Deanna

Is Flying Home with a Puppy Safe?

What happens if you find an amazing and responsible Shih Tzu breeder but he or she lives in another state? If properly executed travel arrangements are in place there should be little reason the puppy couldn’t travel in the cabin to his or her new destination. Due to a Shih Tzu’s small size, they’re usually great travel companions. 

I allow puppies from my breeding program to travel in cabin to their new homes as long as the trip isn’t too long. Usually, the owner-to-be flies to the airport closest to my home or I meet them at the airport. If my clients prefer, my husband or I fly with the puppy in the cabin to the puppy’s new home destination if our schedules allow. We’re close to the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport- https://www.skyharbor.com/.

I don’t currently use a flight nanny although I’m sure there are some great flight nannies out there. The reason is, that I like to meet the families that are taking my Shih Tzu Puppies home. I raise these puppies from the day they take their first breath. It is impossible to not fall in love with each puppy that is brought up in my home. Meeting the families that will care for them for the rest of their lives provides closure and is very reassuring to me as a Shih Tzu breeder.

I don’t ever under any circumstances allow any of the Shih Tzu Puppies from my breeding program to fly in cargo. Shih Tzus are a brachycephalic breed. This means they’re prone to breathing issues. I wouldn’t feel comfortable taking the risk even if it were a small one. Furthermore, I work hard to properly socialize every puppy in my breeding program. Sticking a puppy in a crate by itself under an airplane would be traumatizing in my opinion. 

It is essential when booking your airline ticket that you let the airline know that you will be traveling with a puppy. Also, if possible make flight accommodations as soon as possible. Some airline carriers only allow a certain number of pets on each flight. It is wise to make sure your Shih Tzu breeder sends home vaccination records as well. Many airlines will want to see proof of vaccination. Some airlines may require other documents such as a health certificate so check ahead to find out what your airline requires. 

Your puppy may likely need to go to the bathroom before you reach your destination. I recommend putting a couple of potty pads on the ground in the bathroom stall for potty breaks. Use the harness and leash if needed. Simply place your puppy on the pads in the bathroom stall every couple of hours to see if he or she needs to go potty. Make sure to only let your puppy step where you have put the potty pads for sanitary reasons. This is why I recommend a couple of potty pads. Bathrooms aren’t the cleanest places. 

This method is the safest way not only for long trips but for puppies traveling in general. Puppies have an underdeveloped immune system. Most puppies aren’t done with their puppy vaccinations by the time they fly home. This puts the puppy at risk for contracting a disease such as Parvovirus which can be deadly. I always tell my clients to keep all four paws off the floor until the vaccine series is complete. If you let your puppy walk in a place where an animal with unknown vaccine status may have walked you put your puppy at risk.

Unfortunately, you most likely won’t be able to remove your Shih Tzu puppy from the travel bag during the flight. It would be awesome if your puppy could ride on your lap for comfort but this isn’t the case. But, you’re usually able to open the bag a little bit and pet your puppy for comfort. Be sure to put the blanket with Mom and the littermates’ scent in the travel carrier if the breeder provided you with one. If not, it doesn’t hurt to ask for a blanket with mom’s scent before the puppy pick up.

Also, I suggest packing an interactive toy and a chew toy to keep your puppy busy. A stuffed Kong will occupy your puppy for quite some time. If the puppy starts to get anxious try to head to the bathroom for a potty break. If this doesn’t work offer a small treat or a small meal if it is meal time. You can also talk with your Veterinarian about medication options to have on hand just in case. I feel it is best to try natural anxiety relief before reaching for medication in such a small puppy. 

