by Bailey Coldwell
As more and more puppy families search for the perfect, reputable breeder, more and more people are flying with the puppy to bring them to their new homes. I am going to share some tips to help make the travel day go as smoothly as possible, with as little turbulence as possible.
The first step in the process is researching the best flights for you and your puppy. You will want to educate yourself on the specific airline that you choose. Be aware that different airlines have different rules regarding traveling with pets. Many require a pet fee. You will also want to make sure that the measurements of your pet carrier is appropriate for the guidelines on that specific airline. And, of course, you want to make sure that the puppy is not squished in the carrier. Talk to the breeder about how big the puppy will be and coordinate a good travel day/time.
When choosing your flight and luggage, you will also want to be mindful of the items you will want/need for your puppy. When I am packing my carry on bag with me, here are the items I tend to bring:
a soft sided carrier that is within the size requirements for that specific airline company.
a portion of the exact food that the breeder has been feeding the puppy. I plan for a little bit extra in case of delays or cancellations of flights.
a soft toy that does not have a squeaker in it, as well as a hard toy.
a towel in the bottom of the carrier in case of accidents and for comfort to the puppy. If possible, send one to the breeder so they can rub the fabric on the litter mates and the pup’s mom to help carry their scent. If your puppy has been trained on pee pads, don’t put any pee pads in the bottom of the carrier because we don’t want the puppy to pee in their carriers.
a portable water bowl for the puppy. I like the water bowls that I can clip onto a backpack.
collar and leash for the puppy. Preferably, have a name tag and contact information attached to the pup’s collar.
a clean up kit that might include: pee pads, wipes, poop bags, paper towels, and hand sanitizer.
bring records of the current vaccinations that the puppy has had.
any medication that the puppy is on.
proof of animal reservation verification and pet fee receipt.
an easy treat on the stomach, that is slightly more valuable than kibble. You can choose a treat based on the type of protein that the puppy has been eating for their food. For example, if the main protein in the pup’s kibble is chicken, the puppy will likely not have an allergy to chicken. Therefore, if you get a meat-based treat, get one with chicken. You could also bring treats that are less likely to upset the pup’s stomach such as plain cheerios.
Open communication with the breeder beforehand will help set you up for success. Before I traveled with my puppy on the plane, I sent the airline-approved carrier to the person who had the puppy. This way, the breeder had a chance to get the puppy used to the carrier before the big trip in the plane. They worked on rewarding the puppy for good behaviors while being in the carrier. I would also encourage the breeder not to feed the puppy a meal before traveling. If the puppy has a morning flight, delay any meal that day. If the puppy has an afternoon or evening ride, encourage the breeder to feed the puppy breakfast earlier than normal. This will help prevent the puppy from needing to potty on the plane and it will help increase the chances of the puppy taking kibble from you. Once you do get the puppy, feel free to offer the puppy pieces of kibble to encourage good behaviors and form a good relationship with you. The same is true for water. It is okay for the puppy to have small sips of water, but we will want to prevent huge gulps before the flight. If you have a long travel day ahead for your puppy, it would be ideal for the breeder to introduce a pee pad to your puppy, as you will need to bring and use them during the day.
If possible, I plan to get to the airport slightly earlier than you need. You don’t want to be there for many hours waiting for the plane, but you also don’t want to be running to board the plane. When first doing the puppy handoff, of course, feel free to say hi to the puppy. I would try to find a family restroom where you can put a few pee pads on the floor, put the puppy on a leash, and take them out of the carrier for a few minutes. Don’t force contact the entire time. Talk in a casual-happy tone and allow your puppy to potty on the pee pads if needed. We want to use the potty pads because we don’t want the puppy walking on the ground where other stranger dogs have been until they are fully vaccinated. Avoid the animal relief spots provided by the airport, at all costs, as these are the perfect spots for disease to spread.
When traveling with a new puppy, you will want to plan accordingly with how often to give your puppy a chance to potty. Assuming we are going to limit food and water, plus our puppy will be in a small space, they should be okay with 2 hour increments between potty breaks. If your flight is longer than that, you can bring your puppy and carrier into the bathroom on the airplane and put a pee pad on the floor.
In regards to getting the puppy through security, just follow their guidelines. When I traveled with a small puppy, they asked me to take the puppy out of the carrier and hold the puppy as I walked through. The carrier and all of the puppy belongings went through the conveyor belt. As soon as we were done, I put the puppy back into the carrier and headed to my gate.
While sitting and waiting at the gate, you can put your fingers through the top and pet the puppy, offer a hard or soft toy, and offer a few pieces of kibble as you wait. It is best to not allow the puppy to say hi to other people. I like to find a place to wait away from the large group of people waiting to board. It will already be an overwhelming day for you and your puppy. Don’t put extra pressure on either of you by trying to perform greetings.
When you get on the plane, just make yourselves comfortable. Put the carrier on the floor in between your legs/under the seat in front of you. When possible, try to be rewarding the puppy for good behaviors. Then, just try to sit back and enjoy your flight.
Throughout the travel day, there is no way to avoid exposure to new sounds, smells, and sights. Try to be mindful of sudden triggers that might confuse/scare your puppy and reward them before they react. Remember, rewarding can be giving the puppy a treat, toy, a pet, or praise. Here are a few examples of where you want to reward your puppy to upon exposure:
other dogs barking
people running by you
movements of escalators and elevators that you are on (always keep puppy in the carrier)
loudspeaker at the airport and in the airplane
changes in the airplane environment, such as take-off, landing, beeping, and turbulence.
Remember that your own energy can be easily transferred to the puppy. If you are stressed or anxious, your puppy is more likely to feel these ways as well. Take deep breaths, smile, and talk happily to the puppy. Something that helps me is knowing that I will never see these people again. Of course, we want to help our pups succeed, but if they are less than perfect, it will be okay. It is only one day of your life.
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