Flying with your doodle

[Eileen Ross and Cody]

Has any one flown with their big doodle? My husband and I need to fly cross country and will be gone for a month. We would like to take our BIG boy with us. We cannot drive. Any hints or advice?
Thanks

[Murph and Me]

Look up emotion support dogs. My niece did it with her Rottweiler. Got a seat for the dog and had a lovely flight

[Kaitlin and Ludo]

You really should only use emotional support dogs if you have a true mental health need. While I would LOVE to fly with my Ludo, the growing number of not-truly-needed emotional support dogs is not a great thing-- it devalues the use of them for people who truly need them.  If I can't drive there, and I certainly wouldn't fly Ludo in cargo (he was shipped to me in cargo and I will never do it again), then he really should stay home.

I hope someday some airline will let people buy seats for well-behaved dogs, but I don't believe that labeling your dog an emotional support dog, just so they can fly, is the way to go.

[DonMarie and Picco]

Do they really let them fly in the seat?  I thought if they didn't fit under the seat then baggage, even service dogs.

[Eileen Ross and Cody]

No I would not try to take Cody as an emotional support dog. Besides he would never fit in the seats as he is a really big doodle. We usually leave him at the Doogy Day Care which has great boarding but never more than 11 days. A month just seemed so long.

[Kaitlin and Ludo]

I can absolutely sympathize and wish I had some thoughts or advice-- I've only ever left Ludo for 8 days which already felt like too much, I feel for you.

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

It is always difficult to leave them behind.  Personally, I could never put either of my doods in baggage especially at going into the warmest months of the year.  It is very traumatic for them to be kenneled in the "hole" and too many times the outcome is not great.  I think I would find someone to come in and stay with him in your home, or use a reliable boarding place.  You might check for other DK members here in your city who are willing to pet sit for you.  I wish you luck.  

[Leslie J]

How difficult to be separated for so long! I have a friend who used dogvacay when she traveled. She liked it because he was able to stay in a private home.
https://dogvacay.com/how-it-works

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I do not envy the position you are in. I would be so torn, but that said, I would never fly my dogs in cargo EVER. I have seen how they handle luggage and with the heat now, I just couldn't do it. I also don't know if I could leave my dogs for a month. I will second the DogVacay. I found a great dog sitter who stays in our house when we are gone.

[charlotte bednarsh]

Hi,

This is such a tough decision, but I would never let my doodle fly in the cargo area, nor would I fly it as an emotional support dog.  Probably it would be best if you could find a good, reliable pet sitter to stay with your fur baby while you are gone.  I recently did this when I flew to San Diego and it worked out very well.