Texas is a big state, and most of our puppy families drive a few hours to come get their Goldendoodle. This post covers how pickup day actually works at our Midland and Red Oak programs — planning the trip, what to bring, and how to keep an 8-week-old puppy comfortable on the ride home.
None of it is complicated. But a little planning turns a long drive into a good memory instead of a stressful one.
Two Locations, One Standard
Purkey Puppies raises litters in two places: Midland, TX out in the Permian Basin, and Red Oak, TX just south of Dallas. Which one you drive to depends on which litter your puppy comes from, not on where you live — so we confirm the location with you as soon as your reservation is matched to a litter.
For West Texas families, Midland is an easy trip from Odessa, Big Spring, Andrews, San Angelo, or Lubbock. For everyone in the metroplex, Red Oak sits right off I-35E, roughly 25 minutes from downtown Dallas and comfortably reachable from Fort Worth, Waxahachie, Mansfield, and the surrounding suburbs. Families have also driven in from Austin, Houston, San Antonio, and out of state — Midland to Dallas is about five hours, so almost anywhere in Texas is a same-day round trip if you leave early.
Whichever location you visit, the puppies are raised the same way. The Purkey, Stinnett, and Gentry families all follow the same daily hands-on routine and the same health testing standards on every breeding dog.
Timing the Trip
Puppies go home at 8 weeks. That's not an arbitrary number — those last two weeks with the litter are when a puppy learns bite inhibition and basic dog-to-dog manners from its siblings, and no amount of training at home replaces it. We'll give you a target pickup week well in advance and then confirm the exact date once the litter hits that mark.
Two scheduling notes specific to Texas. First, heat: Midland summers run past 100°F regularly, and the Dallas area isn't far behind. Morning pickups are better for everyone, and a puppy should never be left in a parked car — not for a minute, not with the windows cracked. Second, plan pickup for a day when someone can be home with the puppy for the next several days. The first 72 hours in a new house set the tone for crate training and house training, and it's much easier if nobody is rushing back to work the next morning.
If you want the house squared away before you leave, our puppy prep checklist covers the supplies and setup worth handling in advance.
What to Bring on Pickup Day
Keep it simple. A crate or carrier for the drive, an old towel or blanket you don't mind sacrificing, paper towels, a roll of poop bags, water with a small collapsible bowl, and a collar and leash for rest stops. Bring the remaining $1,500 balance — the $200 reservation fee is already applied.
The single best thing you can bring is a second adult. One person drives, one person sits with the puppy. It cuts the stress on a first car ride roughly in half, and it means you're not pulling over every time the puppy makes a noise.
The Drive Home
Most puppies handle the car better than their owners expect. Keep yours secured in the crate rather than loose on a lap — it's safer, and a contained space is genuinely calming for a puppy who has never been in a vehicle. Stop every two hours for a potty break and a little water. Skip the big meal right before you leave; a mostly empty stomach means less chance of car sickness on that first ride.
Some crying is normal for the first thirty minutes or so. Your puppy just left its littermates for the first time. It usually settles once the road noise takes over, and most of them sleep the rest of the way.
If You're Flying
Flying works, and out-of-state families do it regularly. An 8-week-old Mini Goldendoodle — and usually a Standard at that age too — fits under the seat in an airline-approved carrier. Book the puppy as in-cabin cargo when you book your own ticket, since airlines cap how many pets are allowed per flight. Check the carrier dimension rules and whether a health certificate is required, and confirm both a week or more ahead rather than the day before. Midland International (MAF) serves our West Texas litters; DFW and Love Field serve the Red Oak program.
What Goes Home With You
Every puppy leaves with its first puppy shot, a vet well-check, and the health record documenting both — all included in the $1,700 price. Take that record to your own vet within the first few days so they can pick up the vaccination and deworming schedule from a verified starting point. If you added anything from our upgrades list, like microchipping, that's completed before pickup as well.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is a Goldendoodle puppy at pickup?
Goldendoodle puppies go home at 8 weeks old. Before that, the puppy is still learning bite inhibition and social cues from its littermates and mother, and leaving early can create behavioral gaps that are difficult to correct later. We don't make exceptions on this, even when families ask.
Where do you pick up a Purkey Puppies Goldendoodle?
Pickup happens at whichever Purkey Puppies location the litter was raised in — Midland, TX or Red Oak, TX just south of Dallas. We confirm the exact location and address with you before pickup day. Families driving in from Odessa, Lubbock, San Angelo, Fort Worth, Waxahachie, and across Texas typically make it a same-day round trip.
Can you fly home with a Goldendoodle puppy?
Yes — an 8-week-old Mini or small Standard Goldendoodle usually fits an airline's in-cabin carrier requirements. Book the puppy as in-cabin cargo when you book your ticket, confirm the airline's carrier dimensions and health-certificate rules well ahead of the flight, and fly out of Midland International (MAF) or DFW depending on which program your puppy is from.
What should you bring on pickup day?
Bring a crate or carrier, an old towel or blanket, paper towels, water and a small bowl, and the remaining $1,500 balance. A collar and leash are useful for rest stops. A second adult in the car makes the drive dramatically easier, since someone can sit with the puppy while the other drives.
How do you keep a puppy comfortable on a long car ride?
Keep the puppy secured in a crate or carrier with a soft blanket, and stop every two hours for a potty break and water. Skip a heavy meal right before departure — an empty-ish stomach reduces car sickness on the first ride. Expect some crying for the first half hour; most puppies settle and sleep once the road noise sets in.
Does West Texas heat matter when planning pickup?
Yes — summer temperatures in Midland and the Permian Basin regularly exceed 100°F, so schedule pickup for the morning. Never leave a puppy in a parked car, even briefly. Keep the AC running toward the back of the vehicle where the crate sits, since the back of an SUV runs hotter than the front seats.
What paperwork goes home with the puppy?
Every Purkey puppy goes home with a health record documenting its first puppy shot and vet well-check. Take that record to your own vet within the first few days so they can set your puppy's vaccination and deworming schedule from a verified starting point. You can also ask us about the parent dogs and their health clearances any time — before or after pickup.
We'll Walk You Through It
Nobody has to figure pickup day out alone. Once your reservation is matched to a litter, we stay in touch about timing, location, and what to expect — and we're just as available after your puppy is home. Reach out anytime with questions, or see who's available right now.
Ready to Reserve Your Puppy?
Join the waitlist for an upcoming litter from our Midland or Dallas, TX program. $200 reserves your spot.