At San Diego Goldens, one of the most rewarding parts of our work is placing puppies in wonderful forever homes—even when those homes are far from us. While we love when families can visit and pick up their puppy in person, we understand that travel isn’t always possible. That’s why we’ve developed a reliable and safe process to help puppies fly home, ensuring they’re cared for every step of the way.
Here’s how we support air travel for our puppies—always with their safety and comfort as our top priority.
🩺 Step One: A Clean Bill of Health from a Licensed Vet
Before any puppy leaves our care, we take them to a licensed veterinarian for a full health check. The vet issues a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI)—commonly called a health certificate—which confirms the puppy is healthy, free of contagious diseases, and ready for travel.
This certificate is required by all airlines and must be dated within 10 days of the flight, so we carefully schedule the appointment to meet that window. We also provide the new family with:
- A copy of the health certificate
- Vaccination records
- Any other necessary documentation for travel
✈️ Our Preferred Travel Options: In-Cabin Only
We do not ship our puppies via air cargo. We strongly believe that the safest way for a young puppy to travel is in the airplane cabin, where they can be monitored and comforted throughout the journey.
Families have two main options for in-cabin transport:
1. Flying In to Pick Up the Puppy
Many new owners choose to fly in and meet us in person. We’ll coordinate with your schedule and make the handoff easy and stress-free. We’ll also help you prepare with:
- A soft-sided, airline-approved carrier
- Feeding and travel instructions
- A puppy care package for the trip home
2. Using a Professional Flight Nanny
For families who cannot fly in to pick up their puppy, we recommend hiring a flight nanny—an experienced pet handler who will personally escort the puppy in-cabin from our local airport to yours.
While we don’t directly book flight nannies for our customers, however, we can provide guidance on selecting a reputable nanny. Once you’ve found and booked a flight nanny, we’ll work with you to coordinate the logistics, including:
- Confirming flight details
- Preparing the puppy for the journey
- Ensuring the nanny has all necessary documentation
The flight nanny will escort your puppy in an airline-approved carrier, providing them with personal care and supervision throughout the flight. Upon arrival, they will hand your puppy directly to you at the airport.
🧳 Preparing the Puppy for Travel
We take several steps to help each puppy feel safe and secure during travel:
- Crate training: We begin acclimating them to a travel carrier ahead of time.
- Socialization: We gently expose them to different sounds and environments to reduce anxiety.
- Travel kit: Each puppy goes home with:
- A blanket or toy that smells like home
- Puppy food for the journey
- A care guide with tips for their first few days
- A blanket or toy that smells like home
We treat each puppy as if they were our own—and that doesn’t stop on travel day.
🤝 Communication and Support
Throughout the entire process, we stay in close contact with new owners. We:
- Confirm vet and flight details
- Share travel updates
- Provide guidance for pickup and post-travel care
- Remain available for questions before and after the puppy arrives
We want you to feel confident and supported every step of the way.
Final Thoughts
Flying a puppy home doesn’t have to be stressful. With the right planning and a dedicated breeder team behind you, it can be a smooth, safe, and joyful experience. Whether you’re flying in to meet your new puppy or working with a trusted flight nanny, we’re here to make the transition as seamless and loving as possible.
If you’re thinking about bringing home a puppy from us and need help with travel logistics, don’t worry—we’ve got it covered.