Easing a puppy into flying?

[GreatLakesFlying]

May and June were tough months here as we said goodbye to two of our dogs. They were 17 and 15 year old respectively. They had good and fun lives and when they got too to enjoy a good quality of life, it was time to offer them our last full measure of love.

When we met a rescue puppy last night, we knew we were ready to bring her home. She's a 9-week old Labrador mix (emphasis on the "mix" part), and I am already making plans to fly with her all over the place.

So, how do you ease a puppy into flying? Line up treats from the FBO office to the apron, up the wing, and into the cabin? Is ear protection essential or a gimmick? How do you manage her reaction to the engine starting for the first time?

(In the photo below, our new puppy Mina rests in her crate, under the watchful eye of Martin the Plott Hound).

 

[1RTK1]

Don't know how to ease a puppy into flying except just doing it, but that dog on the couch looks mighty comfortable

 

[eman1200]

I don't know from experience but maybe bring the puppy to a local field where u can get up close and personal with planes in operation? just get them used to some extra noise.....

 

[Shawn]

Get them used to traveling in the car and note their sensitivity to loud continuos noises.

My pup loves the car and plane, but hates the noise.

 

[Challenged]

My dog will tolerate flying, but that's about it. Usually he'll lay down in the co-pilot seat and just stare at me the entire flight, anxiously waiting for us to land.

 

[wrbix]

My labs joyfully jump into the plane (via the Grumman baggage door - not an easy task at 70-80 pounds) seemingly because they know they’re about to go somewhere.All about the adventure for them. First flight or two we had to do boarding instructions.
We use 4-Paws brand hearing protection..... someone will be along shortly to say it doesn’t help, but why not give your best friend every possible advantage?
I’ve flown a few PnP dog flights and never had a pooch react negatively.

 

[Ted]

My normal version of easing them into flying is putting 40 of them into the MU-2 at once.

Don't worry about it too much. Dogs either like it or they don't. Most like it fine. My greyhound loves it, he flies with us sometimes. The rottie and akita I used to have hated it. Of the 2,500 dogs I've flown, very few have objected.

 

[Zeldman]

I was doing a charter once, flying mom, dad and the dog into town. The dog was howling the entire time in the air. The tower guys got a good laugh.

 

[texasclouds]

I was doing a charter once, flying mom, dad and the dog into town. The dog was howling the entire time in the air. The tower guys got a good laugh.

LOL!

 

[Oblivion]

I've only taken my now-14-year-old lab once (well, twice counting the there and back, about 2.5 hrs each) back when she was about 2. No acclimation needed - most labs are kind of cool that way. I worried about her ears, but she never seemed upset (no panting, etc). Probably should have done a short hop before that XC to test it out, but I had pretty good faith in her not caring - she already loved to ride in my convertible. I did use a harness for her (same as I used in my car). She was in the back of a 172.

That's a cutie you've got there. Very sorry about your recent losses. I lost my first cat (she was also on that flight - less thrilled, but managed) 3 years ago today. The FB "memories" yesterday and today have been brutal. Blue skies!

 

[MooneyDriver78]

I would start with a short flight around the practice area. If its ok with car, probably be ok with the plane.

 

[Ted]

I would start with a short flight around the practice area. If its ok with car, probably be ok with the plane.

Typical short first flight around the practice area for me:

 

[Grum.Man]

I put a pup in the back of the Grumman once in it's kennel with a blanket over it. It howled a lot but didn't seem afraid when it got out. I think the blanket may help with some of their anxiety .

 

[RudyP]

My normal version of easing them into flying is putting 40 of them into the MU-2 at once.

Don't worry about it too much. Dogs either like it or they don't. Most like it fine. My greyhound loves it, he flies with us sometimes. The rottie and akita I used to have hated it. Of the 2,500 dogs I've flown, very few have objected.

This. I don’t know that there is much training you can do. Our dog is perfectly happy flying but doesn’t care much for car rides (she will come along and doesn’t complain once in but isnt thrilled to do it). Just try it and see how she does.

