FLIGHT TRAVEL WITH A PUPPY: 

Meeting your new puppy for the first time is a moment you’ll always remember—and for some families, it begins at the airport. Whether you're flying in from across the state or across the country, rest assured: our puppies are no strangers to travel.

In fact, we hear time and time again how relaxed and well-behaved they are during flights. We do a lot of prep for their flight. But the real ingredient that makes for an easy travel experience is that they are tuckered out after meeting you for the first time. The initial excitement of meeting you, will make most pups curl up in their carrier and sleep soundly all the way home.

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We want your travel experience to be as smooth and stress-free as possible, both for you and your puppy. Before booking your trip, take a little time to prepare—there are a few important things to consider to ensure everything goes off without a hitch.

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• Pet Friendly Hotels

• Travel Insurance

• Local Airports

• Choosing an Airline

• Choosing a Pet Carrier

• Packing For Your Puppy's Trip

• Feeding While Traveling

• Pet Relief Areas

• One Day Travel

• Finalizing Payment on Adoption Day​

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PET-FRIENDLY HOTELS

​Colville, WA

If you’re planning on spending a night in Spokane, here are some great pet-friendly hotel options! GEG airport hotels are also listed.

https://www.bringfido.com/lodging/city/spokane_wa_us/

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​Greeneville, TN

You may decide to break up your trip with a stop over in Greeneville, TN. Check out these pet-friendly options! TRI and TYS airport hotels are also listed.

https://www.bringfido.com/lodging/city/greeneville_tn_us/

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TRAVEL INSURANCE

We highly and strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance. Travel insurance helps protect you from unexpected costs in rare situations. Your puppy's go-home date is based on their final vet check, and while delays are rare, they can happen. If our vet gives us reason to postpone your puppy’s release on their final vet check, your pick-up date will change. If this happens, we’ll notify you immediately—but any changes to your travel plans will be your responsibility. Travel insurance will cover this.

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​LOCAL AIRPORTS

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​​​CHOOSING AN AIRLINE 

Before booking your flight, be sure to check your airline’s pet travel policies. Some airlines allow puppies to fly at 8 weeks old, while others require puppies to be at least 10 weeks. It’s important to confirm these details directly with the airline before purchasing your ticket.

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Our puppies are typically ready to go home between 8 and 12 weeks of age, with most families picking up their new puppy on a weekend. Please take a moment to verify your puppy’s age on the date of your planned travel. 

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Important: Do not book your flight until your puppy is at least 8 weeks old. Airlines enforce this rule very strictly, and flights may be denied if the age requirement isn’t met.

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Another thing to consider is the carrier. Although airlines do not require a soft-sided carrier, it is a better choice for flying. Airlines have varies planes in their fleet and under the seat sizing will be different depending on the plane. A hardsided carrier can be difficult to mange from plane to plane. Most carriers, including the puppy, must weigh no more than 20 pounds to fly in-cabin. Be sure to confirm both size and weight restrictions with your chosen airline. 

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​​CHOOSING A PET CARRIER

Each airline has different carrier requirements. Below are some of the major airline carrier maximum dimensions.

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Delta Air Lines                                                                   18" L x 11" W x 11" H

American Airlines                                                              19" L x 13" W x 9" H

United Airlines                                                                   17" L x 11" W x 9.5" H

Alaska Airlines                                                                    17" L x 11" W x 11" H

Southwest Airlines                                                            18.5" L x 8.5" W x 13.5" H

JetBlue Airways                                                                 17" L x 12" W x 8.5" H

Spirit Airlines                                                                      18" L x 14" W x 9" H

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PACKING FOR YOUR PUPPY'S TRIP

A few thoughtful items can make your puppy’s travel day much smoother—for both of you! Here are some essentials to include in your travel bag:

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• Travel water container – Perfect for offering sips during a long layover or once you've arrived at your final destination.

• 5–6 pee pads – Helpful for lining the carrier, airport potty breaks,  any unexpected accidents along the way and/or hotel stays.

• Travel-size baby wipes – Great for quick cleanups or wiping paws.

• Small hand towel – Handy for lining the carrier or drying off your puppy if needed.

