Shipping Puppies & Dogs – Basic Information

Shipping Puppies – How to ship your pet & how we ship your new puppy!

This page has information not only for our Dreamydoodle puppy buyers but also for all pet owners and dog breeders in general who are planning on shipping a puppy in the United States.

We’ve also provided the Airlines Contact Information below.

Dreamydoodles NW prefers local pick-up,but since this is not always an option for everyone.. we can arrange to ship your Dreamydoodle puppy to you Cargo or with a Shipping Nanny. 

Our puppies fly out of the Portland, Oregon Airport (PDX) which is a 30 min. drive from our home.

In-Page Navigation

Use the Anchor links below to be taken to the section of this page on that topic, you can also use the “Go To Top” links below to bring you back to the top of the page:

• Is it really Safe to ship a puppy?
• The Basics about Shipping, what you need
• The Cost of Shipping a Puppy
• What’s Included with the Shipping Fees
• Health certificates
• Approved Kennel Sizes for most Airlines
• Carry On Pets
• Pet Travel Fees for Carrying on pets
• What about Tranquilizers when shipping pets?
• Pet Shipping Pictures
• Airlines that ship pets
• Shipping Policies
• Airlines Contact Info
• Helpful Links

Airlines Contact Info & Resource Links:

Airlines – Contact Information

UNITED AIRLINES

• • United Cargo PetSafe
    TOLL FREE: 1-800-UA-CARGO – 1-800-575-3335
• WEBSITE:  https://www.united.com/web/en-US/content/travel/animals/petsafe.aspx
  

United has No Weather Restrictions

CONTINENTAL AIRLINES

• Continental’s PetSafe
  PetSafe Dedicated 24-hour Live Animal Desk (800.575.3335 or 832.235.1541)
• Continental’s Pet Shipping Info – Website Link: https://www.pettravel.com/airline_pet_rules/continental.cfm

ALASKA AIRLINES

• Alaska Airline – Pet Connect™Pet Connect shipments must be booked at least 24 hours in advance through the Alaska Airlines Cargo service center at 1-800-225-2752.
  Website Link: https://cargo.alaskaair.com/content/petconnect

HORIZON AIR 

• Horizon Air GoldStreak Customer Service Center at 1-800-547-7660

AIR CANADA 

• Air Canada Live Animal Shipping
  Call AC Live at:1-800-387-4865
• Website Links: Aircanada.com/cargo/en/services/ac_live.html

AMERICAN AIRLINES 

• American Airlines – Animals – Cargo
  800-227-4622
• Email: LiveAnimals.Cargo@aa.com
  
• Website Links: https://www.aacargo.com/learn/animals.html

DELTA AIRLINES

• Delta Airlines – Pet First
• Website Links: https://www.deltacargo.com/PetShipment.aspx
  https://www.deltacargo.com/Cargo/
• Phone Number: 1-800-DL-CARGO (1-800-352-2746) (Delta Pet First) to book your pet’s travel arrangements.

THE PET TRAVEL WEBSITE: https://www.pettravel.com IS A GREAT WEBSITE FOR INFO ON EACH AIRLINE!!

WEATHER RESTRICTIONS

Most of the airlines will have weather restrictions. With Alaska airlines it must be under 85 degrees at both airports to ship and this is the case with most airlines except United! 

United has a special tempature controlled section of the airplane just for the animals so they’re never exposed to the weather so they do not have weather restrictions and also why I like to use the United Pet Safe program.

So, when you call make sure to check the weather at both locations on the day and time you plan to ship. 

Is it safe to ship a puppy?

Many people ask if it’s safe to ship a puppy. Flying in an airplane is just as safe as traveling in a car and possibly less stressful then a long car ride. A lot of people think animals are drugged, put in a box, tossed around with the rest of the baggage or left in hot planes for hours etc.. If this was true then we would never ship our puppies!! After almost 6 years of shipping puppies all over the USA and Canada we have never had one problem besides normal flight delays and that is fairly rare as well. United Pet Safe and Alaska Airlines are the best pet shippers by far. 

Your puppy will not be stacked on top of suitcases.Airlines have special places for pets so that they will be protected from cargo and luggage. It is temperature controlled and pressurizedjust like the cabin.  Puppies are never drugged.

