Has anyone ever flown to pick up their puppy and brought it back home on a plane before?
This is something I am going to have to do sometime either very soon (hopefully) or next year and it will be a totally new experience for me. Just the sheer idea of flying all alone to meet a breeder and their dogs is nervewracking, nevermind bringing the puppy back. I don't know anyone who has done it before but figured somebody here must have.
The flight is appox 5 hours. But you also have to be at the airport ahead of boarding time too. What do you do about puppy bathroom breaks? Once we're all checked in at the airport, am I allowed to leave to take the puppy outside somewhere before we board? Will a young puppy be ok on a plane for that long?
Also, they say the puppy has to fly under the seat. Does that mean puppy has to stay in the carrier the whole time and I'm not allowed to hold it?
Not only have I never flown with a pet before, but I've also only ever been on a plane twice ever. Once when I was really young and then again this past January so I'm not overly experienced with any of it. I am sure the airline would also have answers to all these questions, but I like to hear peoples' actual experiences.
I know lots of other people have done it, so it must be fine, but I don't know what to expect at all.
I've done it a few times, and let me tell you, your puppy will either be an angel or it will be the most embarrassing flight of your LIFE. Fiona and Jesse (Riot's brother) were FANTASTIC. Silent the whole time- slept, didn't pee in the kennel. Then I got to Wesley.......
He screamed. And screamed. And screamed. In a flight that was 100% booked solid. Basically, I flew to California at 6 am from Denver. His breeders picked me up, I went to their house to meet the babies. I got first pick of the boys, so I spent two or three hours just evaluating them, and then when I finally made my pick I went over to my friend Joyce's house (who owns Jesse) and hung out with them. Then, I left for LAX at 3 or 4, and the SECOND I entered the building he started screaming. I waited in the security line for about 45 minutes and talked to everyone about him, ran to the bathroom and let him pee on the potty pad I brought with me, and then waited at my gate. He was fine until I had to put him back in his carrier and then the screaming began again. It didn't help that the flight was jam packed, I hadn't slept much the night before, and it was hot. However, we made it to Denver and he did settle down for a little bit in the middle of the flight.
That is probably not what you wanted to hear- but here's some things you should know:
1. Southwest now allows pets, and its way cheaper. Just keep in mind, no matter what airline, you have to call them to book the flight and tell them that you're taking a small pet with you.
2. You can't let them out of their carrier on the plane- EVER. If you do they will freak out.
3. Go to Petsmart or Petco and buy some potty pads. Put one in the bottom of the carrier, and keep two or three in a carry-on, or some carriers have pockets on the side. You can pull them out in the bathroom and sometimes if you're lucky they will pee on them. Most airports don't have a potty area for dogs past security.
4. Rawhides, cow hooves, bully sticks, kongs- whatever. Bring lots of them, and try and have the puppy chew on them before they get in the carrier so they get the idea before they have to deal with the stress.
5. Get a GOOD carrier. Stay away from super floppy sides- they will only bug the puppy more.
6. Do research and find out the busiest times to fly and try and plan your trip around those.
7. Send the breeder a blanket or a toy, and have them put the toy in with the litter so it starts to smell like their mom and their littermates, and put that toy in the carrier. It helps, I swear.
8. Be prepared for screaming.
9. If at all possible, try to spend a few days near the breeder, so the puppy gets used to you before you kidnap it.
10. Keep in mind, no matter the stress, no matter the embarrassment, you will have a puppy at the end of all this and it'll be worth it.