Good idea to not have a huge trip planned for the first time in case it doesn’t go well..

 

[Ted]

Good idea to not have a huge trip planned for the first time in case it doesn’t go well..

This is why I have a requirement that they all be in crates or have human handlers.

Really it's not usually an issue, but you don't have any control over whether or not your dog will like it.

 

[RudyP]

Especially with 40 dogs!

Yes, I would suggest two humans (one to fly and one to manage the pup) for the first flight!

 

[James331]

Have him on someone’s lap, I flew to pick mine up and right after liftoff on his flight home he just went to sleep.

 

[JCranford]

My pibble likes flying ok. The new pup is going to take his first ride Saturday.

 

[Hank S]

Dogs that ride well in cars usually handle planes well, too. Start with short flights--my dog went around the pattern a couple of times about 6 months old, and has gone with us up to 3 hour legs. He sleeps a lot . . . . But functions well as a touchdown alarm, he yips when the wheels chirp. Sometimes he will yip when the gear goes down.

Break him in to the experience slowly, and you should enjoy many great flights together in the future!

 

[murphey]

I took mine taxiing around the airport. He's not fond of car rides over 30 min, and wasn't fond of the taxi ride, either. Why, with all the PnP dogs I've flown who loved the flight (or slept thru it), did I get a dog who just wants to stay home and sleep or else go to doggie daycare?

*sigh*

*sheesh*

 

[MooneyDriver78]

This is why I have a requirement that they all be in crates or have human handlers.

Really it's not usually an issue, but you don't have any control over whether or not your dog will like it.

Not entirely true, you can give them meds to calm them down, common on commercial flights.

 

[cowman]

You just have to go and hope he does ok. I'd start with a crate... actually I don't fly dogs without one at all but some people do.

Mine cried in surprise our first time out on rotation. After initial climbout I looked back to check on him and he'd gone to sleep in that that short timespan. I'm not sure our dogs enjoy flying but they're ok with it and voluntarily get in.

 

[Ted]

Not entirely true, you can give them meds to calm them down, common on commercial flights.

I’m talking about without meds. If you medicate your dog to make it like flying then it doesn’t really like flying, does it?

 

[Magnus P.IFR]

We use cotton balls in the ears. Vet said they can’t get stuck or lost and ours seems to be okay with it. More we fly with her the more she relaxes.

 

[MooneyDriver78]

I’m talking about without meds. If you medicate your dog to make it like flying then it doesn’t really like flying, does it?

You’re not making it like flying, you are making it tolerable without stressing the dog. I assume we’re talking trips, if going for a $100 hamburger, leave the dog behind.

 

[Sinistar]

I started by bringing the puppy to the airport when running errands, etc. He is good in the car, loves the windows down when going slow and just curls up when at highway speeds. First flight was a 30min flight with wife and dog in back (yes!!!) and me and daughter up front. We use a short leash, have it through the rear seatbelt so no way he can reach the front. He looks at us kinda funny and still sits up mostly (4 flights total). On the longest flight he did lay down for part of the cruise. He doesn't like two things: Nosing it down (slight negative G) and takeoff when the engine noise gets really loud. I don't think he cares for the run up either. I wish we would have started him even a bit earlier. At 8 months I am not comfortable yet with him in the back seat by himself. I think I am going to start getting him up in the backseat while in the hangar to just get him comfortable back there. He wants to be with his pack and does so even if he isn't comfortable. Still looking for some type of ear protection.

Worst experience was two weekends ago. We flew to a different airport and we were out of the plane. Its a kind a quiet airport. I was walking Cosmo before we were to hop back in the plane. A Beechjet taxies up. The dog freezes in sheer terror AND EAR PAIN! I put his ear flaps over his ears and then my hands over his ears...he just looked up at me like: "Thanks man and that hurts!". Little did he realize how much my ears were hurting. He was so frozen I couldn't get him to move. Not his favorite airport experience. I am guessing supersonic prop tips (185's, warbirds, etc) would also be just pure evil to a dog.