They’re shipped in a new airline approved plastic crate in which they can easily see out the sides and front, with food, water, and a blanket. During layovers (if there is one) the puppies are taken off the plane and placed in a temperature controlled holding room until they can be put on their connecting flight. 

Extra food is taped to the side of the crate in the event of an unexpected layover/delay. Shipping pups takes a lot of time and planning. Pups must be taken to the vet just before shipping to get a shipping health certificate.

We’ve safely shipped our Labradoodle and Aussiedoodle puppies all over the United States including Alaska and recently Canada.

Shipping Costs and the 4 Different Options:

There are 4 options to getting your new puppy… you can pickup your puppy at our house, ship the puppy via Cargo, come here and then carry them onthe plane with you back home or using a  flight nanny!

SHIPPING PUPPIES HOME VIA CARGO

Shipping is $425-450 (which includes a new shipping crate, health clearance documentation from a vet, food and water dishes, transport to the airport, bedding, the flight fees)

We do NOT profit from shipping,in fact we’re usually about $20 negative what we charged our families to pay up front. We don’t include our gas to drive to the airport. You don’t get a flight clearance paperwork from just your normal puppy health check appt –  the breeder has to make a seperate and individual appointment for that puppy and no more then 10 days before shipping and it’s the paperwork that costs extra and price ranges greatly depending on the vet you go to. I’ve been charged anywhere between $60 – $120 for that appointment depending on the vet.

Cargo Shipping Price:Price is usually between $280-$350 for just the flight (not including the price of the crate or vet health clearence paperwork from the vet). Price is based on how much the puppy weighs in the crate.

PICK YOUR PUPPY UP HERE AND THEN CARRY THEM ON THE PLANE BACK HOME!

We also have families come and pickup their puppy here and then take them back home as a carry-on in the cabin. We can meet you at the airport or at our house, we live 30 mins from the Portland, Oregon airport. The airlines charge between $100-$150 extra but each airline is different so call in advance.

Hand Delivery to the Portland Metro area is Free

We  do not profit from shipping in any way.

FLIGHT  NANNIES

We have a new relationship with a carry-on shipping nanny service called Puppy Pooper Flight Nanny Service!!They charge about the same amount of money it would cost to ship them cargo but instead they will carry them on with them in the cabin! They meet us at the Portland, Oregon international airport (PDX airport) and then they hand deliver the puppy to one of our puppy family’s at their closest airport.

Puppy Nannies  charge between $450 and $550depending on how many layovers, location etc.

This in my opinion is the best option for the puppyhowever, we must have time to make reservations with this service. Lots of time!  Please let me know in 2-3 wks in advance if this is the puppy transportation option you want to go with. 

CHECK OUT PUPPY POOPER FLIGHT NANNY SERVICE ON FACEBOOK AT https://www.facebook.com/CutePuppers1/

Our Cargo Shipping Fees Include:

• New “Airline Approved” Dog Crate (Can be used in the house crate-training process) (required)
• Feeding & Water Dish & Food (required) Amazon Link
• Transportation to Airport
• Vaccination Records (not required but provided)
• Health Certificate for shipping from a Veterinarian ( required for cargo bu not usually for carry-on – bt ut ask your airline) 
• Toy, Collar, Leash, Towel with scent from litter and Mama (comes with all our puppies regardless if shipping)
• Airline charges for travel

We mostly use the Grreat Choce or Petmate Dog Carriers found on Amazon or the Petmate Plastic Kennels on Chewy.com.

AIRLINE APPROVED – PETMATE SHIPPING KENNEL SIZES

Size 28″L x 20.5″W x 21.5″H – For older standard size puppies (over 15 pounds or 8 wks) $60 -$65

Size 21L x 16W x 15 inches tall – For smaller puppies 8 weeks old and our mini size puppies

*LINKS GO TO CHEWY.COM

*These Petmate carriers are airline-approved by most domestic and international air travel carriers.

DOG BREEDERS:Check with the airline to ensure that the size and specifications of the crate your using meet their requirements for your carriers. They must be tall enough that puppy’s head doesn’t touch the top and big enough so they can turn around and lay down, must be screwed close– no snapsand must have a snap-on water & food dish. Must have 4 zip ties on each corner.

