Cross country pup!

[ArcticDog]

Me and Adak (9 week old)will be flying to Maryland from Alaska for a couple of weeks. The flight takes about 8 hours direct with no stops. He is well kennel trained but has never flown before. What are some suggestions for making this a pleasurable experience for us both. Should I consider a mild sedative? Food or water in kennel? Safe toys in kennel? I know for a fact that he will have the time of his life while their but I just want the trip to go smooth so we can do this again. I have until February to prepare.

Thanks
Carrie and Adak

[Carol Burke]

Please do not sedate. Put some toys that he likes in his crate and water. I usually freeze a small bucket of water. Eight hours is a long time to be crated, is there a stopover with a change of planes so that you could get him out of the crate for a little bit?

[Carol Burke]

Sorry I should have read your post completely, no stopovers! I would put some dry kibble in for him to snack on.

[ArcticDog]

What about a nylabone or a stuffed kong? Do they make rabbit type water bottles for dogs (dumb question) so the water doesn't spill?

[Carol Burke]

Yes, they do make bottles you can hang. Make sure he understands how to use it. A stuffed kong would be good or a nylabone or both.

[ArcticDog]

Also, I feed raw what about some raw bones. They could serve dual purpose...enertainment and food.

[Carol Burke]

I feed raw also and a bone would be good. The thing is you don't want him so full of food that he will have to go in his crate.

[ArcticDog]

I figured that would be the case. So maybe just one femur head with just a little bit of meat and one of those water bottles and a kong would probably do. I will get the watter bottle asap so I can train him to it. I don't think it will be a problem because I have trained him to drink from a gatoraide bottle since he was tiny for camping and hiking. Cool! Thanks things to work on.

[LavenderRott]

Many years ago, I flew a rottie and a collie to Boston from Germany. As this is a young pup, I would not suggest putting food in with it to travel. Accidents can and probably will happen and the pup will end up sleeping in it.

My most important piece of advice is to tell the flight attendant that you are having a dog loaded and you would like conformation when it is on board. Don't let them give you a hard time about this. A young couple on he same flight from germany was bringing their pup back from to the states, assumed everything would be all right and the dog got lost.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

[roadweed]

Hi Arcticdog-not many of us Anchoragites here is there? I am finding this thread helpful as well, as Gretchen will be flying down to WA with me in Feb., and I am unsure about how I will handle this. Is your dog used to the crate, and OK about being in there? I put a crate in the house when I first got Gretchy, she hated it at first, I never locked her in it then, but as she began to get more comfortable in it and used it as a den, I began to shut her in it for longer periods of time. She is fine with it now, and stays in it while I am at work on Saturdays. I have never had her in it around busy, unfamiliar circumstances though, and do not know how she will handle this. I wonder if it would be better to cover the crate with a blanket, or let her see out. I wonder why you are told by Carol not to sedate, though, and would like a bit more information on this issue. I agree that it should not be done unless necessary, but I also think that with some dogs it is necessary to keep them safe. My lab/greyhound mix hated being locked in a small space, twice she was accidently locked in a bedroom, both times she chewed through the door. The one time I tried to crate her, she chewed through the bottom part of the crate and part of the floor, and tore her mouth up pretty good. This all in about an hour or two. Needless to say, when my ex moved to oregon with her, she was sedated, and had an uneventful trip down. I suppose there are some dangers to sedation, but I guess they must be weighed agianst the dangers of non-sedation. Well, I hope you have a safe and enjoyable trip.

[ArcticDog]

Adak is very good with his kennel. He sleeps in their most nights for up to 9 hours by my bed and has never had an accident. He is very calm and easy going. I think that he would prefer being able to see outside the kennel as he is very curious about the world arround him and loves everyone and every thing. The trip is right at about 8 hours so I don't doubt he will be able to hold it unless his little tummy gets upset by all the excitement or something like that. I am a little leary about putting food in the kennel because of the potty issues but if I do I think it will be just something to taste...definitely not a meal.

Lavender, that is an interesting point about losing him in the baggage. That would be the worst!!!!! I wonder how the airlines would handle that? Probably just leave him in that kennel until he gets back to me. lord knows that could take weeks. I will make sure double time that he is on the plane with me!!!!

Roadweed. I am traveling in Feb. too. We might see eachother at the airport. When it's all over let me know how your dog did too. I plan on doing this again in the future if all goes well.

Just curious. What are the reasons not to sedate on a long trip like this. What about something like rescue remedy? I might even take something myself to help me sleep!

[LavenderRott]

I would talk to your vet about puppy valium or something like that if you are worried about airsickness or nerves. I suppose the problem with sedation is that no one will be there if something happens.

Remember, your pup is baggage. It will be treated as such by baggage handlers. Lost animals have been known to sit on the tarmack for hours. Many years ago there was a story I heard about a showdog that got lost on a flight and had been left on the tarmack for a while. Needless to say, besides the fact that the dog developed some serious nervous problems, he was also deaf when the found him.

Don't mean to scare you, just make sure that you are diligent about making sure that the pup is on YOUR plane.

[ArcticDog]

Oops! I just realized what I did. Adak is 9 MONTHS old!!! (I'm flogging myself) Sorry.:D Guess I should read my posts before I send them.

[codglvr]

Had some experience with this one after arranging grandma's four cats and one dog to be flown cross country in August. Boy was that ever a feat and a half getting them all on one flight and arranging for her to have oxygen on board. The reason they do not reccomend sedatives (atleast what I was told) is that they tend to lower the dog's body temp a bit, and well lets face it, the baggage area isn't heated. Also, when you get on the plane, the stewardess, should bring you essentially a baggage ticket showing that the dog has been loaded. Do not let the flight take off without that ticket, and it won't come until after you have loaded on the plane and so has the dog. Good luck, I hope he enjoys the flight.

[sugarmaginva]

I thought there was an airline embargo on flying animals in the winter and summer????