We prefer not to use ground transport. We feel that shipping our puppies is MUCH less stressful for them.  Our shipped puppies are usually in their crate for only 3-5 hours with their frozen water and their hard chew toy Nylabone. We have been told by a ground transport company that the trips can take up to a week! depending on where the puppy is going to- with the puppy in the crate ALL that time! except when they stop every 6 hours to let the pups out to potty.
 
We are VERY cautious about Parvo. We do not want our risk our puppies health by be exposing them to the MANY other animals from other Kennels that would be in the van or by being placed on the ground. The transport company told us that  they put newspaper down on the grass for the pups to go potty on-but our puppy would still be with pups/dogs from other kennels BUT we do not want to risk taking any chances with our puppies health.   
 
We have not yet had a problem with shipping. Our Puppy Clients' tell us that when their puppies arrive- their puppies are standing at the kennel door wagging their tails and waiting to get out. We have plenty of reference #'s if anyone would like to check w/people we have shipped puppies to. 
We will be more that happy to give you phone #'s to people that have been to our home to meet us and our dogs as well as people we have shipped puppies to.
 
When our puppies are about 3 weeks old they start to climb out of their whelping pool. We have 2 large crates(open doors)in our puppy room that our puppies 'choose' to sleep in rather than sleep on a blanket in the open puppy room. So our pups are used to being in crates(great for first nite home with puppy and for house breaking as well). They are also in a closed crate when we go for their 1st vet visit. In taking 7-10 pups to the vet there is sometimes 1 or 2 making a bit of a whimpering for a few minutes then they all just sleep. The same goes for when we drive to the airport. I have never once yet walked into the airport with a crying puppy. The pups seem happy and content -after having had a nap- and curious as to what we are doing next. Sometimes the airline people or people in line would like to see the puppy- and if we have time-we take him/her out and hold them awhile while we wait.(but we dont let them touch the puppy)
 
Our puppies go out side at about 5 weeks old. They have an enclosed building right up close next to our house with heat too and a huge wooden(much warmer that plastic) dog house with a door covering. They still do still come back in the house for some time, most days as well and back in sometimes over night too.  We want our puppies to be used to the elements. We feel they need room to explore and play, sunshine and fresh air to be strong and healthy. Also we would not want to transport a pup that had only been kept in the house and was not used to temperatures outdoors.
 
Amazingly most arrive (potty)-clean as well! (We send people who have sent in deposits more info about shipping as well)  
 
I have been told by the airlines that the cargo area is pressurized and climate controlled. We can not ship our puppies on planes that are not. I have recently spoken w/a pilot who told me that the air the puppies have in cargo is the same ventilated air that goes through out the passenger part of the plane as well.