Flying with Dogs
 

Hi everyone.

I have a staffordshire bull terrior with me in spain and I would like to take him back to the UK with me when I go in March/April.

Does anybody know any airlines that will fly with him due to his breed?

Re: Flying with Dogs
 

may I suggest you put yourself in a box and travel for a couple of hours in the hold of an aircraft ?
when you have recovered perhaps you would wish to re-consider taking a dog on a plane
remember that if you are coming back then it will be twice as bad for the dog.

Re: Flying with Dogs
 

Well my reason for going back as you seem so interested is to collect a car and drive back.

Thanks for very helpful answer!

Re: Flying with Dogs
 

Simon, not interested in your reason(s) for travelling, thats between you and yours.
However, interested in the welfare of the dog hence the very helpful answer.

Re: Flying with Dogs
 

But companys do fly with them so I thought it would be not such a bad experience? As alot of people do it or not?

Re: Flying with Dogs
 

try it yourself and report back

Re: Flying with Dogs
 

You could walk it back or ask domino to walk it for you:rofl:. We sent our animals back with a company called easy pet. They drove while we flew. (Obviously the animals didn't drive, they were in the back in cages). It were a rabbit and a gunnea pig and it cost about 300 euros. But we love animals and couldn't bear to leave them. If it would've been cheaper to have them fly I would have done that. Shorter time in transit, tranq em up. Bobs your uncle. I have no idea which airline to use but I don't think you're cruel for taking the doggy on a plane. I think it is crueler to leave your dog here while you go back and never return. So many people do it. So respect to you for taking doggy with ya.:thumbup:


(I also know that OP is returning as it is stated that he is bringing a car back but there is no time limit of how long he will be there)

Re: Flying with Dogs
 

What a silly answer. You cant possibly know what a dog feels or thinks. Lets face it, dogs arent humans and probably dont feel slighted or offended that they cant sit in first class with an extra leg room seat and a glass of cava!

Jo xxx

Re: Flying with Dogs
 

To a certain extent I agree with Domino.
There's more to it than just being locked in a box on an aircraft.
It's everything else involved including the various transport and handling stages and especially the loading and unloading.

I can imagine the average Spanish baggage handler having more respect for a tin of sardines than a crate with a dog inside and there have been cases of such rough handling, that crates have broken open and the dogs escaped, no doubt totally confused, terrified, and traumatised.

Re: Flying with Dogs
 

Don't talk nonsense. If a dog escapes from a leash does it become confused, terrified and traumatised? No.. It bounds around being all happy and mental. As long as they don't break the crate (which isn't gonna happen) things will be fine.

Re: Flying with Dogs
 

Dont you think you are being a bit hard on simonB?

Dogs are transported all over the world by plane, could it really be so bad,

Being a dog does have its up side, they can lick their own balls and sh1t in the street, but into each life a little rain must fall......so they are not allowed to sit with the human passengers, it is all part of being a canine.

Re: Flying with Dogs
 

We're not talking about just escaping from the leash, nor about the owner being present, nor about the dog being on familiar ground or anything else familiar, add to that being chucked about in a crate and you're trying to compare apples and pears,....... and it does happen.

Re: Flying with Dogs
 

When we moved here we flew our cat out with us and she was on the same plane, there was no way we were going to leave her behind and flying was the least traveling time so the stress was of a less duration.

She seemed to cope with the journey very well, perhaps a little shocked for
half an hour but she was soon back to herself and into mischief as normal, I think the experience upset me more than her.

Monarch fly pets but it's not cheap, that is who we used but it's over four years ago now and it cost over £300 back then.

Having said all of that, if you are only going away for a short while it might be kinder to put your dog into kennels for the duration, also not cheap but less traumatic for the dog.

Re: Flying with Dogs
 

we had our wee dog flown from Hong Kong to Scotland (try doing that overland!) Then from Scotland to Spain, with no ill effects or trauma.

She's a white pekingese (nearly 14 years old) and airlines don't like taking "short nosed dogs".

With a pitbull you may run up similar problems (not the snub nose part, but people are wary of pitbulls)

BTW...it's not cheap. Hong Kong to Scotland came somewhere inbetween the price of an encomy ticket and a business class ticket for a human

A suggestion would be to go ask the local vet to reccomend a good kennel.Then go check it out, before booking.

