Should I Bring Puppy Home by Car or by Airplane?

bradford · #1 06-22-2009, 11:48 AM

I am getting a puppy near the end of July. It will be close to 12 weeks old by that time (My apartment situation won't allow me to have a pet until then), and I was wondering if I should bring the puppy home by car or by plane? I live in Colorado and the breeder lives in Missouri, so traveling costs - plane ticket v. car rental - are about the same. Any thoughts on what is better for the puppy? Thanks.

mueltrain · #2 06-22-2009, 12:59 PM

I am tempted to say by car simply because it forces you to go in person to the breeder before you take home your pet , which will allow you to see the parents and make sure that it seems like a reputable breeder. However if you have faith in the breeder i think the pup would probably do fine by plane... Alternatively im sure you could find many reputable breeders in colorado.

djheitz · #3 06-22-2009, 01:05 PM

Unless I could bring the puppy into the passenger cabin, I wouldn't even consider flying.
Just my opinion - I've never done it

.

Mega's Mom · #4 06-22-2009, 01:33 PM

July? Unless you are going to fly the puppy in the cabin with you, I'm not even sure airlines will allow the pup to fly as cargo in the summer.

Sugarcain · #5 06-22-2009, 01:35 PM

If it were me, it would definitely be car, not plane. I have nothing against flying at all, just that I would want him to be with me, and in a plane it may not be possible.

LILYLARUE · #6 06-22-2009, 02:24 PM

I would choose by car. The cargo of a plane is an extremely scary place, especially to a puppy. Unless you can afford that new Doggy Airline, then car is the safest place for a puppy.

Cali Koa · #7 06-22-2009, 02:29 PM

Mega's mom has a good point. The airlines won't fly pets in the cargo if the temp is too high. You might run into delays, check the airline's website. Just my opinion but if you have the option I'd think driving would be less traumatic for the pup. Unless of course you are taking him in the cabin with you. Might be a long, embarrassing flight for you if he gets noisy, but I'm sure he'd be ok with you there with him.

bradford · #8 06-22-2009, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cali Koa

Mega's mom has a good point. The airlines won't fly pets in the cargo if the temp is too high. You might run into delays, check the airline's website. Just my opinion but if you have the option I'd think driving would be less traumatic for the pup. Unless of course you are taking him in the cabin with you. Might be a long, embarrassing flight for you if he gets noisy, but I'm sure he'd be ok with you there with him.

Yeah, I was considering bringing him in the cabin with me. I checked the bigger airlines, and while they do allow puppies to ride in the cargo bay to most major cities if the temperature is under 85 degrees Fahrenheit, I thought the cabin would be much more comfortable for him. But, he can only ride if he fits under the seat, and I'm uncertain of whether he would be too big or if he would be okay with the change in cabin pressure.

I thought the car ride sounded like a great idea, too. But, it's about a 10-14 hour drive (depending on my speed), and I wasn't sure if a puppy would be okay with that long of a drive, even with frequent bathroom breaks.

I agree that it would be more convenient to find a breeder in Colorado, but none that I've found had any recent litters or had planned to have any this summer or fall. So, I figured that Missouri, where my parents live, would be the next best choice.

NJBoxermom · #9 06-22-2009, 04:14 PM

and a road trip is more fun!

Cali Koa · #10 06-22-2009, 06:20 PM

If you do drive, it would be easier with more than one person. We had Koa in a crate in the backseat and as soon as we started to drive away, he started to howl, at the top of his lungs. As soon as I sat in the backseat beside his crate, he stopped and went to sleep. Plus the second person can watch to see if he's getting antsy for a potty break.