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Josh delivering pups
Brit at the airport
Brit picking up London & Letty
Brit at the airport
Puppy pick-up

Shipping with a  pet nanny

✈️ Pet Nanny Shipping Services

So, you've decided to adopt a puppy from Salem’s Finest Chihuahuas and Dachshunds but need help with shipping? No problem — we’ve got you covered! We’ve worked with the same trusted pet nanny service for nearly 5 years. They are licensed, bonded, and insured, and we trust them with the safe and loving transport of our puppies.

💡 Nervous About Shipping?

That’s completely understandable. But rest assured — we would never place a puppy in harm’s way. In fact, many of our own dogs were shipped to us from around the country when we started our program. We’ve been on both sides of the experience, and we only work with reputable, experienced professionals.

🐾 What to Expect with Pet Nanny Delivery

  • Available to U.S. residents only.

  • Shipping is arranged by Salem's Finest, through our third-party pet nanny service.

  • Puppies fly in-cabin, never in cargo, accompanied by a nanny.

  • You will receive a free travel bag with your puppy, filled with:

    • Food

    • Water

    • Nutritional gel (Nutri-Cal)

🛫 How Standby Flights Work

To keep delivery costs lower:

  • Pet nannies typically fly standby.

  • This means flights may be rescheduled or rerouted at the last minute.

  • If you need a guaranteed date/time, paid seating is available (at double the price).

We will stay in real-time contact with the nanny and keep you updated as your puppy travels.

💲 Shipping Fees

Base Shipping (avg) $500–$750 (most avg. $550)

Extra Puppy (max 2)  +$100

Travel Bag & Supplies Included

Local Delivery to Portland Area  +$200

Pickup in Salem, Oregon    Free

 

💡 If you live outside of Salem and request delivery to the Portland, OR airport or surrounding area, a $200 delivery fee will be added to your puppy's final invoice.

💳 Payment Structure

  • A small deposit is paid directly to the pet nanny service to secure your spot.

  • The remaining balance is due in CASH upon delivery.

  • A photo of you with your puppy will be sent to us as delivery confirmation.

📅 What Happens Before Delivery?

  1. When your puppy is ready, we’ll reach out to our pet nanny to request a reservation.

  2. Within a few days, we’ll receive an estimated itinerary.

  3. You will then:

    • Submit your shipping deposit on the nanny’s website.

    • Await a group text the day before delivery with finalized flight and delivery details.

🐶 Puppy Shipping Requirements

  • Puppies must be at least 9 weeks old to fly.

  • A maximum of two puppies may be shipped to the same family in a single trip.

  • Weather or airline issues may cause unexpected delays — your puppy’s safety is our top priority.

We’ll do our best to get your puppy to you on time, but we appreciate your patience if the travel schedule changes. Thank you for trusting us — and your puppy — with this next big adventure! 🐾

Flying in to PDX

✈️ Alternative Option: Fly-In Puppy Pickup at PDX

Prefer to pick up your puppy in person? Great! You’re welcome to fly into Portland International Airport (PDX) to meet your new puppy once they are at least 9 weeks of age or older.

🧳 What You’ll Need to Do:

  • Book your own round-trip airline ticket with the airline of your choice.

  • Be sure the airline allows in-cabin pet travel:

    • Most airlines require puppies to be at least 8 weeks old.

    • Delta requires puppies to be 10 weeks old or older.

  • Puppies will need to travel in a soft-sided pet carrier, placed under your seat (or occasionally on your lap, depending on airline rules).

  • Check pet travel fees with your airline in advance — they vary!

  • Flight insurance is strongly recommended in case:

    • Your puppy’s go-home date changes.

      • Additional care or hold time is needed for health/developmental reasons.

🛑 We are not responsible for refunding travel costs (including airfare or lodging) if your puppy’s go-home date must be delayed.

📋 Health Certificate Notice

If your airline requires a USDA health certificate, it is your responsibility to:

  • Notify us in advance.

  • Cover the additional fee for the certificate and secondary wellness exam.

💰 Delivery Fee

Even if you’re flying in, please note that there is still a $200 delivery fee for meeting you at PDX Airport.

​

There is no charge for pickups arranged in Salem, Oregon, our hometown.

By choosing this option, you'll get to meet your puppy in person and travel home together --a special bonding opportunity and a safe, hands-on experience!

Shipping with an SFC nanny

✈️ SFC Pet Nanny Delivery Service (Currently Unavailable)

Occasionally, we offer a premium delivery option through our in-house Salem's Finest Pet Nanny Service. This means your puppy is hand-delivered by a trusted member of the Salem’s Finest Chihuahuas team, someone personally affiliated with us — not an outside courier.

This method offers more flexibility and certainty but does come at a higher cost.

🛬 How It Works:

  • We purchase a round-trip airline ticket and an in-cabin pet fee for our SFC team member.

  • Your puppy is flown directly to your closest major airport — no standby travel, no delays, and a confirmed date and time of arrival.

  • You will receive your puppy directly from someone we trust, trained in safe and loving puppy handoffs.

📍 Important Notes:

  • This service is only available for delivery to major airports (smaller regional airports are excluded).

  • We must be able to secure a direct flight to your location for this service to be considered.

  • Availability is based on our personal schedule and commitments, and is not available year-round.

  • We cannot guarantee this service in advance, as it is dependent on airfare, route availability, and timing.

💵 Costs:

  • SFC Pet Nanny Fee: $1,500

  • Additional Delivery Fee: $200

  • Round-trip Airfare + Pet Cabin Fee: Variable ($500–$1,000+ depending on time of year and location)

🚫 Please Note: This service is currently not available. We will update availability as our travel schedule allows.

This option is perfect for families looking for peace of mind, fixed travel arrangements, and a personal delivery touch — all with the same level of love and care we give at SFC.

Let us know if you'd like to be added to a waitlist in the event this service becomes available again.

are now in over 35 states! Including Alaska!  
SFC Puppies

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