Puppy air transport safe?

[Roy]

Hi everyone,

I'm thinking about getting a 9 week old goldendoodle from a breeder in Indianapolis and I'm located in San Francisco. The breeder will ship the pup in a dog crate using Delta Airlines I believe. Is it 100% safe to ship pups through air? I just want to be sure it's safe to do.

Thank you!

[Kaitee and Orwell]

I know a lot of people do this and I have not heard of any problems. It's safe, but the pup may be tired/in an altered state than they normally are depending on how they react to traveling.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Very few things in the world are 100% safe, lol. There have been tragedies with dogs being flown in cargo, do a Google search. There have also been a couple of DK members over the years who had very harrowing experiences with flights delayed or cancelled due to weather, I'll see if I can find you a link. We even had one case where the airlines mixed up two puppies.

I know a lot of people do this, but I personally wouldn't even consider it. For one thing, it's simply not the best way for a puppy to be introduced to his new life. Hard enough to be taken from your mother and your litter, it's a lot easier to be taken in the arms of the person with whom you will be living for the next 12-15 years than to be in a crate in an airport and then in the cargo hold of a plane for hours. But more importantly, when I'm going to be bringing a living being into my home to live with me for the next 12-15 years, I want to see the place he comes from, and meet his parents and his breeder face to face before making such a huge life decision. There have to be reputable breeders closer to you, but if not, I'd fly to pick up my puppy in person and bring him back in the passenger compartment of the plane.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

30 pages worth of panic, with all of DK worried about a puppy en route to his new home. After reading through this, it's easy to see why many breeders will not ship puppies: 

http://www.doodlekisses.com/forum/topics/weather-putting-a-damper-o...

There's an excellent goldendoodle breeder who offers concierge service; for an additional fee, she will personally fly with your puppy and hand deliver him to you. 

[Sara]

Ok, I'm a rational person, but even knowing that scenario happened one year ago, my heart was RACING as I read through the pages! Holy cow! I would've been freaking out if it was happening real-time! Lol. Poor Larry! Thanks for the interesting link.

[Laurie, Wally & Charlotte]

Oh, boy -- Many of us will never forget that night.  It was a roller coaster of worries and problems.

I'm with you, Karen. I flew out to pick up both of my puppies, and I wouldn't do it any other way. When my daughter got her puppy, a friend of the breeder flew with the puppy and my daughter met them at the airport.

[BG and Gavin]

OMD that was a nightmare!

[Carol and Banjo]

I can't believe I MISSED this last February!         The only way I would transport a pup by airline would be in a carrier, in the cabin with me.   

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

OMD what a day and night that was!!  Knowing what I know now, I would NEVER fly a pup or a dog in cargo.  I would fly to pick the little one up and carry it back on the plane with me, or drive. If my dog had to be in cargo, it would be an extra large crate and I'd be in it too :) 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

And Delta doesn't have the best track record. They lost a man's dog just two months ago. They've had other mishaps in the past as well:

http://www.today.com/pets/man-searching-answers-after-dog-goes-miss...

[F, Calla & Luca]

Both my dogs flew to me but in the spring when the weather is a lot better. They were fine but mishaps can happen.

[Adina P]

Are you able to fly to the puppy and bring it home with you?

[Jolene, Sassparilla & Josie]

Up until I picked up my Sassparilla I had no issues but she changed my world of thinking.  I'm in southern California and decided to fly up myself to Washington and pick her up (conveniently my sister lives in there so we made it a long weekend).  My girl was 10 weeks when I got her and my intentions were to carry her on the plane but sadly her head reached the top of the carrier and they wouldn't allow it so against my better judgement I purchased a crate for under the planes belly.  Our last night together we decided we would place her in the crate and go in for a sit down dinner.  Much to my horror she screamed NOT howled but screamed and cried the entire time, we could here her as plane as day inside the restaurant.  Concerned about her behavior I called our emergency vet back home.  She wasn't too concerned and suggested I reach out to a local vet for something to calm her nerves.  Next morning on our way to the airport we stopped at a local vet and explained what happened.  The vet asked us to put her in the crate so they could witness it first hand.  WELL she immediately removed her from the crate and informed us she was having a panic attack and hyperventilating!  She said even with just a hour flight from SeaTac to LAX it could possibly kill her.  I was thankful she was brutally honest and didn't try to force doggie downers on us regardless.  Lucky from me it was a two day drive, I cancelled my flight and rented a car and drove her home.  She is a great traveler by car!  She has separation anxiety so if that plays a role I'm not sure, I do know I can't crate her even at home which is fine by me.  I don't mean to scare you but sadly this is reality.  My niece flew home from back east one time and as they were all standing there waiting for their luggage the airlines carried out a crate with someones dog, once the woman stopped screaming all the passengers learned the dog had died during the flight.  My breeder offered the same service to deliver to the airport and ship her, I get choked up every time thinking what if!  We've been together for three years and I can't imagine life without her.

I know Indiana is a long way from SFO but I would recommend flying out to pick up the pup, you'll be glad you did. 

Another option, last resort there are travelers who if flying that route can transport for you as a carry on if the pup is small enough. I looked into it, but knowing I had vacation time and a sister I hardly ever see I waited the extra two weeks and went to get her myself. 

Good luck.