I live overseas with my French Griffon called Bracken. I am due to
return to the UK soon and will fly Bracken home with me (under the
PETS scheme), however, I am worried about the plane journey of 7 hours
for Bracken. I have a friend who is also returning to the UK around
the same time. Bracken is best friends with her dog. Would the trip
be less stressful for Bracken if both dogs were on the same flight or
would it not make any difference? I am in more of a panic about this
than relocating to the UK after 18 years overseas!
Thanks,
Isobel Salmond
I don't know whether having another dog nearby would make any difference. I assume that they will be in crates in the hold of the plane. However, we have flown our two jack russells up and down to Glasgow 3 or 4 times and they have emerged from their crates each time with waggy tails and pleased to see everyone. We have used Stansted, London City, Gatwick, Glasgow and Prestwick airports and the BA staff there could not have been more helpful or careful in attending to the dogs. We have not had to put the dogs in their crates until right before they need to go onto the 'planes and we have had priority treatment and everyone made a lot of fuss of the dogs. What we have done beforehand is to get them used to their crates - we got them to sleep in them at night having first of all encourage them in with treats and toys. They travelled with a piece of well used vetbed fleece on the floor of the crate so that they smelt familiar. Admittedly the Glasgow flight is only an hour and a bit compared with 7 hours, but I also have a friend who relocated to Australia with two labs who were also fine at the other end. We did not feed our dogs before they flew to try and avoid them being sick en route and they never have been. I assume you have all the information about the size of travelling crate etc. but BA used to have a good link to this on their site. It is really important to make sure the crate is the right size for your dog and is secure. Airlines may refuse to transport your dog if the crate is too big or small. Good luck.
ReplyDeleteOur two dogs travelled to Malta together in one airline crate, but they had lived together for a number of years so we were absolutely sure they would gain comfort from each other and not fight. If you are sure they are good friends, even in a confined space, then yes, I do think it could help. It must be quite stressful to be crated in a dark, noisy hold. Having a pal to provide comfort and reassurance would surely help. But like I say, only if you are sure they really are good pals and would share a bed etc... if no bother.
ReplyDeleteIf you do crate them together, remember to select a larger crate. The airline should give the specifications of the space that must be given for the two dogs. And remember not to sedate them in any way before the trip. It is not helpful to the dog and some airlines won't let a dog travel if they suspect it might have been sedated.
Also be careful not to feed them directly before the flight. And try to get them toileted before you get to the airport. The last thing they will want to do is spend a 7 hour flight in a crate of sick or poop.
Are both dogs used to being in a crate? If not, buy the crate way in advance and get the dogs used to being crated. There is a good way to do this and a bad way so do some research on crate training first. The crate must be seen as a safe place to go, not a place of punishment or a scary place where the door slams shut. A crate should be a happy safe den for the dog. Visit www.dfordog.co.uk/forums if you want to chat about it with people who are full of helpful advice on all sorts of doggie related things, or to read previous posts about crate training.
Good luck and don't worry. Although I do think that yes this 7 hour journey will be stressful to the dogs, they will soon forget as soon as they see you again.
Good advice indeed. I am a vet who runs a pet shipper in UK, so I am afraid that we cant fly pets back into UK. The advice you have is great, get the crate before hand, spray it with DAP spray and when it is at your house fill it with all doggie things and treats so that your dog learns to like the crate. However on flight date, there must be nothing in the crate other than a bowl for water and some bedding. Also correct is the fact that you must not sedate dogs. A study by a group of vets in USA showed that half of the doggy deaths during flights were due to the inconsistencies of how the sedative worked. Having said that problems with pets flying are very rare indeed.
ReplyDeleteWe fly pets from UK to New Zealand and the comments we get from clients is almost always positive. Dogs tend to see their mums or dads and then forget about the whole experience and just want a fuss and are pleased to be back with someone they know.
This journey is not going to rank as the best 7 hours in your dog's life, but your dog (and you!) will get through it just fine.
Have a safe journey.
www.petairuk.com