We make all the shipping arrangements. We search for the  shortest  available flight preferably with no layovers. We try to make the arrangements 1 week in advance, if possible but sometimes we make them only a couple days in advance. Don’t worry. We will email/text the flight arrival information (airline, day of shipment, flight number, air bill number and time of arrival) as soon as they have been confirmed to us by the airline. Flight times and numbers are subject to change without notice. If they do, we will call you immediately after the puppy has been put on the flight with the changes and all information you will need to pick up your puppy (very rarely does this happen). Payment in full including shipping fees must be received before shipping arrangements can be made.

Getting Ready To Fly

Here are some pictures of my son Connor helping me ship two Standard size Multigen Labradoodle puppies with United Cargo and the PetMate Medium size crates.

We mostly use the United Pet Safe Programbecause we have worked with them so much and trust the care they give our puppies.

Plus, United does NOT have weather restrictionslike some airlines do and this is due to the fact they have special tempature controlled compartments just for the pets and are never subjected to the weather outside.

For more info visit the United Pet Safe Program info page.

Shipping Video with United

United Testimonial Published on YouTube – Aug 12, 2012
Watched baggage handlers gently unload a dog from a United Airlines cargo hold. They unloaded the dog first, before any baggage, talked to him a bit, and put his crate up on the truck instead of on the ground. The pet transport van arrived promptly to pick him up, and the gal who took him to the terminal was obviously an animal person, too. (The van was actually from Continental airlines, but my flight was on United, so maybe they have a contract.)

The Basics About Shipping…

All puppies must be a minimum of 8 weeks old to fly. We prefer to ship puppies at 8-1/2 -9 weeks of age, and when shipping small/toy breeds it is suggested to wait until 10 to 12 weeks of age or not until they’re at least 2 pounds.

While not all major airlines provide pet shipping service, Alaska, American, Continental, Delta and United each offer cargo transport services for dogs, as long as airline safety requirements are met. Most have people on staff whose job is to monitor and maintain the animals.

You must call and arrange your reservations. They will provide you with an airway bill number which you will need when you drop off the pet and the person picking up the puppy must also have this number, both the shipper and the person picking up the puppy must have valid ID and it must match the name, address etc on the shipping information give when the reservation was made.

MUST HAVES FOR BREEDERS AND PET SHIPPERS:
What you must bring with you when you drop off a puppy at the airline..

First find out exactly where you need to drop off the puppy for cargo shipping. Cargo is different then passenger air flights and different drop off locations (in most cases).

• Reservations, you usually need to call at least 24 hours before you plan to ship, you should have your flight number and all paperwork prepared.
• Airline approved kennel (with the screws..not snaps..screw head facing up, black piece on the top)
• Plastic water and food dishwhich can be clipped into the kennel door ( the Airline Travel Kit for Pets on Amazon )
• You can also buy just the water and food dish which is basically all you need besides zip ties and it’s much cheaper then the airline travel kit found on Amazon and Petsmart – buy them separately and in advance on Chewy.com 
• Towel or something absorbentin the bottom of the crate (puppy pads or towel)
• Vet clearance paperworkthese just say that the puppy is healthy and clear to ship. This is a special document. You can’t just have the vet check or their shot records. It must be a specific health clearance document and issued within 10 days of shipping 
• Dog Food(they will give you a  very small bag to put it in, so don’t expect to send too much.. maybe a cup and a halfs worth)
• Valid ID – Remember to let the family picking up that they will need their valid ID and it must match the name and address you had the vet put on the Health Certificate paperwork.( Which I personally love because then I know the person who picks up one of my puppies real name on their ID and it matches the name on the puppy application they submitted.. no sneaky business from puppy mill operators and they also know our real name which gives families peace of mind we are who we say we are as well ).
• Air Waybill number or Confirmation number– The airline will provide you with a confirmation number when you call in the reservation,  give this number to the family picking up.
• TOY OR CHEWIEto occupy their time. Most airlines allow one “comfort toy” in the crate. I like to send them with a Beef Gullet chew Stick . It occupies their time very well!!

Drop off:  You must arrive 2 hours early (depending on the airline). This is very important. If you are late they may not allow your puppy to fly.

Picking Up:  Plan to wait a 1/2 hour to a full hour after landing time to actually get your puppy and you must produce valid ID and the airway bill number

Most families report that the puppy was made available to them between 15 to 30 minutes from the time the plane arrived but they do say it can be up to an hour after they land. When your puppy arrives, he may be picked up in the cargo pickup area or, if shipped priority, picked up at the priority parcel office of the airport, which is generally in the baggage claim area.

