Shipping Information
As of April & May 2009 Delta Airlines has been charging between $201 & $221 for flying a puppy. We cannot guarantee those prices, but we are happy to call and check for you.
Normally with Delta Airlines the shipping is paid directly to the airline the day you pick up your puppy. That means you will pay the shipping fee to the airport the day your puppy arrives.
Occassionaly, we have to use American Airlines, if we can't get a Delta Airlines flight. When that is the case the payment process is a little different because American Airline requires payment from us when the puppy is booked into the airport. So, if we cannot get a Delta flight and have to use American instead you would need to provide us with the shipping funds prior to the flight.
However, we will always try to use Delta Airlines, whenever possible, so that you can pay shipping upon pick of your puppy.
When you place your deposit, we will send you an email asking for your preferred airport and preferred shipping dates. Once payment in full is made the puppy gets his final vet checkup and his flight is reserved. Opal will call you to give you the puppy's flight info and an airline's referernce number so you can track you puppy's flight online.
Puppies ship in sturdy airline approved shipping crates.
We use Northwest Airlines or Delta Airlines. We do NOT mark up shipping at all. You pay the exact amount of shipping on your end directly to the air-line when you pick up your puppy. Give us a call and we will call the airlines and find the best shipping schecule and pricing for you that we can.
We will make all the shipping arrangements for you. We will do our very best to make the flight arrangements where the puppy spends the least amount of time in transit and preferably where there are as few of transfers as possible. We are careful to make sure the weather temperatures will not expose the puppy to temperatures that are too cold or too hot.
We will do our best keep you informed during every step of the arrangements, so you can be sure the date and time you need to pick up your puppy at the airport is a time that you can be there on time so your puppy is not left sitting and waiting. Feel free to call Opal if you have shipping questions.
We start a couple days before the flight getting the puppy used to the crate. We place it in the family room (with the other dogs and puppies out of the area) letting the puppy get accustomed to the crate. We place his/her toys and treats inside the crate from time to time. We place the puppy in the crate for short nap times. That ensures that come flight day the puppy is not stressed by an unfamiliar crate.
We get up very early to get the puppy up to eat, play and potty and have play time before going to the airport. We take the puppies to the airport just before the time they have to board the plane so they aren't cooped up any longer than need be. We do everything we can to make sure they are ready for their trip and are as comfortable as possible during their flight.
We will communicate closely with you every step of the process of preparing your puppy to ship. Our puppies are known for coming out of their crates happy and excited to meet their new families. Part of being raised in our homes makes these puppies very well socialized and easily adaptable to their new homes.
We will include a ziplock bag of the food your puppy is used to eating, a toy will be in the crate with the puppy to play with while in transit. We also include a chewey and a treat to help you get acquainted with your puppy.
If you want to pre-purchase a harness or collar or coat for your puppy, just ask us and we will take measurements for you so you can get the accurate size before your puppy arrives. A harness is safer for a small puppy than a collar, especially if children will be the ones teaching the puppy to lead.
PLEASE NOTE: When your puppy arrives they will need a little play time and then they will need a quiet rest time AND EAT. Traveling can be exhausting for your puppy so, please, be prepared to give your puppy some calm quiet time for a nap after the initial getting acquainted. don't over tire or wear the puppy out its first few hours after traveling.
We will NOT ship puppies by van or trucking services. In those shipping situations puppies spend far too much time traveling and are exposed to so many other puppies and dogs of origins we are not sure of. We do not feel that trucking or van shipping is the best or safest or healthiest way to ship out our puppies, therefore we will not accept a sale that the buyer expects that type of shipping, so please do not even ask. The answer will be a flat no every single time, no exceptions.