Flying with puppy?!

[Bigpoodleperson]

I dont know what to do! I will be flying out to the breeders to get my puppy, and then flying him home with me. He will be in the cabin with me. I need some advice! The direct flights are way more expensive then the 1 layover flights. The layover flight has a better time schedule for me then the direct flights. Plus, I can use the local airport for the layover one then having to drive into Chicago. On the way back though there is a half hour layover with the puppy (after about an hour and a half flight already). What should I do?!

Are you allowed to go out to walk the dog between flights? No way he can hold it for 5+ hours total without going (right?). There will be no time for a potty break between the flights. The other layover is 3 hours. I would rather just take the short one and get home. Whats the best way to fly with a puppy anyways? Ahhh!!! Never done this before! Thanks!!

 

[momto8]

will you be flying the puppy in the cabin or cargo? I am researching this at the moment since my plan is to fly out and pick my puppy up ( after he is born that is lol) and i plan to fly him back in the cabin with me and i believe i can get him out at layovers to potty

*sorry just went back and reread your post saying you'd have him in the cabin! i believe you can get the puppy out at your layovers as long as you make sure you are on your next flight on time!

 

[JessLough]

I believe you can potty them but I am not sure. Hopefully Fran sees this, she's flown a few times with romeo

 

[CaliTerp07]

Half hour is cutting it REALLY close to even make the connecting flight. If the first one is delayed at all, you'll miss your connection entirely (you generally have to be boarded 15 minutes before takeoff).

You can go out and walk the dog between flights, but you'll have to go out and back through security. I've done it before when I missed a flight and the next one wasn't for 8+ hours. That's probably your best option though. With 3 hours, you'll have enough time to go outside, find a potty spot, do a short walk to stretch legs, and make it back to the terminal.

 

[MyLilly1]

My dad is a Capt. Pilot for Delta...I can't speak for the other airlines but I know that Delta will allow you to walk the dog out by the tarmack..I've even seen flight attendents doing it LOL

 

[Bigpoodleperson]

Thanks guys!! I called the airline and spoke to a really helpful lady. I think I will book the 3 hour layover flight. She said that I can go out and walk the dog around between flights, I just have to go back through security. She said that Denver actually has a pet potty area. I feel better about this. The crate height limit is only 10", and the puppy must comfortably stand in it. IDK if the puppy can fully stand, but hopefully they will let us through. Phew! Any other tips/help would be great! Thanks!

 

[bitme]

I flew from Indiana to Dallas with my pup. Took a small kennel with me on the way over to evaluate the litter and brought Gnash back with me in the cabin. A kitty kennel is ok also, if I recall correct I paid approx $100 to bring Gnash back with me on American Airline. Key things to take,

1. Kennel
2. Small collar
3. light line (4-6 foot is good)
4. A small towel folded in kennel bottom (1-2 more in your back pack)
5. Unless testing for food drive, do not feed puppy at the breeders place. Feed when you get home.

Hope you have a wonderful experience bringing pup home.

 

[momto8]

I flew from Indiana to Dallas with my pup. Took a small kennel with me on the way over to evaluate the litter and brought Gnash back with me in the cabin. A kitty kennel is ok also, if I recall correct I paid approx $100 to bring Gnash back with me on American Airline. Key things to take,

1. Kennel
2. Small collar
3. light line (4-6 foot is good)
4. A small towel folded in kennel bottom (1-2 more in your back pack)
5. Unless testing for food drive, do not feed puppy at the breeders place. Feed when you get home.

Hope you have a wonderful experience bringing pup home.

how much space does american airlines allow for the kennel?

 

[stardogs]

Keep in mind that parvo season is starting early this year - our vet has already seen waaaay more cases than normal - I'm not sure I'd be pottying my puppy in the dog area, but would look into puppy pads or similar instead.

 

[lizzybeth727]

I flew Keegan home from the breeder's when I got him.

What airline are you flying?

When I booked my flight with Keegan, I couldn't book it online since I had a pet, so I had to call the airline. I had checked out the flights ahead of time to get an idea of what I wanted, and there were no direct flights. But when I called the airline, they were able to get me on a direct flight no problem; I'm still not sure how that happened, LOL.

The direct flight was right around 3 hours, I think, so he ended up being in the carrier for close to four hours. I was prepared with an extra towel in the carrier that I could throw away if he peed on it, and some potty pads in my carry on to give him a chance to potty in the bathroom before we boarded the plane. We ended up not having time to go to the bathroom before boarding, but he slept the whole time and didn't even make a peep.

Anyway, I did prefer the direct flight. I thought - and was right, apparently - that even a little puppy is likely to sleep for 3 hours straight, but I don't think he would've slept if we'd have gotten off the plane and boarded another. If he woke up, he'd probably have to potty, and you'd have to give yourself a long layover to get outside to let your puppy potty. I would NOT rely on being able to walk your puppy on the tarmak, you should plan to take him out and back through security if you have to make a potty break.

Fran does have an excellent thread on here somewhere about flying with your dog, you should do a search for it. She wrote it before I got Keegan, which would be before December 2010, that may help you find it.

 

[Bigpoodleperson]

I remember a Long time ago reading about Frans flying post. Ill look it up. I had thought about not wanting to use the dog potty area. I will have to walk him somewhere though. The airline is Frontier. It is 75$ to fly with a pet. The crate size I have to get (or maximum size) is 24"L, 15.5"W, 10"H. Im just so worried about the potty thing. Thanks.

 

[lizzybeth727]

If I remember right, Frontier was a particularly pet-friendly airline.

Keep us posted!

 

[Grab]

I think I'd do a direct flight, if possible. If not, I'd take the one with the shortest layover and use a potty pad.

I've only flown with a cat, thus far. She made the three hour flight (with an hour at the airport before) plus what ended up being a two hour drive home, due to car troubles, without a single piddle, lol

 

[bitme]

how much space does american airlines allow for the kennel?

The "carry on" size regulations apply, my kennel was smaller than the total allowed size. I had the kennel in overhead storage on the way over and in foot space on the way back (with pup inside), took him out for a while and got oohhs and ahhs from the passengers, everyone wanted to hold him!