Picking up your puppy at Whispering Pines Kennel.
You are welcome to come to our house to pick up your puppy. We live in extreme northwest Iowa
Please do not plan your visit for a Sunday, as we do no business on this day.
Once you have decided to purchase a puppy, and have made a deposit, we will send you directions to our house.
Picking up your puppy at the airport.
We ship puppies to almost every major airport in the country using Northwest, or Delta Airlines. We make all the arrangements on this end, after consulting with you as to what is a convenient pickup time. We do our best to accommodate your requests.
About 7days before shipping, we introduce your puppy to his shipping kennel. This gives him a chance to get comfortable in his new "home". A few days before shipping, your puppy will get a health checkup at the vet, and will be issued a health certificate. Puppies get a bath and blow dry within a few days of shipping.
On the morning of shipping we get up early and take a 45 minute van ride to the Sioux Falls SD airport. While enroute, your puppy is placed in a large plastic tub containing cat litter. Quite often puppies make a "mess" in the cat litter, and hopefully will be done with this job for the day. Becuase of the cat litter, they sometimes get a little dusty. Once we get to the airport we transfer your puppy to a clean kennel containing shredded newspaper, and check him in. Your paperwork and a small bag of puppyfood will be duct taped to the kennel. Your puppy will then take a ride up the conveyor like a suitcase, and will be safely tucked away in a heated/air conditioned area of the cargohold.
Most puppies take a short hop to Minneapolis, and connect to a flight to their final destination. Some flight arrangements are a single direct flgiht. Upon arrival your puppy will be transfered to Northwest Cargo, or Delta baggage claim/ticket counter. You will simply have to show ID, and claim your puppy.
We advise that you take along some disposable towels to clean your puppy and his kennel if he has made a mess enroute. Doing so will make the car ride home a little more pleasant. You may also want to take along a collar and leash. If you take him out of the kennel on the airport grounds or on the trip home, you wouldn't want him to take off on you.
Once home, your puppy may need a time of rest, much like people after a day of traveling. If so, give him some time and space to rest and recuperate.
Pick up, or Shipping
Shipping Stress?
Many people are concerned about the stress of shipping. Yes, shipping is a whole new experience for a puppy. Most every sight and sound is new. But the puppies handle it well. Believe it or not, the airlines do a wonderful job transporting and caring for puppies. There are a host of rules that must be followed to insure the safety and comfort of your puppy, and the airlines are very strict about following them.
Have you ever seen puppies sleeping on the floor in an airport terminal? No, but you sure see people doing so often, which just goes to show who the VIP's (Very Important Pets) really are!!
