Buying a Puppy From Out of State: How Flight Nannies Work

Not every family who falls in love with one of our puppies lives in Utah. Getting your puppy home safely is part of the job, whether you're one state over or across the country. Here's how it works, and how to protect yourself when buying a puppy you can't drive over to meet.

Your three options

1. Flight nanny. A flight nanny flies to Salt Lake City, collects your puppy from us, and flies back to your nearest airport with the puppy in the cabin, in a carrier under the seat. You meet them at arrivals. The fee depends on the route, and we'll help arrange it once your puppy is reserved.

2. Fly in yourself and meet us at the Salt Lake City airport. Many families fly in, meet us at the airport, and fly home the same day with their puppy in the cabin. It's often the most economical option, and you get to meet us in person.

3. Drive and meet us in Salt Lake County. If you're within driving distance — southern Idaho, western Wyoming, or parts of Nevada and Colorado — we meet at an agreed safe public location in Salt Lake County.

We don't do pickups at our home. Our litters are raised inside the house alongside very young puppies, and limiting visitors is part of keeping everyone healthy.

Why a person travels with your puppy

Every option above keeps your puppy with a person the whole way — none of them involve sending a puppy alone in an airplane's cargo hold. A puppy in the cabin with a familiar-smelling blanket and a calm adult is less stressed, and someone is watching them the entire trip. Airline rules for pets in the cabin change, and each airline sets its own. Your nanny or your airline will confirm the current requirements, including carrier size and health paperwork.

Puppies travel at eight weeks or older, the same age they go home locally, and leave with their vet exam, vaccination records, and microchip information.

How reserving works from a distance

The process is the same as it is for Utah families:

Apply through our adoption application. Sara reads each one herself.
Talk with Sara. Ask anything — about us, the parents, the litter, or how travel would work from where you live.
Place a $500 deposit to reserve that specific puppy. Puppies are first come, first served at any age — there's no pick list and no waiting for a selection day. Our guide to how reserving works explains every step.
Sign the contract and pay the balance when your puppy is six weeks old.
Choose your travel option, and we'll coordinate the details.

How to avoid puppy scams

Buying a puppy you haven't met is exactly what scammers count on. Wherever you buy, watch for:

Prices well below the going rate, especially for popular colors
Pressure to pay immediately, often with a story about another buyer
Payment by gift card, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency
Surprise fees after you've paid — "insurance," "a special crate," or "customs"
No phone or video call, or a breeder who won't show you the puppy live
Stock-looking photos, or the same pictures on other sites under a different name

A legitimate breeder will video call you, show you health testing, and let you read the contract first. Our post on red flags when choosing a breeder covers more.

Ways to check us out:

Country Lane Doodles is an approved breeder on Good Dog, which reviews breeders' health testing and practices.
Our veterinarian, Tooele Veterinary Clinic, welcomes calls from prospective families.
You can read our full contract and health guarantee before paying anything.
Our testimonials come from real families, and you can find our reviews on Google.

Your puppy's first day home

Travel is a big day for a puppy. Plan for a quiet evening, a short potty break as soon as you're home, and an early night. Remember to activate your Trupanion coverage within 24 hours, and book a vet exam within 72 hours — it's required for our health guarantee. Our post on the first 48 hours at home walks through what to expect.