Bentley flew with me on a 3 1/2 flight over Christmas. It went very well. I would definitely fly with your puppy instead of putting them down in cargo. I bought the soft carrier a month before our flight and spent time training Bentley to be good in his carrier. I would put him in the carrier for 1 to 2 hours every once in awhile when I was home. He would cry a little, but eventually he would settle down and go to sleep. I always left his carrier out and open, so he could crawl in whenever he wanted. I also started putting him in his carrier every time he took a ride in the car. By the time we had our flight, he was conditioned to know that his carrier was a safe place to sleep and that is what he did. I held him at the airport and boarded the plane last so I didn't have to put him in the carrier until the last minute. As soon as we were off the plane, I took him out and held him again. If your dog is already used to traveling with you in the car and is crate trained it shouldn't be too bad. Oh and be sure to call the airline ahead of time if you plan on carrying your puppy on with you. Most only allow one dog per flight, so you must reserve your spot, and all require you to pay a fee. Good Luck! |