Just wondered if anyone had ever had problems flying a pet over on the basis of their behaviour?

The fitness to fly certificate should be fine but could they reject a dog if they think it is trouble?

I am due to fly my dog out to Ontario next month to join my husband who is already there (yes he would rather the dog joins him first than me!).

She is a very badly behaved Dobermann who won't even go in the crate at the moment and is likely to howl and go nuts the minute she is left.... I think reinforcing the cage door may also be the best option.

Anybody had any similar problems or experiences?

Thanks

Sarah (StCharlesGirl).

Have you considered trying the treadmill route instead?

Maybe a visit to the vet for some tranquilizers

Yes but will she take off or not?

For me yes.

For the dog apparently not allowed.

Ah well back to the drawing board.

It's obviously probably too late now unless you leave the dog behind for a while and let someone else put her on the plane. You should have been getting her ready to go in the crate by getting her used to it gradually. Dogs that are used to having a crate think of it as their own "den". But trying to get a dog that has never been in a crate used to going in a crate and liking it is a slow process usually.

I have the same nightmares about my German Pointer. She frets when without us for too long, God knows why though

We bought our two dogs their crates two months ago and they sleep in them everynight. Sasha had to be forced into hers for the first few times and now she loves it. We have never put the crate door on yet as we thought we would give them a while to get used to them first...so I cant wait until the first night we do that! She will probably pull all her nails out trying to escape!

On Westjets website they say they have the right to refuse to fly "unruly" dogs, so just be careful and check with the airline you are flying with.

On Westjets website they say they have the right to refuse to fly "unruly" dogs, so just be careful and check with the airline you are flying with.

Oh joy! Oh well, I do have a few weeks to work on her.....wheres Victoria Stillwell when you need her?

Thanks, I am glad I am not the only one panicing about this!

I do have almost a month. I am trying to persuade her to eat her tea in it at the moment. Thanks for your advice lets hope miracles happen.

Whatever you do, do not sedate her. Sedation of pets is probably the major cause of pet death during flights.

also if the dog is too sedated they will not be allowed to fly...

We were told that they won't sedate pets because it makes them unable to regulate their body temperatures properly. Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately in the long run) one of our greyhounds died a few weeks ago. Now it's just my neurotic, ridiculously highly strung one left. Gawd knows how we're going to get her across

Good luck with it all. Those pheromone things you plug in the wall helped ours to calm down - maybe that's worth a go if you've time to get your dog calmer with it, it may make the whole crate idea easier?

So sorry to hear about your Greyhound.

Thanks I hadn't thought about 'natural' calmers, I guess things like 'Rescue Remedy' might help as well.

Good luck with yours too.

Does your crate come in two halves? With ours we took the top half off and put the dog's blanket in it for a bed, which I put outside my room, where she normally slept .... she even slept in it a bit! Then I half put the lid over for a few nights.... then I played games, putting food in there for her to get and then getting her to sit in it (for a few seconds) til I rewarded her with treats.

I didn't put the door on until the day I was going .... then threw some treats inside, and when she went in to get them and turned round she found I'd closed the door! I offered her another treat or two through the bars, then left her in it. She barked a few times, to tell me I'd forgotten to let her out, then settled down and sulked!

She was still sulking on arrival in Calgary ... the vet asked how much sedative she'd had!!!! She was fine as soon as she was allowed out and found all the family were here .... we now use the crate as a boot box!

Yes it does come in 2 halves. I have painstakingly screwed it all together but taking it apart again sounds like a plan.

I think Ellie is abit claustrophobic so that might help as well.

Thanks.