[Codalo]

Hello,

I will be picking up a puppy next month. I live in NY and the puppy (smooth fox terrier) is in LA. I'm originally from southern CA and my mom still lives there. I will be flying back to NY with the 9 week old puppy (in main cabin). I'm wondering which of the following situations would be the least stressful for the dog in the transition back with me to NY.
1) pick up puppy from breeder on Sunday afternoon, driving to my mom's home (about an hour and a half from LA) for a night, then the following night (Monday), fly on a red eye back to NY.
2) pick up puppy from breeder on Monday afternoon, and head to the airport for the red eye to NY

I'm debating whether the day spent with me at my mom's house would giver her more time to get used to me and adjust before the flight, or whether the car ride and addition of another unknown location before flying would just be more stressful... Any thoughts?

Thank you!

 

[hanksimon]

I vote for Sunday. I imagine that you'll have the pup in a carrier that fits under your seat.

Various comments:
1. Assume that the pup will get car sick during the ride. She may not, but it doesn't hurt to be prepared.
2. You may consider a large loose shirt, so that she can sleep next to your skin while you drive. Some people can't do this.
3. I imagine the red eye is about 6 hours. Assume the pup may have to pee every 2 hours. Bring some towels and plastic bag. Plus, you have to provide water, b/c she will have to drink during the flight if she's awake.
4. At 9 weeks, you can still tire the pup before the flight by walking in the back yard and playing.
5. The flight will be more stressful for you than for the pup. She will whine b/c she has to pee, she is thirsty, hungry, or lonely. Satisfy those... and you will be much less stressed. On the other hand, people on planes love puppies, so if she whines, apologize,... then let people pet her, if you have sympathetic flight attendants.... most of them are sympathetic if you try to be respectful. And who can resist a cute puppy?

BTW, pls post pix after you get her...

 

[chubby]

I vote for option number 1. Don't be alarmed if when you bring her home she just wants to sleep/snuggle away in her crate - my first dog was really sad he left his litter and was a little depressed for a few days and just did this.

 

[Shell]

Option 1, but if your schedule works out for Option 2, it's not going to be a bad thing either way. However, can you fly in the daytime on Monday instead of the redeye? People on redeye flights usually want to sleep for most of it, and if the puppy is vocal during the night, it will annoy people a lot more than if it is vocal during the day. Puppies that age sleep most of the day anyway, so the night flight doesn't make her more likely to sleep during the flight.

I agree with everything Hanksimon said except for "2. You may consider a large loose shirt, so that she can sleep next to your skin while you drive. Some people can't do this."
Please crate the dog during a car ride, especially if you are the one driving. For one, the dog may wiggle, pee, poop or even nip at you and it is very unsafe for those kind of distractions while driving. For two, a dog on the lap of the driver (or front seat passenger) is directly in the way of the airbag. Airbags can deploy even in low speed, otherwise minor crashes and the air bag can easily kill a dog (or child) on the lap of the adult that it is meant to save.

 

[Codalo]

Thank you to all who replied. I am going to pick up the puppy (we are naming her Harlow) on Sunday the 20th, and fly back during the afternoon of the 21st. I appreciate the feedback on the red eye, which is a good point. If I were trying to sleep I would probably be perturbed with a fellow passenger if they brought a young puppy on board!

I will be sure to keep her secured in her crate while driving (my mom will be driving) but I know that we'll all be safer with her secure for the ride.

I'll definitely post an update once she is home with us!

 

[Crantastic]

Just a note: You aren't allowed to take the puppy out of the soft-sided bag/kennel during a flight, and aren't even supposed to open the bag, so I'd probably put a pee pad under a towel in the bottom of the bag, bring some moist treats along to feed her when she whined, and just bathe her (if she gets pee or poop on herself) when you get home. Other passengers will not be able to pat her (and probably won't even be able to see her considering you can't take the kennel/bag out from under the seat). This is from American Airlines, but all airlines I've flown with have been similar:

Movement of Pets During Flight

Pets must stay in their closed and/or zipped kennels under the seat in front of you at all times. Pets may not be removed from their kennel/container at any time while onboard the aircraft.