[boopster]

Nick, I mean this in the kindest possible way -- you need to think with your head and not your heart. This is hard, I know, because as soon as you see a photo of a puppy you fall in love with it. I know I did.

But really, a four hour drive is not all that long when you consider you are getting a companion that will hopefully be with you for fifteen or more years. And you can't trust that the image someone portrays over the internet is really true -- I've met a couple of vendors of different products and services who appeared to be first class on their websites and in emails who turned out to be totally the opposite in person.

If you really want to be assured that you're getting a puppy with the best chance to be healthy and well-adjusted, you should go meet the breeder and the puppy, see the conditions in which they live, and see at least the puppy's mother before you commit to the deal. Unless you're willing to forfeit the deposit when you go to pick up the puppy.

I personally would have qualms about a breeder who is willing to ship a puppy (unless by courier) let alone to someone he or she has not met.

I also wonder why you don't want to disclose who the breeder is. That seems to me a red flag that there is something not quite right there but that you want a puppy so badly that you don't want real feedback from people here.

I don't know if this is your motivation because I don't know you -- but I do suggest that you do some soul-searching and decide for yourself if you're letting your desire to have a puppy make you overlook some warning signs about this breeder. Believe me, I've been in your shoes and was saved from potentially disastrous mistakes by taking advice from people in this group.

Whatever you decide, I hope you end up with a healthy, happy puppy that will be a great lifelong companion for you.