Shipping Information for our Maremma Puppies
For our California customers, we are centrally located near Highway 41 and less than a day's drive from most locations, so picking up your puppy in person is easy. Out-of-state customers also sometimes drive out to pick their puppies up, and we welcome you to do so if that's your wish. You may also choose to have your puppy shipped commercially. You will need to make the arrangements yourself. We will work with the shipper of your choice and have some helpful information and recommendations below.
Picking Up Your Puppy Yourself
If you pick your puppy up in person, we suggest you bring an appropriately sized dog crate to transport him. Puppies can be held, but we highly recommend having a crate if possible to avoid accidents. The safest place for your puppy is in a dog crate inside your vehicle, not in the back of a pickup or on your lap. We do not allow puppies to leave in the back of a pickup, loose, or crate! ☺️ Car rides may be a totally new experience for your puppy, and it would not be uncommon for him or her to vomit or urinate during the trip, so we suggest bringing towels.
If you have a long way to travel home, bring a harness and leash (not a collar) if you need to walk your puppy. Harnesses are safer for young puppies just learning to walk on a leash. We use and recommend Blue 9 Balance harnesses, which we sell in our store. However, be aware that your puppy may be very nervous in strange places, so it’s best to not take them out of the crate unless necessary.
If you need to walk your puppy during your trip, please take it to a secluded area away from traffic and not likely to be frequented by other dogs. This is to decrease the risk of exposure to diseases and prevent the puppy from becoming nervous in a new place, getting away from you, and possibly getting hurt or lost.
Note: not all dogs visiting a rest stop or hotel dog walk area are healthy or vaccinated, so use extreme caution when taking your puppy out in areas frequented by other dogs until they are fully vaccinated. (18-20 weeks old.) There can be “gaps” in the coverage of the vaccines until the entire vaccination series is complete. Hence, keeping the puppy isolated is the safest way to keep him healthy. Even properly vaccinated puppies can pick up parvo and other diseases from one microscopic exposure to the virus left behind by another dog or wild animal. Please take this very seriously! Once you get your puppy home, we suggest you do not take him out around other dogs or in public places until he’s had his complete vaccinations.
The crates we recommend are at the bottom of the page.
If you have a long way to travel home, bring a harness and leash (not a collar) if you need to walk your puppy. Harnesses are safer for young puppies just learning to walk on a leash. We use and recommend Blue 9 Balance harnesses, which we sell in our store. However, be aware that your puppy may be very nervous in strange places, so it’s best to not take them out of the crate unless necessary.
If you need to walk your puppy during your trip, please take it to a secluded area away from traffic and not likely to be frequented by other dogs. This is to decrease the risk of exposure to diseases and prevent the puppy from becoming nervous in a new place, getting away from you, and possibly getting hurt or lost.
Note: not all dogs visiting a rest stop or hotel dog walk area are healthy or vaccinated, so use extreme caution when taking your puppy out in areas frequented by other dogs until they are fully vaccinated. (18-20 weeks old.) There can be “gaps” in the coverage of the vaccines until the entire vaccination series is complete. Hence, keeping the puppy isolated is the safest way to keep him healthy. Even properly vaccinated puppies can pick up parvo and other diseases from one microscopic exposure to the virus left behind by another dog or wild animal. Please take this very seriously! Once you get your puppy home, we suggest you do not take him out around other dogs or in public places until he’s had his complete vaccinations.
The crates we recommend are at the bottom of the page.
Harnesses & Leashes for Your Puppy
We recommend using a harness instead of a collar on your new puppy. We use Blue 9 Balance Harnesses for our dogs and puppies and sell them in our Online Store. If you would like, you can purchase a harness in our store and pick it up when you pick up your puppy. Ask us about sizing if you're unsure what size to get.
If your puppy will be travelling commercially by ground you will need to order a harness ahead of time for your shipper to use, as ground shippers do not supply them.
If your puppy will be travelling commercially by ground you will need to order a harness ahead of time for your shipper to use, as ground shippers do not supply them.
Shipping Puppies Commercially
- If you ship your puppy commercially, you will make the arrangements and pay all expenses.
- In all cases where your puppy travels commercially, they will need a CVI (Certificate of Veterinary Inspection) and rabies vaccine to travel. It is your responsibility to book and pay for it. See below for details on how to do that. This is required by law for interstate travel, regardless of your shipper’s requirements.
- Payment in full for puppies must be made, and Puppy Contracts must be signed before shipping arrangements can be started. All vet fees and transportation-related costs must be pre-paid before the trip is booked and are non-refundable.
Traveling By Air or Ground - Pros & Cons
Clients often wonder which is better, shipping their puppy by air or ground. Generally, air travel is less stressful and safer for puppies than long road trips. The trip is over quickly and less stressful for the dogs and humans. The dog's chance of escaping or picking up some disease is almost zero. There is more risk with ground travel, though the risk will be minimal if you use a reputable, responsible shipper. The trick is that finding suitable ground shippers is harder, and the airlines generally are more reliable.
