Crate training and other pet travel advice

[StillHope]

I have a very challenging task to get my dog with separation anxiety accustomed to a crate.
I learned a little bit on the net and planning to go to the library,but someone's personal experience is more valuable.
We only know that pets made it on the flight.We can only imagine their stress...
I wold appreciate any pet travel practical advice.

Please (!!!!),if possible, keep this tread to the solutions to the problems,something that helps other people.

P.S. If you have some other important posts to make,please,e-mail me.Thank you in advance from me and the wonderful " sob".

[DanielP]

Hope,

We started 6 months ahead of time. We put the crate in the living room with Bear's (the dog) bed in it. We did not try to coax him in, but threw treats and toys in at first. This soon became his spot to hang out. The crate became sort of a security place for him.

We have spent 4-5 months per winter on BI for the last 3 years and Bear has flown back and forth with us. It was much better when we could fly direct into Kona, rather than doing the Honolulu stop over.

Bear does not like flying. We could hear him barking from the cargo area. That sucks. We first tried giving him Benadryl, then 3 Benadryl, then a mild sleeping pill. None of that has worked to relieve his stress to stop the barking during flight.

I discussed the problem with the vet and she is going to give me some "Ace" to give him next trip. It is injected under the skin. We will see.

As soon as Bear is out of the cage he will bark for awhile and then he is back to himself in an hour or so.

Good luck, Dan

[hrooster]

We did the same as Daniel, but kept the tops off the crates for the first few months so they would be more apt to lay in the crates, then when they were ok with that we put the tops on. Also started taking them for "happy" trips in the car: put them in the crates and drove to dog parks, rivers to play in so they would associate the crates with fun excursions.

On the "other" BI site, there have been numerous posts about travel ideas: I copied and pasted many of them and have them in a document file: happy to send it to you if you like.

cheers, chele



Here's to a full belly, a heavy purse....and a light heart.

[lostboystoy]

Hey stillhope
Try feeding your dog in the crate, keep bankets and toys in their as well. Start putting your dog in the crate when you go to work, they need to get used to being in their for about 8 hours, by the time you get to the airport get boarded, fly and wait for vet check in hawaii, and then connecting flight. your looking at 8 hours without a potty break, I have always started my pups with crate training, which is easier than trying to crate train an adult dog. My partner is also a vet tech, we have 6 dogs, have done lots of rescue work.
You can call me at 208 940 1330 during buisness hours, names craig I will try my best to talk you through.

setting my soul free....

[lostboystoy]

I know this may sound Gross but it works Put a t-shirt you have worn the smellier the better, Here comes the gross part you can also use a pair of worn underware, It has the most scent from you, it provides securitey, When I sell pups I send a blanket from their play pen that has mothers scent and siblings it makes the transition alot easier.

setting my soul free....

[mattastic78]

My solution would be to find a caring foster home on the mainland for your dog, one with a big fenced yard. Then help your dog get settled in and acclimated to it's new extended family by visiting it regularly for a while before you move. Do this with a goal of helping your dog to be happy with its new family.

I know the concept of "giving your dog away" is a tough one to grasp, butindsight being 20/20, I would have never flown my cat here. I feel strongly that putting her in the travel carrier and sending her on a long, stressful flight was a big part of the reason that she's not with us anymore.

Just my opinionated "pet travel practical advice".

[lostboystoy]

cats are very much different than dogs, My cat freaked when we moved 12 miles down the road she didnt come out from under the bed for two weeks. Ive traveled alot with my dogs and never have had any problems, and I travel with 6 dogs.

setting my soul free....

[Robin C]

Make the crate a happy place. Good things happen there.

Definitely start feeding your pup in the crate. Just put the bowl in and walk away. Nothing fussy. No nervous mommy tension. Its food. Food is good.

After your pup is cool with that, put his/her bed in there. Encourage him to sleep in there. Again, nothing pushy. The crate is a great pup cave. Warm and fuzzy.

I agree with prior posts about happy car trips in the crate.

Your pup will likely do way better than on this trip. Mine sure did. I was a mess. Dog and cat both arrived a little irritated but fine. Within a day they were both back to their normal, spoiled selves.

Good luck.

Robin

[Carey]

Also really depends how bad the Separation Anxiety is....

When we first got our last dog (as an adult from the pound) there was no way I would have even thought of putting the dog in a crate in an airplane (it chewed out a heavy duty wire cage, a closed second story window & the vets cage, all within the first two weeks...[Finally put her in doggie daycare for the first few weeks we had her...while she was healing from spaying] She did get more mild with age (only taking out an addition 2 truck windows in the next 12 years...)

Work with your dog, try the techniques that are mentioned in the above threads. After a while (hopefully a few months), if you cannot keep the dog in a cage for a few hours, maybe use that as a sign.... if you do not have a few months to acclimate your dog to the transition... you must look at what is best for the dog.

[DanielP]

RE: My previous post.

I was just researching "Ace" as a tranquilizer. Seems that there are concerns with it. Valium or Zanax preferred if a tranquilizer is required.

Dan