Re: Flying with Dogs
 

very small minded attitude, "I'm alright Jack so sod the rest of the world.!"

these are the times when the inner buddhist comes out in me, because the butterfly doesnt cry out when you rip its wings off doesnt mean it doesnt feel pain.
when man meets his first et, will that et laugh as it rips mans arms and legs off.?

Re: Flying with Dogs
 

So I take it you would rather live in harmony with the cockroaches, rats and other types of Gods creatures, than exterminate them?

Re: Flying with Dogs
 

man has been trying to exterminate the cockroach and its relatives for over 4000years without any success

depends on "harmony", make things clean, no food lying around and they won't come round, prefering the dirty places.

you will never stop them from living, just not where you live.

Re: Flying with Dogs
 

Fishermen tell me it doesn't hurt the fish to be pulled out of the water by a hook in the mouth, but non of them ever try it themselves.:frown:

Re: Flying with Dogs
 

We flew 2 dogs and a cat to the USA from Spain. I think we were more traumatised than the dogs:eek:

Our 2 cats flew Monarch when we returned to the UK. cost about £850. We took the dogs by car. When we collected them a woman was waiting for a cat she had brought from New Zealand!

A friend flew in with her dog last week from USA and had to wait 4 hours for the dog at cargo. Apparently they have been very busy since the restrictions were relaxed.

Re: Flying with Dogs
 

WOW!!! Didnt thing this question would cause this many arguements I have come to the conclusion I am going to put domino down he seems to be getting very irritible! And try and fly the dog as he would not like kennels he is 9 years old and always has to be touching a human ie if he sits next to you he has to lean on you so kennels I would feel bad doing and flying seems so short and I have got tablets to calm him down. I will try speaking to Monarch but I know alot of airlines dont like taking bull terrior breeds. I have also put a advert on shiply to see how much a pet transport company will charge but it just seems so long for him to be in a car.

Re: Flying with Dogs
 

It's simple, all you need is a little chat with the vet, ask for a tablet to keep them calm for two hours or so, works a treat.

Re: Flying with Dogs
 

Simon, I don't have distemper, rabies or anything else, and all my jabs are up to date. Am I unusual in actually thinking about the "best friend" ??

It has always been your decision, and I have taken your original posting to want to discuss it with others.
Because someone walks across a busy main road without getting hit doesn't mean you can do it and get away with it.

Many people here are citing instances where they have put their "best friend" in the hold. Their decision, but always thinking of themselves first.

I noted you have a pit bull, a potentially unstable dog, hence the reason why some carriers balk at taking them. So what is the long term effect on such a dog.?

If your decision is based on using a car/van service from Spain to UK and you are saying it is a long time in a vehicle, it will be the same on the way back with you and your car.

caveat emptor

Re: Flying with Dogs
 

in the same way as they suffer no stress when pulled from the sea by a net, to lie gasping on the deck of the trawler ??
in the same way as lobsters don't feel anything when put live into boiling water ??

:frown:

Re: Flying with Dogs
 

Not sure what you're talking about. All I can say is its possibly not very pleasant for dogs to be on a lead, put into a car, kept in a kennel outside... They dont understand any of what we do to them and with them in this day and age. To be in a crate in an aircraft probably isnt very nice, but then there are a lot of humans that dont want to be in an aircraft either - the dogs saving grace is they dont understand the concept of time or that they are 3000 ft off the ground!

Jo xxx

Re: Flying with Dogs
 

I noted a staff..:confused:

Re: Flying with Dogs
 

You must be a vegetarian, Am I right?

Re: Flying with Dogs
 

Jo where do you get these ideas from ??
you profess to know all about dogs and then come out with the biggest load of excrement possible.

a dog is a routined animal, even when living wild will call at locations at the same or similar time. a pet dog builds a routine around time, which you would know if you have ever had a dog that routinely needs to go out to the toilet.
We had a dog that had to go out when Big Ben struck 10pm for News at Ten. When that was stopped she still got up at the same time.

because a dog doesnt wear a watch doesnt mean it has no concept of time, its us that fritter it away that need the continual reminder of when we are
some members of this forum have stated they haven't worn a watch since coming here, they have settled into a routine based on their inner concept of time.

