Shipping Your New Puppy

Your puppy will be shipped out of the Missoula, MT International Airport located some 45 miles from our home. We use Delta, Horizon/Alaskan & Northwest Airlines since we have had great success shipping with all three of these carriers.

All shipping expenses are the responsibility of the buyer. These include an airline approved Crate, Health Certificate, Rabies Vaccination if necessary (12 weeks+) and airline fees. Normally shipping costs total $225-$250 depending on the size of crate, your geographic location and the specific airline servicing your airport. We try to get you the best price on both the crate and the airfare, as well as the best connections to get your baby to you as quickly as possible.

The actual cost of the airfare can be paid COD depending on the arrival time of your puppy into your individual airport. All other costs, including any balance due on your puppy, the cost of the crate, health certificate and rabies vaccination if the puppy is 12 weeks or older, will need to be paid prior to shipping. However, you can also pay the airfare in advance  so that all you have to do is show proper identification to pick up your baby.

A government issued ID is required when picking up your puppy and you will also need either your Reference or Airway Bill Number that will be given to you when we schedule the flight.

The outside temperatures in all airports on the route need to be either 10-20 degrees for a low in the winter  to 85 degrees in the summer months in order to be able to ship your puppy. He/she needs to be at least 8 weeks old in order to ship according to the requirements of the airlines. If for any reason we feel it is necessary to keep an individual puppy for another week or two, we reserve the right to do so. We do not let our puppies leave our home until they are at least 8 weeks of age.

For convenience and time effectiveness, we try to combine our trips to the airport so we may have specific ship dates. Be sure to check with us for the flight dates and times for your baby.

It is not uncommon to feel uncomfortable about having your new little one put on an airplane and travel all across the country. We assure you that we have made many steps through their childhood to prepare them for this part of their journey. We expose them to sights, sounds, crate time and alone time to make their trip as non-stressful and comfortable as we can.

The puppies are placed in the cargo area of the plane where it is climate controlled for their comfort. We use clean shredded paper for the bed in their crate which is soft and cozy, but will also act as a kitty litter in the event they would soil in their crate.

You new little one is usually happy and content during the duration of their trip, and no sedation is used on the puppies whatsoever. The thought of the trip for the prospective parents awaiting the arrival of their new little one is harder than the actual trip on the kids.

We have a baggie of the Flint River Ranch Kibble attached to the top of their crate, one food dish that has water frozen in it that will thaw as they travel to eliminate their crate from getting wet from spilled water, a bottle of water, a special towel that has been rubbed on their momma and siblings and a soft baby to snuggle with on the trip. Your new puppy will be ready to use the bathroom on arrival.

WizDog would be wonderful to have available as you would not have to have your puppy use the area of the airport or a nearby parking lot where many other dogs have gone and especially if you have a long trip home. Just place the Wiz Dog on the ground in front of you and place your puppy right on it and they should go almost immediately.

I would wait until you get your new puppy home to feed him/her if you live close by. Otherwise if you have a several hour trip, you will want to offer food and water and another chance or two to go to the bathroom.

If you choose to fly to Montana and pick up your puppy, they are small enough to go under the seat of the plane in the airline approved soft crates that you can purchase most anyplace that sells pet supplies.

You are always welcome to come to our home to pick up your puppy and enjoy the beautiful Big Sky of Montana and our views of the Sapphire and Bitteroot Mountains!!!