breeders will practice to help them get rich quick. They have no concern for their dogs health in general that they create nor the well being of the puppies they sell. Its just not a good situation (especially for the puppy seeing that they were just taken from their mother and littermates) nor is it realistic for good and decent breeders to practice shipping dogs around the world.

Answer 3

Yes. We did. We live in Mexico though, and it's hard to find GOOD dogs here, so we had to do a lot of research and we "ordered" them online from another state. We investigated the breeder a lot before purchasing. We are VERY happy with our dogs. In the states, there are lots of good dogs, and near by, so it's really better if you are able to go and see the puppy/dog. You want to be able to see that it is healthy, and if they were raised in a good, healthy environment, meet the parents, etc. It's really worth it. I have heard a lot of "scary" stories of people buying their pets on the internet and them having a serious virus called parvo virus, or having other problems. If you want to do it this way, you need to be extremely careful.

With that said, we got our dogs through what is the Mexican ebay www.mercadolibre.com.mx. We found a breeder through them. We asked for detailed pictures of the puppies, and had several phone conversations with them. The purchase worked just like any other purchase. The puppies were sent on a plane to our nearby airport in a big dog crate. We picked them up at the check in counter. They showed up a little sick from the stress of the travel as well. I think it's a MUCH better idea to get a dog nearby where you can get to know it and its "family" (both human and dog family). But if you decide to go that route, it's very similar to buying a CD online, just a little more expensive, and you really should do a TON of research before making a commitment to buy.

Hope you find the dog you're looking for!

Answer 4

Yes it is possible. I got one of my dogs that way. I talked with the breeder several times before I bought him. Then he was shipped to me. I went to the airport to pick him up. It isn't unheathy, just a little stressful. And no, not all breeders who ship are puppy mills. I do agree that some are, and so are some local breeders. I do prefer to pick up my own dogs, but if that is nit possible, I will have them shipped.

Answer 5

Is it possible? Yes. Is it a good idea? No, not at all. You need to be able to see, touch, and interact with the dog before buying it. A picture is just a picture; it tells you nothing of what the dog is like or how it will be around you and your family. The dog needs to fit your lifestyle, and only physically meeting the dog will help you determine if it does.

Answer 6

why would you want to buy a dog on the internet, when you can go to the animal shelter or rescue group and probably find a similar dog. It would be better to adopt on close to you so it dosnt have to go through the stress and money when shipping a dog. Try looking at

www.petfinder.com

for dogs that are near you.. Dont breed or buy while shelter animals die!

Answer 7

yeah there ya go support the Puppy Mills! Do you realize what HELL these dogs go through - it is awful! If you are serious about getting a dog and seeking a specific breed then locate a reputable breeder!! Or if you are open to saving a dog then goto your local pound!

People need to stop buying live animals online and supporting these backyard satans!!!!!

Answer 8

they deliver them through airlines, but they usually want you to pay for that which is really expensive plus pay for the dog which they sale online from anywhere to $600-$3000, for dogs that arent worth that much, and its not healthy for them to be shipped that way! i dont recommend you do it! i was just looking at those for the past couple of weeks! yours best bet is just to find a breeder near you!..........also if you live a long way from an airport you also have to travel and pick them up!

Answer 9

I would recommend buying a dog locally so that you get to meet the breeder, check out the facilities and even see the dog before you plunk down the cash.

I can't imagine buying a dog without seeing it first.

Answer 10

NEVER buy dogs online. They are ALL from PUPPY MILLS and are total SCAMS. They ask for THOUSANDS of dollars for MUTTS and UN-HEALTHY RUNTS.

You can go to http://www.petfinder.com to look for shelters in the US with dogs up for adoption. They have puppies all through to seniors in need of homes. The adoption fee is usually free but it can go up to $300 for a purebred puppy.