I suggest packing the essentials below if you plan on flying home with your new puppy:

• A soft-sided well-ventilated crate. Make sure to check with your airline in advance in regards to crate dimensions. Also, it is a bonus if your Shih Tzu breeder acclimates your puppy to a travel crate before the go-home day.
• A collapsible food bowl for feeding your puppy.
• Puppy food for meal time if it is a lengthy trip.
• Treats to establish a positive rapport.
• A couple of chew toys or interactive toys to keep the puppy busy.
• A soft blanket for the crate to keep the puppy cozy. Ideally, your Shih Tzu breeder will send home a blanket that smells like Mom and littermates.
• A travel water bottle and bowl if one isn’t attached for water breaks. You will have to empty and refill the water bottle to go through baggage claim.
• A harness for your puppy.
• A leash for potty breaks.
• Nutri-cal or honey for low blood sugar prevention if your puppy is too nervous to eat. 
• Puppy wipes in case your puppy gets nervous and vomits.
• Poop bags for cleaning up after potty breaks.
• Potty pads for potty breaks.
• Small ziploc bags. You may need to fill a bag with ice if it gets too hot on the plane. 
• Puppy vaccine records from the breeder.

I truly hope your flight with your new puppy goes smoothly. Try to remain calm and patient during the trip. Animals can sense human emotions. If you’re nervous your puppy will most likely be nervous. Remember that the flight is only temporary. In no time at all you will be home making wonderful memories with your new Shih Tzu puppy. 

Do you plan on traveling with your Shih Tzu puppy often?

Traveling with your new puppy doesn’t have to be an anxiety-provoking experience. If you properly plan and have a travel plan in place things are bound to go more smoothly. The first thing you will need to consider is what supplies you will need to gather to help your puppy have a comfortable trip. 

I suggest the following supplies when traveling by car with a young puppy:

• A soft-sided well-ventilated travel carrier or a car seat for dogs. Make sure the carrier is big enough for your pet to move around and get comfortable.
• A harness that can be attached to a leash or car seat.
• A short leash for bathroom breaks.
• A food bowl for feeding your puppy.
• Puppy food for meal time if it is a lengthy trip. Pack extra food just in case there are any delays.
• Treats to establish a positive rapport.
• A couple of chew toys to keep the puppy engaged.
• A stuffed Kong to prevent low blood sugar.
• A soft blanket to keep the puppy cozy during travel. I send all my Shih Tzu puppy parents home with a blanket that smells like Mom and littermates.
• A travel water bottle or a bowl for water breaks. 
• A first aid kit for emergencies. Click here to read more about what I recommend putting in your pet’s first aid kit.
• Puppy wipes in case your puppy has an accident.
• Bags for cleaning up.
• Potty pads for potty breaks.
• Puppy vaccine records from the breeder.
• A collar with identification tags. I microchip all of the puppies in my responsible breeding program as well.

Once you have your supplies ready it is time to come up with a plan of action to get your new puppy safely home. The first thing you will need to brainstorm is where your puppy will be eliminated. Puppies don’t have very large bladders and may not be able to hold it the entire trip. The biggest concern that you will want to avoid is Parvovirus and other pathogens that your puppy could be exposed to during the trip home. 

Puppies receive vaccines every 3-4 weeks until they’re approximately 16-18 weeks old. Nobody knows for certain when the puppy will receive full immunity against serious viruses such as Parvovirus. This is why puppies receive more than one shot in the first place. It only takes one vaccine to protect against diseases such as Parvovirus. But, mom’s antibodies from nursing sometimes interfere with the process and prevent the vaccine from being effective. This is why puppies receive a series of shots spaced apart. 

Most puppies go to their forever homes before they reach 16-18 weeks. This means proper precautions must be in place to keep the puppy free of disease. I recommend taking your puppy potty every two hours on the trip home. This may seem like a lot but it will hopefully keep the puppy from having an accident.

Furthermore, holding it for too long can lead to urinary tract infections. I suggest seeking out a place where it is unlikely that other dogs that may not be fully vaccinated have stepped foot. Then attach the leash to your puppy’s harness. Place down a few potty pads for your puppy to potty. Make sure to cover enough area with pads so that your puppy’s paws won’t have contact with the ground underneath. The leash will help you keep the puppy on the pads rather than sniffing around where other dogs have been. When your puppy finishes going potty simply wrap up the pads and throw them away. 