After you pick up your puppy and have returned home, we would ask that you call us to let us know how the puppy is doing.

Health Certificates

Health certificates dated within 10 days of departure are required for all animals being shipped via cargo. We usually get ours the day before so we know they’re good to go. Anything can happen in 10 days. Health Certificates/Wellness Check appointments are $60-$80 a piece depending on the vet.

Is a health certificate needed for carry on pet travel?
While Alaska Airlines does notrequire a health certificate for pets traveling in the cabin with you or in the baggage compartment, many states have specific importation health and vaccination requirements. It’s recommended to check with the State Veterinarians Directory for your destination prior to travel to determine necessary documentation as well as your specific airline (some airline require this and some do not).

*All puppies and kittens shipped via Cargo(not as a carry on) will require a health certificate, these certificates are good for only 10 days.

Approved Kennel Sizes for most Airlines:

Size	Kennel Size	Dimensions (height x width x depth)
Extra Small	100	15″ x 16″ x 21″
Small	200	19″ x 20″ x 27″
Medium	300	23″ x 22″ x 32″
Large	400	26″ X 24″ x 36″
Extra Large*	500	30″ x 27″ x 40″

You can order crates on Amazon for much cheaper then at most pet stores. Click here for shipping approved crates on Amazon .

Click here fornPetmate Shipping Crates on Chewy.com 

Carry On Pets

Sherpa 11721 Delta Deluxe Pet Carrier Medium Black

Another option is to fly into the PDX airport to pick up your puppy, and then take him back with you in the cabin. This is a really great option for a lot of people. I am happy to meet you at the Portland (PDX) airport with your puppy. You must provide your own crate for travel.

We recommend buying the Sherpa brand carry-on dog carries for shipping in cabin as seen above, this is a  Sherpa 11721 Delta Pet Carrier, Medium

COMPARE PRICES OF THE SHERPA KENNELS ON CHEWY.COM

SEE ALL THE SOFT AIRLINE APPROVED CARRY-ON BAGS ON CHEWY.COM 

To carry a puppy on the plane, they must be small enough to fit under your seat in a carry-on.

Our 8 week old Mini Aussiedoodles are small enough BUT please note, our Standard size puppies are sometime too large at 8 weeks old to fit under the seat so this is not always recommended to try.

You might fly all the way here only to have to put your puppy in cargo anyway. Mini’s are 5-7 pounds at 8 weeks and standards are 10-15 pounds so almost double the size and 15 lbs is usually the cut off for carry-on puppies. Even though we wish all our puppies could be flown home as a carry on.. we’ve never had a problem with shipping our puppies in cargo.

Source: Carry-On Pet Carrier Requirements – USA Today Travel Tips

Pet Travel Fees for Carrying on pets

Click on the airline name to see the carrier’s pet policies. Note: these fees can and do change without notice.

• AirTran : in-cabin only, $69 each-way
• Alaska : in-cabin, $100 each-way; in cargo, $100 each-way
• American : in-cabin, $125 each-way; in cargo, $175 each-way
• Delta : in-cabin, $125 each-way; in cargo, $200 each-way
• Frontier : in-cabin, $75 each-way; in cargo, $150 each-way
• Hawaiian : in-cabin, $35-$175 each-way; in cargo, $60-$225 each-way
• JetBlue : in-cabin only, $100 each-way
• Southwest : in-cabin only, $75 each-way
• Spirit : in-cabin only, $100 each-way
• United/Continental : in-cabin, $125 each-way; in cargo, $250 each-way.  Note : prices can be much higher on international flights
• US Airways : in-cabin, $100; no pets in cargo except on select northeast shuttle routes
  
• Virgin America : in-cabin only, $100 each-way

Tranquilizers and Shipping Pets

Should I give my pet a sedative or tranquilizer before the flight?

Simple answer is if the dog is healthy there this is not recommended or even allowed. Sedation is not advised since the effects of tranquilizers on animals at high altitudes are unpredictable.
The decision to prescribe a tranquilizer for your pet should be made by your veterinarian and you must have proof of the prescription from your vet.
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, in most cases, dogs should not be given sedatives or tranquilizers prior to flying because they can create respiratory and cardiovascular problems as the dog is exposed to increased altitude pressures. They can also alter the animal’s natural ability to balance and maintain equilibrium, which can be dangerous when the carrier is moved. While sedation is generally not advised, the decision on whether or not to prescribe a tranquilizer for your pet should be made by your veterinarian. If he or she decides that tranquilizers are medically necessary for the trip, indicate the name of the drug taken and the dosage on the dog’s carrier.