• Soft toy or small chew – A comforting item inside the carrier can help keep your puppy entertained and calm during the flight.

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Packing light but smart will help ensure a smooth, stress-free trip for both you and your new furry travel companion!

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FEEDING WHILE TRAVELING

It's important to be mindful of how much your puppy eats before and during your trip. Feeding a full meal before flying can upset their stomach and lead to nausea.  Keep in mind that travel days are stressful and should include limited food intake, especially for young puppies. It's best to offer frequent amounts of food to help regulate their blood sugar. Tiny portions spaced out are better than one large meal.  To help your puppy feel comfortable and avoid motion sickness:

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• Avoid a full meal before traveling. Instead, wait until you’ve cleared security and reached your gate to offer a very small handful of food.

• Do not feed your puppy during the flight. A quiet, calm tummy makes for a smoother experience.

• If you have a layover, you can offer another tiny handful of food and a bit of water while waiting for your next flight.

• Once you reach your destination and are safely home, you can feed your puppy the remainder of their normal portion

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For water, you can give your puppy something to drink no more than two hours before the flight.  Give your puppy a chance to go potty before flying. If your flight time will be lengthy (flying across the country) you could ask a flight attendant for an ice cube or two to offer your puppy mid-flight!  That should prevent any possible dehydration.

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PET RELIEF AREA

Your puppy should be able to “hold it” for about 5 hours.  So if your flight time is longer than that, you may want to have a puppy pee pad in the carrier.  Then again, he/she may decide to hold it for the whole flight. Most puppies do because they do not like to soil their sleeping area. Do find a Pet Relief Area after a long flight. Every airport has Pet Relief Areas. Some are nicer than others. DO NOT use the tuff grass that is offered for the relief area. Make sure you pack some puppy pee pads and put them on the concrete floor as a safe place for your puppy to relief him/herself. Puppies are not fully vaccinated and are still susceptiable to common puppy sicknesses that adult dogs are not. So be very careful of the Pet Relief Areas and wipe your puppy's paws with baby wipes.

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SAME DAY TRAVEL

Some families choose to fly in and out on the same day to save on hotel costs and fit everything into a busy schedule. While this is definitely doable, and often works out just fine, it can also be exhausting, especially if you're not a frequent traveler.

Speaking from personal experience, both as someone who has traveled often with puppies and as a former flight attendant, I can say that same-day travel can be overwhelming. Winter, in particular, brings an increased risk of weather related delays.

If you do choose to fly in and out on the same day, we strongly recommend:

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• Allowing extra time between your arrival and departure flights—tight schedules can lead to unnecessary stress on an otherwise joyful day.

• Avoiding short layovers or tight connections, especially if you're unfamiliar with the airport or traveling during winter months.​

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If possible, consider booking a local overnight stay. It gives you time to relax, bond with your puppy, and ease into the transition without feeling rushed. That said, if same-day travel is your best option, just be sure to build in a generous time buffer to give yourself peace of mind.

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FINALIZING ADOPTION DAY PAYMENT

We accept several forms of payment on Adoption Day, with cash as our preferred method. Please review the options and important notes below to ensure a smooth transaction:

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Accepted Payment Methods:

• Cash – Preferred and easiest option.

• Certified Check – Must be made out to:
  Timberland Falls Goldendoodles

• PayPal – See important details below.

• Zelle – See important transfer limit information below.

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USING PAYPAL

If you choose to use PayPal, we require you to select the “Friends and Family” payment option.

• No fees if funded by your PayPal balance or linked bank account.

• If using a credit or debit card, the sender will be charged a fee—even with “Friends and Family.”

• This method does not offer Buyer/Seller Protection, so it’s only recommended when we are meeting in person for the handoff.

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USING ZELLE

Zelle is a convenient way to pay, but it comes with bank imposed daily limits that vary based on your account type and institution.

• Verify your Zelle limits ahead of time to ensure you're able to send the full balance on Adoption Day.

• If your limit is too low, you’ll need to bring the remaining balance in cash.

• We strongly recommend contacting your bank before travel to confirm your transfer capabilities and avoid last-minute complications.

By preparing in advance, you’ll help ensure Adoption Day is relaxed and focused on welcoming your new puppy and not dealing with payment issues.

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