New puppy comin' - need advice!

[KnottedYet]

We've heard of some pretty traumatic doggie experiences with flights.

I like Trek's idea. If that won't work, then I like the idea of you flying out there so it's only a 4.5 hour event for the pup.

[Veronica]

The driving idea is nice, but isn't it like a three day drive or more from NC to AZ? Is that how you want to use your vacation time?

Then there is the whole hassle of finding places to sleep that are pup friendly.

I wonder if you could do a return trip first class and buy an extra ticket for the pup.

V.

[DDH]

I like the driving back idea, and the seeing if you can let them know the pup is service pup in training and see if they will allow it to fly with you.
If nothing else then the shortest flight possible is best if you can afford it.
It is very traumatic for a pup when it is first taken from it's mom and sibblings, so I would want to make the trip home the least stressful as possible.

I can't wait to see pictures of it. I love GS pups, they are my favorite.

[KnottedYet]

Man, I always underestimate driving times! Must mean I need to take some more road trips (with the bike, of course!).

When I drove cross-country with my dog I had no problems with hotels.

Somewhere there was a list of hotels that are dog friendly, and most just wanted $10 extra. One hotel chain (La Quinta?) even offered to make advance reservations for the dog and I for the hotel nearest our next night-stop. That was very convenient.

Dog and I got the "smoking" rooms, but that was fine.

Is the pup going to be a service dog? (do you have the paperwork, etc?) ADA laws cover service dogs, but dogs-in-training can be refused access. Though that doesn't happen much.

[Trek420]

KnottedYet "Somewhere there was a list of hotels that are dog friendly, and most just wanted $10 extra. One hotel chain (La Quinta?) even offered to make advance reservations for the dog and I for the hotel nearest our next night-stop. That was very convenient."

www.traveldog.com

congrats on your new baby!

[Veronica]

Trek why do your quotes always look different from everyone else's? Does your browser not show the quote button?

I know mine doesn't show the spell check button.

V.

[KnottedYet]

Yeah, Trek, why is that? Are you running OS X Tiger? I am, and my "quotes" look like the PC'ers'. Are you using Safari or something else?

(mmmm, Mac talk. I feel so technical... )

Edit: what spell check button?

[Pedal Wench]

AAA has a book of pet-friendly hotels all across the country. I called them and they shipped it to me for free

[Bikingmomof3]

Yeah, Trek, why is that? Are you running OS X Tiger? I am, and my "quotes" look like the PC'ers'. Are you using Safari or something else?

(mmmm, Mac talk. I feel so technical... )

Edit: what spell check button?

Still hijacking the thread-only because I am relieved to not be the only one without a spell checkl button. That should hopefully explain many of my typos to others.

Now back to puppy adoption!

[Nashville Mish]

Hi,

Just wanted to post my two cents worth. I had to fly my two dogs from Honolulu to Los Angeles last year. I have a Japanese Spitz female, and an American Eskimo/Japanses Spitz mix male. Both weigh roughly 30 lbs. I tried to post a pic but it would not upload..arhhh. The flight and ground time was roughly 5 hours in the cage for them, and they had to fly as cargo in the aircraft. I made sure to tell the stewardess and to have her tell the captain about their special cargo. They let me know as soon as they were on board and safe. I was a wreck the entire flight. As soon as we landed I rushed to baggage claim. My babies did fine but once they saw me the demanded to be let out of their cages. They did well, but from Los Angeles I decided to drive to New Olreans, our ultimate destination. I'm giving BIG kudos to La Quinta hotel. They accept pets and are located in very convenient areas. They also were life savers to us when Hurricane Katrina came along and the three of us had to evacuate. Once again La Qunita came through and we ended up safe and sound in Birmingham during the storm. So if you decide to take a nice leisurely drive home with your new baby look into staying at La Quinta and enjoy the new baby. Good Luck.

[Bad JuJu]

Jeez, I hate to think of an 8-week pup alone in a crate for that long, whether it's 5 hours or 9 hours. Have you explored all the possibilities of taking baby in the cabin with you? Failing that, I'd give serious consideration to the road-trip-home idea. There are several hotel chains now that accept dogs in their rooms, and as Trek420 said, it would be a great opportunity to bond with your new best friend.

[Trek420]

Veronica "Then there is the whole hassle of finding places to sleep that are pup friendly."

That's not hard to do at all.

Mae the wonder dog and my ex (back in the day when she wasn't and ex) I did a trip in the Southwest, I took 3 books and it was very serendiptious.

We'd pick a town to head for I would call right from the road and check their "dog policy".

I have the books at home and I can even send them to you though they might not be up to date. One I got for free simply by calling AAA, ordered the other two.

There was even one hotel that we called, they said it was ok, we arrived and they said "oh, you talked to so and so, he's new, we don't take dogs" I was headed back to the car when the manager followed me out, saw Mae-the-wonder dog and changed her mind when she saw the cute shelter-mutt. And this was before she'd been obedience trained.

So if you want a road trip with the pup, very do-able.