Poneyup~ Your alpha dog point is well taken. I do like to establish that I am the alpa dog and I have done that. I eat first, I train them to obey, the food is mine, the water is mine, their toys are mine and their treats are mine. I do however let Hefner sleep with me. My poodle and my westie sleep wth my son, Chai sleeps with my daughter and so far, Ava sleeps in a playpen in my room and never has made a peep.
I show Hefner what part of the bed he can sleep on and I always get the prime spot.
I also don't think a plane flight traumatizes a puppy any more than a car ride does since thay do not know if they are in a car or on a plane when they are in a crate. Princess Chai was flown to me and she was happy and fine when she arrived. Some may argue that a plane is louder but I have been in a lot of very noisy cars.