Re: Flying with Dogs
 

no way, need the protein, get withdrawal symptoms after 2-3 days of rabbit food

Re: Flying with Dogs
 

There is a website called fishinghurts.com I haven't brought myself to log in and watch but I sincerely believe that fishing must hurt by way of fish having a central nervous system. I am a vegetarian and I wouldn't like to be a part in any pain/harm coming to any living thing through my own actions.
Jan

Re: Flying with Dogs
 

Most airlines don't allow sedation now. There is a special place in the hold for pets, it is dark because they settle better.

As for fish feeling pain, whatever is said I am sure they do. Some of my family go deep sea fishing and I have often gone along for the ride. I always disappear when a fish is caught. Can't stand to see them gasping for breath:(

I am not a veggie.

Re: Flying with Dogs
 

double post

Re: Flying with Dogs
 

So you are not a veggie,but spout off about does not a fish feel pain etc etc
probably while munching on a lamb chop.
So more of a Don't do as I do, do as I say type. Oh lets just say hypocrite, its easier,

Re: Flying with Dogs
 

That is not true, I know someone who was on the way to the airport when an American Cockie flew in, they could not find the damn thing, and so went on their merry way, when they came back the place was infested as the female had laid her eggs in the flat.

There was no food around I can assure you and the person in question has IMO a severe case of exsessive cleaning disorder, so dirty is out of the question.

Re: Flying with Dogs
 

you certainly got out of the bed the wrong side this morning, this isnt even Plaza de Toros and you go round being abusive to people
:blah:

what has my eating habits to do with Flying with Dogs :confused:

Re: Flying with Dogs
 

Abusive !
I refer to the second line of your post number 27 on this thread.Another example of your hypocrisy.
As for your second comment. Reread you drivel You really cannot see irony can you?

Re: Flying with Dogs
 

Well.
If an airline will ship me in the hold with me dog then fine. I would do it.
If on the overhand it's not fit for me, then it sure aint for me dawg. :p
I have driven thousands of kms with car & van & two dogs, they just curl up & go to sleep or look out of the windows, quite happy & quite safe.
Drive simon, it's a nice trip. :thumbsup: I am sure some one will want a vehicle taken back 'cheap' .

Suzi

Re: Flying with Dogs
 

Domino, we lived in Hong Kong for 13 years and eventually had to leave. I ask you, would you have done what we did and flown our lovely little dog with us or had her "put down" or worse, just abandon her?

Re: Flying with Dogs
 

we flew our 2 king charles back from oz 3 years ago with jetpets however they don't do europe unfortunately and i am having real trouble finding a companywho will fly them over to either barcelona or valencia,an internet trawl has not produced much luck.
Has anyone any reliable recommendations of a company flying pets over to spain, I don't want them to travel overland if I can possibly help it. However if needs must in the end we can. I think logistically driving them over ourselves will be a no no as we are looking at getting rid of our cars here in the uk before we leave.

Re: Flying with Dogs
 

What about Alicante?

Re: Flying with Dogs
 

We shipped 2 westies from Scotland to Barcelona 5 years ago. There was no direct route that would take dogs so they had to come via Frankfurt rather than on the same plane as us.

I've told our story on this site before so all I will say here is that it was a nightmare. The dogs arrived in distress. They were filthy dirty as their crates had been lined with newspaper - not by us but by the 'specialist' company we had used. Neither had any water in their crate and they were desperately thirsty because as soon as we took them out of the crates they rushed to the nearest puddle to drink.
Somehow one of them had a broken extendable lead, which was a problem because we had to walk them along the perimeter road of Barcelona airport with cars rushing past at high speed, to get to where we were parked because they wouldn't let us bring our car to the cargo hold.

All in all it was a traumatic experience I would never wish to repeat. I understand if you are travelling long distance and one way theres no choice. One of our dogs has now died but if we ever had to take the other one back to the UK, I want to drive.

As for sedating pets for airtravel. Our vet advised against it as it makes it difficult to tell when the animal is distressed.