A small guide to pug travel

This is a really great overview. Every once in a while we get someone ask our rescue about moving overseas with their pug, and this is a great info. You obviously did a lot of prep work, and it showed- you guys all made it there safely!

This is a fabulous post - and so well constructed.

Thank you for posting this. We get a lot of people that travel internationally through AK (military), and this is just the type of information they need.

A few questions:

How long before the flight did you train with the carrier?

At any time were the pugs allowed to come out of the carriers while in flight?

Renee wrote:This is a fabulous post - and so well constructed.

Thank you for posting this. We get a lot of people that travel internationally through AK (military), and this is just the type of information they need.

A few questions:

How long before the flight did you train with the carrier?

At any time were the pugs allowed to come out of the carriers while in flight?

We didn't have much time to train with the carriers, as they were late getting to us (Military Mail System). We did however take them on a few couple hour car rides in their carriers, there was allot of fussing, but after awhile they got used to being in there, we just didn't take them out when they whined.

No the pugs were not allowed out of the carriers, but the flight attendants did ask to see them so we would let them poke their heads out occasionally for the flight attendants could pet them. When we first boarded the aircraft the head flight attendant came to us and asked if there was anything our pugs needed, and to not hesitate to ask for anything, they were very helpful with us!

As far as the military flights are concerned, they are very very helpful. They didn't hassle us at all they didn't even weigh our pugs prior to the flight. They simple took the money for the in cabin spots and said have a nice flight.

A brilliant resource for people going through a big move with their pugs. Thanks for taking the time to do it! I'm so glad it was so successful for you and the family.

Thanks so much for posting this! I made it a sticky.

Hello! I found this site while doing research on flying with my 5 year old, HIGHLY anxious, pug. This post was great, and I will definitely be looking into the sherpa carriers.

My biggest concern is the medication. We have tried benedryl and xanax for pedicure related anxiety. Neither can keep her from a furious barking session. I hate to see her this scared, and am fairly certain the plane ride will be very stressful for her.

The vet prescribed 5mg of Acepromazine to try out at home. We are over an hour into the dose and her energy level has not changed. What experiences have any of you had with Ace? Is it possible to use a higher dose, or switch to another medication?

Her blood work is great, and has no heart problems.

I'm not familiar with the medication side but we too have an anxious pug that is very hyperactive the combination of the antihistamine, and the vibrations from the plane made her fall asleep, she was actually more well behaved than our boy pug who is very laid back.
one thing I do know is that you being with your pug on the plane helps them with anxiety. when you first start with the carrier training there will be allot of whining and screaming, I would suggest that you sit next to the carrier while your training, but do not let them out! when your on the plane you will not be able to take them out period.
I was worried sick before our flight, but my pugs made me look bad cause they both did just fine on our 10 plus hour flight. you will deal with more anxiety then your pug more than likely.
what I will say about medication is trust the recommendation of your trusted vet. my wife and I would jot use sedatives and our vet in japan didn't recommend sedatives. we tried the antihistamine weeks before the flight with no effect. but as soon as that plane started moving they were both snoring up a storm.

10 hours-that's incredible! This is definitely encouraging to hear.

I am planning on buying a crate now, so that I will have a few weeks to get her used to the crate. What kind of schedule do you suggest for the carrier training?

I think you are definitely right about me being the most anxious one on the flight! I certainly hope she snores through the whole thing.

Thanks!

Ultimately it is up to you how you want to train, or prepare you know your fur kid better than the rest of us. I would start by having the sherpa bag out and open and let your little one explore it first. Pugs are curious and more than likely you will come back into the room to find your little one inside the bag laying down, if you try and force it then its going to constantly be a struggle to get your pug in there. You can entice with treats affection, and other positive means. But remember ultimately your pugs stress levels are more determined on weather you are with them or not, you can be the biggest stress relief just by being there, and being a familiar smell.
If this is a shorter flight I wouldn't really sweat it too much. Don't sweat irritating passengers either we found more people were curious about our little ones than upset about noise. The flight attendants loved them, most people asked us a ton of questions about them.
When we took ours on the plane I almost had a heart attack on take off, so many things running through my mind. But ultimately our pugs were affected very little by the flight, altitude changes, and other variables. If your properly plan you will win the battle!

My Sora is 14 lbs and travels in the medium sized Sherpa carrier. Her first flight was really stressful because she hated being zipped up in the carrier.  When we were waiting in the terminal, I unzipped it and she stayed in it just fine.  She just didn't like being in doggie "jail" when she could see all the people.  At LAX, they don't care if she's out on the terminal, though.  I usually find a quiet corner and let her walk around a little prior to the flight.  

She is a pro flier now, and they always let me take her out of her crate to give her water.  She's slept in my lap under a blanket on numerous occasions (even in 1st Class), as long as the person next to me doesn't mind dogs (or is asleep - hee, hee!).  She usually gets a little fussy at take-off and landing, probably due to the noise and air pressure in her poor ears.  Other than that, she's a trooper.  

At any point if I am asked to put her away, I know I have to follow the travel guidelines.  I always push my luck, though, and am as discreet as possible.  I only had one flight attendant ask me to put her away, but she was panting a little and we were waiting for another attendant to bring her water.  That was her very first flight, and she's gotten used to our 4 1/2 to 5 hour trips to see her grandparents in KY. :)

I love love love this. Thanks!

I would "add" - ice chips can help with the thirst quenching on long flights... and I grab a newspaper or two to put UNDER the carrier when it's under the seat.. the floor of the plane, I learned - at least in some locations - can get VERY hot!  (hence the ice chip implementation!)