Puppy Pickup & Transport Options
At Emerald Mtn Ranch, we love meeting our pups’ new families! You are always welcome to come out to beautiful Steamboat Springs, Colorado, to pick up your puppy in person, take a tour of our ranch, and meet our dogs.
If making the trip out to the ranch isn’t an option for you, we have reliable air and ground transport solutions to get your new puppy home safely.
If you come out to pick up your puppy, you can easily make a great trip out of it:
Stay Right on the Ranch (RV & Camping): Traveling with an RV or camping gear? You are welcome to stay right here on our ranch property! Just reach out to us in advance so we can get a spot ready for you.
Local Hotel Recommendation: For an authentic Steamboat Springs feel, we highly recommend the historic Rabbit Ears Motel. It sits right on the edge of downtown within easy walking distance to great local shops, galleries, and restaurants.
Don’t Forget Your Swimsuit! The Rabbit Ears Motel is directly across the street from Old Town Hot Springs, so pack a suit if you want to enjoy a soak in the mineral pools while you’re in town.
Free Local Bus Service: Steamboat Springs offers a free city bus operated by Steamboat Springs Transit (SST). It runs year-round connecting downtown, shops, and hotels, so you can explore without needing a rental car or worrying about parking.
We are located 20 miles from Yampa Valley Regional Airport (HDN) in Hayden, Colorado.
Overnight Visit & Tour: Fly in, stay overnight, and we will do our best to adjust our schedule to pick you up at the airport and take you into town. The next day, we can bring you out to the ranch for a tour, bring your puppy along, and take you back to the airport for your flight home. (Airport pickup and drop-off service is available for Yampa Valley Regional Airport only.)
Quick Airport Hand-Off: If you have a tight flight schedule, we can meet you right at Yampa Valley Regional Airport with your puppy before your flight out.
- In-Cabin Carry-On Only: Turkish Boz Shepherd puppies grow very fast! Flying pups must travel in-cabin at 8 weeks (and no later than 9 weeks). We do not allow or guarantee any puppies shipped in cargo.
- Carrier Size: Standard allowed soft carrier dimensions are typically 18″ L x 13″ W x 9.6″ H.
- Soft Carrier Option: If you need one, Emerald Mtn Ranch can supply an approved soft flight carrier for around $30.
- Health Certificates: Vet flight health certificates required by the airlines run about $50. (All our puppies receive a standard wellness checkup prior to departure free of charge.)
- Airlines: Major airlines operating out of HDN that accommodate in-cabin pets include Southwest and United. Please verify current pet policies directly with the airline before booking.
Please confirm flight plans with us in advance so we can coordinate timings together.
If you can’t fly out to Colorado yourself, you can hire an independent professional Flight Nanny. A flight nanny flies into Yampa Valley Regional Airport (HDN), meets us to pick up your pup, carries them in-cabin on the plane, and hands them off directly to you at your home airport. We have used flight nanny services in the past with great success.
If you prefer ground shipping, you are welcome to hire any professional transport company you like. We will work directly with your transporter to coordinate paperwork and set a pickup date that works for everyone.
Here are two trusted ground transporters we frequently recommend for quotes:
Vicky Glidwell: (256) 919-8965
Joyce Meyers: (Insert Phone Number)
Live Travel Updates: We only hand off puppies to vetted ground transporters who agree to regular photo, video, and GPS updates so you can follow your puppy’s journey the whole way.
(Please note: All transportation arrangements and fees are the responsibility of the buyer.)
Before leaving the ranch, our puppies are introduced to soft crates, car rides, and everyday sounds as part of our ranch development protocol. This early preparation helps keep them calm and confident on travel day.
Every puppy leaves with a specially made EMR Care Bag to carry all their gear and paperwork:
Scent Blanket: Rubbed with mom’s and littermates’ scent to soothe travel anxiety.
Travel Chew: A safe bully stick to keep them occupied on the trip (we strictly recommend NO rawhide!).
Transition Diet Info: TSA limits liquids and food in carry-on bags, so we provide exact details on their current diet for a seamless transition at home (plus sample food if you are driving).
Complete Folder: Your signed contract with health guarantee, official vaccination and weight records, microchip info, and purebred puppy registration paperwork.
If you are traveling in to pick up your puppy, keeping them hydrated is the most important detail! We recommend packing:
A Collapsible Water Bowl: Staying hydrated is much more important than eating on travel day. A simple pop-up silicone bowl works best.
For Driving: A soft travel crate or harness, puppy pads, paper towels, wipes, and a collar with a leash.
For Flying: An airline-approved soft carrier, puppy pads lined inside, and extra wipes.
Go-Home Window: Puppies are ready for their new homes between 8 and 10 weeks of age.
Extended Boarding: If your puppy needs to stay past 12 weeks, a weekly boarding fee applies. This covers ongoing vaccinations, feed, socialization, and daily ranch training. Extended stays must be arranged with us in advance.
We love welcoming new owners to the ranch! When you come out, we will set aside time to give you a tour of our operation and introduce you to our dogs.
You can explore Steamboat Springs at your own pace, grab lunch downtown, take a soak at Old Town Hot Springs, or camp right here on the ranch property. We keep things open and flexible so you can enjoy your time without feeling rushed.
Have Questions or Ready to Plan Your Trip?
Reach out to us anytime to discuss pickup dates, flight details, camping spots, or transport recommendations!