Now that you have a plan for potty breaks out of the way consider how you will keep your puppy busy. I always suggest that more than one human comes to pick up the puppy. This allows the human who isn’t driving to comfort the puppy if the puppy becomes nervous. I also suggest bringing some chew toys for the road. A stuffed Kong can be a lifesaver on a road trip. 

Be sure to pack kibble, treats, water, and the necessary bowls to feed and water your puppy. I always recommend sticking with the kibble your breeder was feeding the puppy until you get home. It isn’t a good idea to change food on a road trip. I always send the puppies in my Shih Tzu breeding program home with a couple of days’ supply of kibble and some of their favorite treats. Also, make sure to ask your breeder how often you should feed the puppy. Below is the feeding schedule I recommend for my Shih Tzu Breeding Program.

Puppy Feeding Schedule

Age	Toy/small breed
8 weeks	4 times a day
12 weeks	3 times per day
16 weeks	3 times per day
3 months	3 times per day
6 months	3 times per day
8-12 months	2-3 times per day

If you’re super concerned that your puppy will be anxious on the trip you can always talk to your veterinarian about calming supplements. But, I would only use them as a last resort. If the puppy is too calm he or she may be too groggy to eat or drink which could lead to a low blood sugar spike. Low blood sugar also known as hypoglycemia is much more dangerous in a young puppy than a bit of anxiety.

I would opt for chew toys and interactive toys first. Also, a blanket or a toy that smells like Mom and littermates is a great comforting tool. I send all my puppy parents home with a blanket and toy that smells like mom and littermates. You can also invest in a snuggle puppy for the road trip. The heartbeat is often very comforting to young puppies.

Make sure your puppy is properly restrained in the vehicle while moving. A travel crate is a must for traveling. If you’re not going to use a travel crate then at least have your puppy secure in a dog car seat. Would you leave one of your young children in a moving car without a buckle? I hope not. If you’re in a crash your puppy could be flung from the vehicle and seriously hurt from the forceful impact. Furthermore, your puppy is more likely to run away after a car crash as a survival mechanism. The good old flight response may kick in. 

Finally, have fun! How exciting! You’re bringing your new puppy home. Puppies feed off of our emotions. If you’re calm and happy during the car trip hopefully your puppy is less likely to be anxious. 

Are you wondering how to introduce your senior dog to your new puppy? Bringing home a new puppy is a very exciting time for puppy owners. But, if you already have a senior dog residing in the home there are precautions you can take to help the process go more smoothly.

Below I will go over some tips that will hopefully lead to a lifelong friendship for both dogs. Remember to be patient and give the two dogs time to form a relationship. For additional tips for success make sure to check out my post, “How to Safely Introduce two dogs to each other.”

Tips for Success:

• Until both dogs have had a chance to develop a well-defined relationship owners must give attention to the older dog before focusing on the younger dog when greeting. 

• Always supervise the puppy when he or she is in the presence of the older dog until you’re certain the two dogs have developed a good relationship.

• Use a leash until both dogs have warmed up to each other. Puppies are jumpy. The leash will help prevent your puppy from jumping on your senior dog. If both dogs are off-leash make sure the senior dog has an escape route if he or she has had enough.

• Give your senior dog breaks from the puppy. One-on-one attention away from each other is a healthy way to spend quality time with each dog.

• Try and find some exciting games to see if you can get both dogs to interact with each other positively.

• Allow both dogs to slowly establish their relationship safely.

• Purchase some separate toys and chews for each dog. Allow the dogs to have some alone time with their toys.

• Feed both dogs separately until they have had a chance to develop a relationship.

• Praise both dogs for being calm around one another. 

• Teach your puppy basic commands right away to control behavior.

• Hire a professional dog trainer if issues arise.