You can not sedate a puppy before flying via cargo. This is not allowed by the airlines.

“Dogs are our link to paradise. They don’t know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring–it was peace.”
―  Milan Kundera

When driving with my puppy will they get Car Sick?

Answer:  I have observed “puppies” often will get motion sickness when traveling in a car at least up to about one year of age…not so much on short trips but most likely on the longer trips… Holding them helps A LOT BETTER then crating them…Now when we travel in the dark and at night, like flight trips, they sleep all the way and rarely throw up…amazing, the minute there’s daylight and they’re awake they start to lose their equilibrium and can get sick.  I recommend bringing paper towels, at least one towel and a garbage bagto have on hand. After 1 yr of age they are big enough to seat belt them into the front seat which allows them to look straight forward or out the window and to keep their equilibrium.

When shipping my puppy will they get Air Sick?

Puppies of course CAN get Air Sick but from my experience.. No, they rarely get AIR SICK and I’m not exactly sure WHY that is but I always ask our families if their puppy got sick in their crate on pickup and while they sometimes say they had a potty accident (especially on the longer trips) I have yet to have someone tell me that they found throw up in the crate which looks very different then potty accidents and believe it or not I’d say most our reported in flight accidents are pee not poop.

Do you recommend we Drive them home or Ship them home?

 I honestly believe the faster you can get them home the better. If flying is faster then pick flying. So, yes I 100% recommend you fly them home if it’s only going to be a 2-3 hour airplane flight over a 6-12 hour car trip.. anyday. A flight may be stressful on a puppy but believe me a super long car ride is equally stressful if not even more stressful. (same goes for humans)!

Pet Shipping Pictures

Airline Shipping Policies

American Airlines

American Airlines accepts most dogs for cargo shipment, excluding those that are stub-nosed, such as boxers, mastiffs and pugs, as well as pets that have been sedated before the flight. Dogs must be accompanied by a health certificate dated within 10 days of travel, a current rabies vaccination record, and shipped in a USDA or International Air Transport Association-approved kennel. Dogs should also travel with a collar and leash with an I.D. tag. Cargo flights can be arranged through the American Airlines website and must not be more than 12 hours long. Dogs may not be shipped to certain international locations, including China and the United Kingdom. Dogs are only accepted as cargo when the temperature is expected to remain between 45 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit.

Continental

Continental Airlines has merged with United Airlines and has adopted their pet policy and PetSafe Program.

Continental Airlines accepts dogs as cargo as part of its PetSafe program. Dogs shipped as cargo must travel in USDA or IATA-approved cargo and have a current (dated within the past 10 days) health certificate. Pets that have been sedated before travel will not be accepted for a flight. Owners are able to track the dog’s flight path and may contact Continental’s Live Animal Desk at any time of day. In addition, pets receive frequent flyer miles when flying as cargo through the PetPass program.

United Airlines

United Airlines ships dogs though its EXP cargo service. While most dogs may travel as cargo year round, the United website notes that stub-nosed breeds may not fly as cargo between June and September. All dogs flying as cargo in United must be placed in a USDA or IATA-approved crate and with a current health certificate. Cargo bookings must be confirmed within 24 hours of your pet’s flight as poor weather conditions may alter the flight plan.

Delta

Delta accepts dogs as cargo through its Pets First program. All dogs flying must be in a USDA-approved kennel and may only travel when temperatures during travel are forecasted to remain between 10 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Stub-nosed dogs may only fly as cargo when the temperature is expected to remain below 75 degrees. Dogs may be sedated in advance of the flight, as long as you have written consent from your veterinarian. Before travel, you must complete Delta’s pet-travel checklist to ensure your pet is ready for its flight.

Helpful Links:

• TravelMath.com –  http://www.travelmath.com/nearest-airport/  (find out the nearest airport to your puppies destination.
• The Weather Channel – 10 Day Forcast: http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/USOR0275
• Pet Travel: How to Help Keep Your Pet Safe When Traveling Air Cargo

Related Images: