Suggestions on Picking up pup from airport

[Gumbo and Ashley]

Should I just reach in and remove the pup from the travel crate myself and comfort him or open the door and let him come out on his own? Maybe with some treats? Any other feedback for airport or the car ride home would be helpful. I don't want the pup to be stressed out or scared. Thanks

[Ginny Nightingale]

Great answer Jennifer--this is good advice as are the other answers.

[Laurie, Wally & Charlotte]

Congratulations on choosing Gumbo to join your family; he's a real cutie-pie! Have you considered flying out to Gumbo's breeder and picking him up there? That way, you would avoid the issues of getting him at the airport altogether, and, instead, bond with him right away and travel home with him in a soft-sided travel crate by your feet on the plane. Obviously, there are time and cost considerations associated with this, but perhaps it's something that you hadn't thought about yet.  

[Gumbo and Ashley]

I am actually looking at flights now. LOL... If im paying $350 to have Gumbo fly, why not spend another $100 so I can fly and get him? This may seem really petty, but I have alot of anxiety when it comes to interrupting other's peace and I just keep thinking, what if I get on the plane and Gumbo yells and screams for the 3 hour duration of the flight and I have people in the plane wanting to kill me? LOL.... I just know when I fly and there is a crying baby, I get really annoyed (even though it's nobody's fault and unavoidable), I keep picturing a yelping Gumbo and that is even worse sounding than a crying baby. Thoughts? I wonder how strict they are when the policy states you cannot take your pet out the cage while on the flight. Ever heard if they actually enforce it, and if I kept him on my lap but hidden by a blanket if anyone would say anything? maybe I'm totally over thinking all of this??

[Gumbo and Ashley]

I'm now tossing around the idea to fly and get Gumbo myself and have him in the cabin with me at my feet as carry on. This may seem really petty, but I have a lot of anxiety when it comes to interrupting other's peace and I just keep thinking, what if I get on the plane and Gumbo yells and screams for the 3 hour duration of the flight and I have people in the plane wanting to kill me? LOL.... I just know when I fly and there is a crying baby, I get really annoyed (even though it's nobody's fault and unavoidable), I keep picturing a yelping Gumbo and that is even worse sounding than a crying baby. Thoughts? I wonder how strict they are when the policy states you cannot take your pet out the cage while on the flight. Ever heard if they actually enforce it, and if I kept him on my lap but hidden by a blanket if anyone would say anything? maybe I'm totally over thinking all of this??

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[Ginny Nightingale]

Greta answers--and I agree that the dog will probably be too nervous/upset/ carsick to eat any treats at that point.

A puppy will love whomever takes him out of that crate! Instant bonding! But as others have said, be in a secure location-a pup this young will not bolt but will most likely melt into your arms--have a leash in a loop so that you can slip it over the neck if he does not have a collar --but he should have a collar on.  Be sure the collar is not too loose so that he does not twist and slip out of it--that is important when you finally reach a place where you can put him down...as others have said, choose carefully.

Most people open the crate and let the pup come out and then carry him out of the airport and hold him in the car (If someone else is driving) A pup this small is easy to hold and carry but keep the leash in your hand just in case.... If you have a driver, sit in the backseat just in case there is a fender bender--I always worry about those pesky airbags--what happens to a little pup on your lap if one goes off?? 

[Jess & Stewart]

I bought a soft sided carrier that you placed on the seat and it hooked into the seatbeat to hold it, to put Stew in for the car ride home. I didn't want to hold him as the carrier was more secure.My mom drove, I sat in the back next to the carrier. We said goodbye to the breeder, placed him in the carrier with his snuggle puppy and off we went. Stew screamed for about 5 minutes, I put my fingers alongside the carrier and he snuggled on top of the puppy and fell asleep. To this day, he hops right in a car, sits down so I can buckle his leash in the seatbelt then lays down and goes to sleep!