Your Puppy’s Safe Journey Home

At Hilltop Chihuahuas, your puppy’s safety during transport is our highest priority. We understand that bringing home a new family member is an exciting time, and we want the journey to be as stress-free as possible – for you and for your tiny companion. We work exclusively with professional, USDA-licensed and IPATA-accredited animal transport partners to ensure the highest standards of care.

Option One: In-Person Pickup (Recommended)

We strongly encourage and welcome families to pick up their puppy directly from our home.

Why Pick Up in Person:

You get to see where your puppy was raised and meet our other dogs. You receive hands-on guidance from us about feeding, training, and care. You begin bonding with your puppy immediately. There are no shipping costs or travel stress for your puppy.

What to Expect:

When you arrive, we will spend time with you going over your puppy’s health records, feeding schedule, training progress, and care instructions. You will leave with a folder containing all your puppy’s documents and a starter kit with food, a blanket, and a toy.

We require appointments for all pickups. Please schedule your pickup time at least one week in advance.

Option Two: Professional Ground Transport

If you cannot drive to us, we can arrange ground transport through a professional pet shipping service.

How It Works:

We work exclusively with USDA-licensed and IPATA-accredited pet transporters. Your puppy travels in a climate-controlled vehicle with a dedicated pet nanny. The vehicle has temperature monitoring, ventilation, and regular stops for bathroom breaks and exercise.

What You Receive:

You get direct contact information for the transporter, real-time tracking updates, an estimated arrival window, and photo updates during the journey. The transporter will deliver your puppy directly to your home or to an agreed meeting location. You will inspect your puppy before accepting delivery.

Cost Range:

Ground transport typically costs $400 to $800 depending on distance. We will provide an exact quote before you commit.

Option Three: Flight Nanny (In-Cabin Transport)

For longer distances, we recommend in-cabin flight nanny service.

How It Works:

A professional pet nanny books a commercial flight and brings your puppy in the airplane cabin with them. Your puppy travels in an airline-approved carrier under the seat in front of the nanny. Your puppy is never in cargo.

Why Choose Flight Nanny:

Your puppy is always with a human in a temperature-controlled environment. There is no time in a cargo hold. Delivery is faster than ground transport. The nanny sends updates throughout the journey.

What You Receive:

You receive a copy of the nanny’s flight itinerary, direct contact information for the nanny, photo updates before, during, and after the flight, and meeting arrangements at your local airport.

Cost Range:

Flight nanny service typically costs $200 to $300 depending on distance and flight costs. We will provide an exact quote before you commit.

What We Never Do

We NEVER ship puppies as cargo in an airplane’s luggage compartment. This is stressful, dangerous, and sometimes deadly for puppies – especially for tiny breeds like Chihuahuas. We refuse to do it. If another breeder offers cargo shipping, please think twice.

What We Provide Before Any Transport

Before any puppy travels, regardless of method, we ensure the following:

• A veterinary health certificate issued within 10 days of travel, USDA endorsed if required

• Age-appropriate vaccinations with complete records provided

• Deworming completed per veterinary schedule

• Microchip scanned and verified before travel

• An IATA-approved travel crate that is properly sized with absorbent bedding

• Food and water provided during transport

• A comfort blanket with littermate and mother’s scent

• Your contact details and backup contacts for emergencies

• Clear travel instructions for the transporter

Our Shipping Guarantee

Healthy Arrival Guarantee:

If your puppy arrives in unhealthy condition as confirmed by a licensed veterinarian within 48 hours of delivery, we will refund your full purchase price or provide a replacement puppy from a future litter. You pay shipping for any replacement puppy.

Late Delivery Guarantee:

If your puppy arrives more than six hours past the estimated delivery window due to carrier error (not weather or other events outside our control), we will refund fifty percent of your shipping fee.

Lost Puppy Guarantee:

If your puppy is lost during transport, we will refund your full purchase price and all shipping costs. We will also work with authorities to locate your puppy.

Injury Guarantee:

If your puppy is injured during transport, documented by a veterinarian’s report, we will refund your full purchase price and all shipping costs.

Your Responsibilities

To ensure a smooth and safe delivery, you agree to the following.

You must provide accurate shipping address and phone number. You must be available at the agreed delivery time and location. You must answer your phone – the transporter will call with updates and arrival notices. You must complete a veterinary examination within 72 hours of arrival. You must notify us immediately if your puppy appears unwell upon arrival.

What Our Shipping Guarantee Does Not Cover

Our shipping guarantee does not cover delays caused by weather, natural disasters, or airline cancellations. It does not cover minor stress-related issues such as temporary fatigue or mild dehydration, which are normal after travel. It does not cover conditions arising after the 48-hour arrival window without veterinary documentation. It does not cover incorrect addresses or missed deliveries caused by you. It does not cover international customs delays or import refusals.

International Shipping

We can arrange transport to select international destinations including Canada.

Requirements:

You are responsible for understanding your country’s import regulations. Additional health certificates, blood tests, and quarantine may be required.

Please contact us for a custom international shipping quote. We do not ship to countries with quarantine requirements that would harm the puppy’s well-being.

Shipping Costs (Estimates)

In-person pickup is free – this is our recommended option.

Transport costs $200 to $300. 

A deposit of fifty percent of the estimated shipping cost is required to book transport. The balance is due before travel.

Refund Process for Shipping Issues

If a covered shipping issue occurs, you must notify us within 48 hours of delivery or expected delivery. You must provide documentation including a veterinary report, photos, or carrier confirmation. If a refund or replacement is requested, the puppy must be returned at your expense unless otherwise agreed. Refunds will be processed within fourteen business days of approval.