Due to multiple past problems with irresponsible and unreliable ground shippers, we highly discourage our clients from using them and encourage air travel instead. However, we will work with you if you have a reliable USDA-approved ground shipper that meets our approval.
The other consideration in this choice is the weather. The airlines won't ship if it's too hot or too cold. Generally, this means the temperatures must be between 20 and 85 degrees in the city of origin, destination, and any connections. Therefore, ground travel might be the only option at certain times of year (middle of summer or dead of winter).
As far as cost, there isn't much difference between the two modes of transportation. If a ground shipper is quoting you a really low price, there's probably a reason for it, and it's not in the best interests of the dog.
The dog would need an airline-approved crate to go by air but not by ground, as the shippers supply their own crates, so the crate does add a bit to the cost. When traveling by ground, your pup will need a harness, as shippers don't supply them and our dogs are not trained to be walked in collars. You can buy it in our online store or order elsewhere and have shipped to us.
All dogs will need a CVI for either mode of transport. The instructions on how to set this up are below.
Due to multiple past problems with irresponsible and unreliable ground shippers, we highly discourage our clients from using them and encourage air travel instead. However, we will work with you if you have a reliable USDA-approved ground shipper that meets our approval.
The other consideration in this choice is the weather. The airlines won't ship if it's too hot or too cold. Generally, this means the temperatures must be between 20 and 85 degrees in the city of origin, destination, and any connections. Therefore, ground travel might be the only option at certain times of year (middle of summer or dead of winter).
As far as cost, there isn't much difference between the two modes of transportation. If a ground shipper is quoting you a really low price, there's probably a reason for it, and it's not in the best interests of the dog.
The dog would need an airline-approved crate to go by air but not by ground, as the shippers supply their own crates, so the crate does add a bit to the cost. When traveling by ground, your pup will need a harness, as shippers don't supply them and our dogs are not trained to be walked in collars. You can buy it in our online store or order elsewhere and have shipped to us.
All dogs will need a CVI for either mode of transport. The instructions on how to set this up are below.
How to Schedule an Exam for the Health Certificate (CVI)
All pups who are traveling commercially will need a CVI (Certificate of Veterinary Inspection).
Our veterinarian can do the CVI exam at our farm or in her office. You'll need to contact her office to set up an account as a new patient and leave a debit or credit card on file to pay your bill. We advise you to do this as soon as you’ve decided how to ship your puppy, as it can sometimes take a few weeks to get an appointment.
You’ll be responsible for paying the farm call fee, the exam fee, as well as for the rabies vaccine or anything else required for interstate travel. These extras are not included in the puppy's price and are the buyer’s responsibility. The vet's office should be able to give you an estimate for the costs.
Once you have established a new client account, the vet will call us to schedule your appointment. No appointment can be set until YOU have contacted the vet and given them your payment info, so be sure to do this ASAP. The vet will need your and the transporter’s information for the CVI, including name, address, phone number, email address, and travel dates.
We will then arrange the appointment, inform you of the date, and confirm when the appointment is over. Once the appointment ends, you must call the vet’s office to confirm payment.
The CVI usually takes a few days to be ready and will be emailed to us, the new owner, and the shipper. The CVI is only valid for 10 days, so you will want to time the exam and shipping of the animal appropriately.
Below is our veterinarian’s contact info:
Our veterinarian can do the CVI exam at our farm or in her office. You'll need to contact her office to set up an account as a new patient and leave a debit or credit card on file to pay your bill. We advise you to do this as soon as you’ve decided how to ship your puppy, as it can sometimes take a few weeks to get an appointment.
You’ll be responsible for paying the farm call fee, the exam fee, as well as for the rabies vaccine or anything else required for interstate travel. These extras are not included in the puppy's price and are the buyer’s responsibility. The vet's office should be able to give you an estimate for the costs.
Once you have established a new client account, the vet will call us to schedule your appointment. No appointment can be set until YOU have contacted the vet and given them your payment info, so be sure to do this ASAP. The vet will need your and the transporter’s information for the CVI, including name, address, phone number, email address, and travel dates.
We will then arrange the appointment, inform you of the date, and confirm when the appointment is over. Once the appointment ends, you must call the vet’s office to confirm payment.
The CVI usually takes a few days to be ready and will be emailed to us, the new owner, and the shipper. The CVI is only valid for 10 days, so you will want to time the exam and shipping of the animal appropriately.
Below is our veterinarian’s contact info:
Kayla S McCrone
Valley Veterinary Services
PO Box 389
Hanford, CA 93232
(559) 942-1101
ValleyVetServices@gmail.com
Valley Veterinary Services
PO Box 389
Hanford, CA 93232
(559) 942-1101
ValleyVetServices@gmail.com
Traveling by Air
- You must call the airlines to get a shipping quote by air. The airlines will need to know the dog's weight plus the crate to give you a quote so you can ask us for an estimated weight for the pup you're buying. Most crates are around 20-27 lbs.
- You will need to pay us in advance for the airline fees as payment must be made at drop off. They won't allow you to pay over the phone, and the dog must be weighed for an exact cost. We will give you an estimate of your dog's weight and the crate so you can get your quote. We'll let you know if there's a big price difference when we get to the airport and either refund the difference if you overpaid or request extra payment if your dog's weight exceeds the estimated weight.
