New puppy comin' - need advice!

**Dogmama** · 10-11-2006, 04:06 AM

Some might remember that I lost my dear, sweet Kati (German Shepherd) at 14 years old. After several weeks of intense grieving, my DH said "When we are supposed to get a new dog, it will appear."

The next day at work, a friend told me about some 2 week old pups that her sister-in-law's dog bred. I looked into them - EXACTLY WHAT I WANT. Both parents Czech imports with German obedience titles and previous pups that went to law enforcement and therapy dog organizations (read: stable temperment.) Expensive, but worth it. They are three weeks old & I can get my sweetie in five more weeks (counting...counting...counting...) My second love (after riding) is showing in obedience and agility.

Here is the issue. I'm in Tucson & the pup is in North Carolina. He/She (I get pick of the litter, but they're too young to temperment test, so we don't know yet) will be too big to fly inside of the airplane. So - they go as cargo

or, if I fly to NC & back, they go as baggage. The difference is:

Cargo gets processed differently and the time-in-cage could extend out to one hour longer, potentially 8-9 hours in the cage, with a 1 hour layover.

If I fly back, I would try to get an airline with a straight through flight (United - but I would not ship cargo on United for several reasons) and take Baby back as luggage. Flight: 4.5 hours, probably 5.5 in the cage, no layover. Cost: $400 each (DH would go), plus rental car & hotel.

Am I over the top? I'm thinking that airline people might treat the pup a little better if they know that they're being shipped as "baggage" which means that the owner is on the plane. It might be less traumatic for the pup to have a 4.5 hour straight through flight (think: dark room, humming engines = sleep) rather than a 8-9 hour flight, with a layover.

MY DH thinks I'm a tad nuts - but he supports whatever I do (one in a million!). What do you ladies think? Am I being ridiculous?

**Veronica** · 10-11-2006, 04:12 AM

If you can afford it, fly out! This is your baby.

V.

**Trek420** · 10-11-2006, 05:21 AM

Could you fly out, pick a pup, rent a car and drive back? You get bonding time with pup. I'd be hesitant to have my mutt in the luggage bin. It's dark and noisey ....

**KnottedYet** · 10-11-2006, 05:41 AM

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.

**Pedal Wench** · 10-11-2006, 05:42 AM

Since the pup comes from a long line of service dogs, could you get a waiver that indicates that he/she's a service pup in training so he/she could fly in the cabin with you? And, are you sure he/she would be too big to fly in the cabin? My little mastiff was still a little peanut when I got her at six weeks. She grew up to be about 175 lbs

**Veronica** · 10-11-2006, 05:45 AM

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** · 10-11-2006, 05:59 AM

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** · 10-11-2006, 06:00 AM

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.

**Nashville Mish** · 10-11-2006, 06:01 AM

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.

**KSH** · 10-11-2006, 06:01 AM

Am I over the top? I'm thinking that airline people might treat the pup a little better if they know that they're being shipped as "baggage" which means that the owner is on the plane. It might be less traumatic for the pup to have a 4.5 hour straight through flight (think: dark room, humming engines = sleep) rather than a 8-9 hour flight, with a layover.

You are NOT over the top!

There are too many stories of dogs dying due to being shipped from one state to another as cargo in planes.

Go get your baby and ensure that your doggie is taken care of. Also, pick the shortest flight you can... so there is less trama to the dog.

Congratulations!

**Bad JuJu** · 10-11-2006, 06:03 AM

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** · 10-11-2006, 06:09 AM

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** · 10-11-2006, 06:15 AM

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** · 10-11-2006, 06:27 AM

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** · 10-11-2006, 06:45 AM

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

Thread: New puppy comin' - need advice!

Thread Tools

Display

New puppy comin' - need advice!

Flying Pups

Just Curious - Thread Hijack

Posting Permissions