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We raise Pembroke Welsh Corgis in Casa Grande, Arizona, under two hours by air from Denver, and one of ours already lives in Boulder. Here is how the trip works and what a Corgi's life looks like from the plains to the high country.
Arizona to Colorado
Denver is one of the busiest routes out of Phoenix Sky Harbor, with nonstops on American, Frontier, Southwest and United, and the flight takes about an hour and three-quarters. Southwest also flies nonstop to Colorado Springs, and American serves Durango, Grand Junction, Montrose and the ski airports at Aspen and Eagle, though those smaller routes have far fewer flights.
By road, Casa Grande to Denver is about fourteen hours through Flagstaff and Albuquerque and over Raton Pass. Durango is closer, roughly eight hours, which brings pickup at our home within reach for the Four Corners. Colorado keeps Mountain time with daylight saving, so our clocks match from November to March and you are an hour ahead the rest of the year. Once you reserve, we work out the route and quote the travel separately; see the delivery page.
See who is availableYour puppy travels in the cabin with a flight nanny, never in the cargo hold, and is handed to you when you meet the flight. Denver has the most flights to choose from, while Colorado Springs is a smaller, quicker airport for families south of the Palmer Divide.
By road, a USDA certified transporter usually needs two to three days to reach the Front Range, and sends photos along the way. This is how Bella reached Yolanda A. in Boulder. In winter, a storm on I-25 or over Raton Pass means the run is paused or rescheduled until the roads are safe.
From Durango or Cortez, you can collect at our home in Casa Grande by way of Kayenta and Flagstaff. At about eight hours each way, plan an overnight. The puppy rides home in your car, and you see where it was raised. In winter, check US-160 before you commit to a date.
We can bring the puppy to Phoenix Sky Harbor to meet your flight, and you carry it back to Colorado yourself in an under-seat carrier. With so many daily nonstops to Denver, the return leg is easy to time. Book the puppy onto your flight early, since cabin pet spaces are limited.
Available now
See the puppies available now, then ask about the one you like.
Drive times
DEN sits out on the plains northeast of the city, so even metro drives take longer than the map suggests. Times assume clear roads; I-70 on a snowy weekend is another story.
| If you live in | Drive from DEN, roughly |
|---|---|
| Downtown Denver | about 35 minutes |
| Boulder | about 45 minutes |
| Greeley | about 50 minutes |
| Fort Collins | about 1 hour |
| Colorado Springs | about 1 hour 30, or fly into COS |
| Pueblo | about 2 hours |
| Breckenridge | about 2 hours |
| Vail | about 2 hours, or fly into Eagle (EGE) |
Corgi life in Colorado
A Corgi's double coat was made for cold, wet weather, and many Corgis adore snow. Colorado's challenges are different: thin, dry air, strong sun, short legs in deep powder, and wildlife at the edge of town.
Front Range snow often melts within a day or two of sunshine, so winter walking is easier than newcomers expect. Chatfield and Cherry Creek state parks have big fenced off-leash areas, 69 and 107 acres, with water access and a state parks pass required. Coyotes live throughout the metro, so keep a small puppy close at dawn and dusk.
On many of Boulder's open space trails, a dog may go off leash only while wearing a city Voice and Sight tag, which requires a free class and real voice control. Prairie rattlesnakes sun themselves on foothill trails in warm months, so keep a young Corgi on a short leash there.
Above 8,000 feet, snow can lie deeper than a Corgi is tall for months, so shovel a potty patch by the door and expect your dog to plow rather than walk. Moose treat dogs as predators and will charge one, so leash up wherever willows line a creek.
Grand Junction is high desert, hot in summer and milder in winter than the mountains, with cheatgrass and rattlesnakes along the trails. Durango sits higher and gets real snow. Both have nonstop flights from Phoenix, and Durango is close enough to drive to us.
Worth knowing
Once cheatgrass dries in early summer, its spiky seeds catch in a low-slung Corgi's coat and burrow into ears, nostrils and paws. Comb through after dry-grass walks, and if your dog suddenly shakes its head or sneezes hard, get to a vet.
Since cannabis became legal, Colorado vets have seen plenty of dogs who ate a dropped edible or a discarded joint, and a puppy at ground level finds them first. Teach a strong leave it early, and call your vet right away if your dog turns wobbly or dribbles urine after a walk.
Colorado treats many roads with magnesium chloride, and the brine dries onto paws and a low-slung belly. Wipe your Corgi down after winter walks near treated streets, because the residue cracks paw pads and licking it off can upset a stomach.
For mountain families, the drive from DEN is often harder than the flight. Winter storms can close I-70 at the Eisenhower Tunnel or Vail Pass, and traction rules apply on bad days. Choose a flight that lands early, check the road forecast as well as the airport, and hold a second date in reserve.
Day to day
A Corgi will happily join most Colorado outings, but short legs mean shorter ones than you would take with a Lab. Build up trail miles slowly, carry water, since dry mountain air dehydrates a dog faster than you notice, and turn back before your Corgi starts lagging. Long winters indoors invite weight gain, which is hard on a long back, so keep meals measured; our Corgi care guide covers portions and exercise.
That thick coat is an asset here. Snow does ball up in the fluffy hindquarters and between the toes, so keep paw fur trimmed and towel off after snowy walks; our grooming guide explains how. The big shed comes in spring, when the winter undercoat lets go in clumps. Strong summer sun at altitude means shade still matters, even on a cool day.
A Colorado family
Yes. Bella went home to Yolanda A. in Boulder by ground transport, making the trip by road with a USDA certified provider. In Yolanda's words:
“Bella has been incredibly sweet and loves cuddles so much. She easily bonds with my nieces when they come over, and I really love that about her. Thanks again.”
Read every family storyColorado questions
Rarely in a way you would notice. Casa Grande sits around 1,400 feet and Denver at 5,280, and puppies usually settle within a few days. Keep water within reach, expect a little extra sleep, and keep the first week calm. In a mountain town, give the puppy a few quiet days at home before any real walks.
Denver has far more flights, so it is the easier airport to fit around a puppy's day, and it suits everyone from Castle Rock north. Colorado Springs, served nonstop by Southwest, saves a long drive for families in the Springs, Pueblo and the south. We check both schedules for your travel date before booking anything.
Yes. The breed comes from Wales, and its dense double coat keeps it warm on cold days. The challenges are practical: deep snow on short legs, ice balls between the toes, and de-icing chemicals on paws. Shovel a path, keep paw fur trimmed, rinse after walks on treated streets, and keep a young puppy's winter outings short.
It can, but the route crosses high ground: I-40 past Flagstaff and through northern New Mexico, then Raton Pass on I-25. When storms are forecast, the run is paused or rescheduled until the roads are safe. If your date cannot move in December or January, a flight nanny is the more predictable choice.
Next step
Tell us your town and the season, and we will plan the trip around both. Our available puppies page shows who is ready to go home, the price page explains what a puppy costs, and our number is (520) 756-1342.
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