- Your puppy will need an airline-approved crate if flying, food and water dishes, and absorbent bedding. This can be ordered online and mailed here or purchased in our store. The crates we recommend are below, along with pads and other items. Please note that the padding cannot be a disposable pee pad, as the airlines won't approve that.
- Most pups of 12-14 weeks will fit in a 36" crate. Older pups and adults will need a 40" crate. Alaska Airlines accepts 40 ' crates, but American only accepts up to 36" crates.
Airline Info
Your puppy will be flying out of Fresno Yosemite International Airport. We cannot deliver to LAX or any other airport.
Our preferred airline is Alaska, but check to see who has the best routes to your area. Alaska requires an overnight kennel stay to some destinations for an additional charge. Most pups do fine in the kennel, but if we think your pup will be too stressed, we may suggest ground travel or using American.
American Airlines is EXTREMELY difficult to deal with, so use them only as a last resort.
Our preferred airline is Alaska, but check to see who has the best routes to your area. Alaska requires an overnight kennel stay to some destinations for an additional charge. Most pups do fine in the kennel, but if we think your pup will be too stressed, we may suggest ground travel or using American.
American Airlines is EXTREMELY difficult to deal with, so use them only as a last resort.
Airline Crates and Other Shipping Supplies
Below are the airline crates and other supplies you'll need for shipping your puppy by air. You can order these from us or from Amazon and have them shipped to us.
Option 1 - Order Your Own Crate and Supplies
If you prefer, you are welcome to order your own airline-approved crate and shipping supplies and have them mailed to us. (We will send you our address for mailing.)
You must include a reusable (cloth, not disposable) pad and food and water dishes. Disposable pads are not allowed by the airlines.
Below are links to the products we recommend.
You must include a reusable (cloth, not disposable) pad and food and water dishes. Disposable pads are not allowed by the airlines.
Below are links to the products we recommend.
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Option 2 - Shipping Packages Available for Your Convenience
You can buy these shipping packages directly from us through our store. Each package includes an airline approved crate, absorbent padding, food and water dishes and food for the trip. Tax is included as we buy these retail.
Airport Delivery Fee
Airport drop-offs take a minimum of 3 hours and two people to execute. It's an hour each way to drive to the airport and back and at least one hour standing in line and filling out paperwork. Sometimes, this takes up to two hours at the airport, not to mention getting the dog and all the necessary supplies ready. Flights usually leave at 6 am, so we have to go to the airport at 3 am, arriving when they open at 4 am. Drop-offs take at least two people, requiring my husband to take off work to assist me. There is the gas needed to drive the airport and parking fees. There is also the veterinarian's appointment for the CVI exam.
All of this results in a lot of extra time and expense not required for those picking up their puppy themselves. Because of this, we have to charge an airport delivery fee.
You can pay the fee below, or we can send a payment request via GoodDog. The fee must be paid before the dog is delivered to the airport.
All of this results in a lot of extra time and expense not required for those picking up their puppy themselves. Because of this, we have to charge an airport delivery fee.
You can pay the fee below, or we can send a payment request via GoodDog. The fee must be paid before the dog is delivered to the airport.
Don't forget to bring a harness & leash to the airport if you plan to let your dog get out to relieve themselves before driving home!
Traveling by Ground
We have only one ground shipper we currently recommend as of July 2023. She does a great job but has limited availability. Contact us for her info.
Due to multiple past problems with irresponsible and unreliable ground shippers, we highly discourage our clients from using them and encourage air travel instead. However, we will work with you if you have a reliable USDA-approved ground shipper that meets our approval.
- If you prefer to book your own shipper, we must approve them first.
- Your shipper must be USDA-licensed. We will not approve shippers who are operating illegally.
- The puppy must ride in an airline-approved dog crate inside an enclosed vehicle (not in the back of a pick-up) or in a vehicle approved for transporting small livestock with individual, fully enclosed stalls.
- The puppy may not ride in the back of a truck or open trailer, loose in a vehicle, or be tied or tethered due to risks to their safety.
- If your shipper doesn’t provide a crate, you must purchase one for them before pick-up.
- When traveling by ground, your pup will need a harness. You can buy it in our online store or order elsewhere and have it shipped to us.
We require all puppies traveling commercially to be enrolled in Trupanion Pet Insurance before leaving the farm. You will receive a breeder code for 30 days free insurance, which will cover your puppy for accidents and illnesses during and after the trip. Buyers must activate this offer within 24 hours of their puppy leaving. We cannot do it for you and your puppy will not be allowed to leave if it's not insured. This is to ensure your puppy is covered should he become ill or injured while in the possession of the airline or ground transporter.
This is totally free and can be cancelled after the 30 day free trial, if desired. This free trial offer is also available (but not mandatory) for puppies being picked up by their owners and we highly encourage you to take advantage of this offer. We will send you a breeder code before your puppy's go home date. A quick phone call is all it takes to ensure your pup is covered! |