Climate with all due respect. Safer to play the dog game around a 400 mile area of where you live. Where you can drive to a place and back to do business. See everything done with your own two eyes.

To my way of thinking the deal you did was allowing yourself to be screwed royally by a sweet talking Con Man. What was wrong with your dog versus his dog? You had a nice looking well built dog. I would never trust someone that far away to show a dog of mine.

Climate best to do your own thing and hopefully with a good dog partner that lives close by. Sure not all, but from what I have been hearing about dog transporters. Some are out to find good bred dogs to steal. Like giving the Fox the key to the Hen house and paying the Fox a fee to boot.

Going up into that part of the Country to find your dog could be very risky for you. Even if you ever get the dog back. No telling what will have been done to it. Sorry for your loss. Hope you do get your dog back in one piece and no further cost to you. Cheers