How we deliver a Doberman puppy to another city

Yes, we deliver Doberman puppies to other cities and to anywhere in Brazil, always safely. There are three ways: the owner comes to fetch the puppy in person in Natal, air transport (with the puppy accompanied or in a climate controlled hold) and ground transport specialized in pets. The puppy only travels after his first vaccines, with a veterinary certificate, never before eight weeks of age, and the shipping cost is quoted case by case, by distance and by the way it's sent.

We're a Doberman kennel in Natal, in Rio Grande do Norte, and a good share of the people who come to us live in another state. "What does shipping from Natal cost?", "can the delivery be by air or by road?", "do I have to pay the reservation, the puppy and the shipping on top of that?": these questions come up almost every day. This piece answers all of them honestly, so you can buy from far away without a shock and without walking into a trap.

The three ways to bring the puppy home safely

There isn't one single "right" way. There's the one that makes the most sense for your distance, your timing and your budget. Here are the three side by side:

Arraste a tabela para o lado para ver todas as colunas.

In any of them the principle is the same: the puppy travels in a travel crate of the right size, hydrated, and with a responsible person from beginning to end. We never send a puppy off as if he were an anonymous parcel. The crate is introduced to the puppy beforehand, so that the trip isn't his first contact with that space, and that cuts down the stress on the day a great deal.

When the puppy can travel (and why not sooner)

A puppy doesn't travel too early. Before eight weeks he's still in the period of living with his mother and his littermates, which is where he learns the first lessons of dog behavior. Pulling him out of that stage to put him on a long trip is bad for the puppy's health and for his head.

That's why the trip only happens after the first vaccines and the vet's clearance, with the vaccination record up to date. At that age the immune system handles the move better, and the puppy arrives steadier to make a good start on his new life. I stress this because the rush to "get him right away" usually costs dearly, and I go into the arrival routine in the puppy's first week at home.

What the shipping costs, and what changes the price

Here I'll be honest: there is no fixed shipping price that works for everyone. The amount changes with the distance from Natal to your city, with the way you choose (air or road), with the time of year and with the size of the travel crate. That's why we quote it on the spot, based on your destination, instead of throwing a number up on the screen.

What I can tell you up front is the logic: the shipping is a cost separate from the price of the puppy and from the reservation deposit. The reservation deposit is a fixed R$ 1,200 and it serves to hold the puppy in your name; it isn't the shipping and it isn't a percentage. If you want to understand the full account of investing in the breed, I wrote about it in what a Doberman really costs.

One warning I always give: be suspicious of shipping that's too cheap. Animal transport done responsibly has a cost, because it involves the right crate, care with temperature, water and someone keeping watch the whole way. When somebody offers a delivery that's suspiciously cheap, it's almost always a sign that the rest of the story doesn't add up either, from the puppy to the paperwork. On this subject, cheap tends to come out very expensive.

What travels with him

The puppy never leaves with nothing but a collar. He travels with a kit that is also your proof of provenance. Here's what comes with him:

• Vaccination record up to date, with the vaccines proper to his age.
• Deworming up to date.
• Veterinary health certificate for travel.
• Contract and the CBKC pedigree paperwork, in progress or already issued, as the case may be.
• Feeding and settling in guidance for the first days.

That set is what separates a safe purchase from an adventure. A puppy with no vaccination record and no contract, with shipping at a price that's a little too "friendly", is the very picture of the scam I see most out there.

Buying from far away without walking into a trap

Buying without visiting the kennel takes one extra care, and it's a simple one: transparency before money. Ask for live video of the puppy and of the mother, talk on a video call, check the kennel's registration and the parents' paperwork. A serious breeder shows all of that without stalling and accepts being checked. I put together a list of what to demand in where to buy a Doberman safely.

On our side, the arrangement is always to talk before closing anything. I'd rather have the conversation, understand your home and your routine, and only then reserve. Our first family came to fetch their puppy here in Natal, saw how we raise them and took the dog home in their own hands, the way I like it when it can be done. In the other ways the care is the same: the puppy leaves examined, vaccinated and with everything in order. It's that care that makes the difference arrive on the other side.

Travel day, from the inside

On the agreed day the puppy is fed with time to spare, so he doesn't travel on a full stomach, and well hydrated. I confirm the time with you, the meeting point or the flight, and I send you the record of the boarding so you can follow it from wherever you are. On a road trip the transporter stops at intervals for water and for the puppy to relieve himself; on a flight, the crate goes labeled and with the animal's instructions inside.

When the puppy arrives, the arrangement is simple: water and a quiet corner first, then food, and only then the family party. A puppy fresh off a trip is tired and in a new environment, and forcing everyone's affection on him at once gets in the way of settling in. A quieter first day saves difficult nights later. I stay available by message in the first days, because following the arrival is part of the work, it doesn't end at boarding.

Frequently asked questions

Do you deliver the puppy with cropped ears or a docked tail? No. We raise them with natural ears and a full tail, and we don't do ear cropping or tail docking, because those procedures are prohibited in Brazil by the CFMV resolution. The puppy reaches you exactly as nature drew him.

Does the reservation deposit already include the shipping? No. The reservation deposit is a fixed R$ 1,200 and it serves to secure the puppy in your name. The price of the puppy and the shipping are separate charges, and the shipping is quoted according to your destination.

What's the minimum age for the puppy to travel? Eight weeks, and even then only after the first vaccines and the vet's clearance. Before that he still needs to live with his mother and his littermates.

What if I live outside Brazil? International delivery is possible, but it involves other rules (paperwork, quarantine and the transport required by the destination country). In those cases we work out the route together with you, case by case, without promising what can't be delivered.

If you live far away and one of our puppies has caught your eye, get in touch so we can talk before any reservation. I'll explain the ways of delivering, quote the shipping to your city and take a look with you at what makes a Doberman puppy worth the distance. It's also worth going through the step by step in the complete Doberman puppy guide.