Flying a Frenchie- Pls Help!

milano88 · Mar 23, 2015

Hi Everyone,

I just found out I'm being relocated from Hong Kong to New York with work. I've been speaking to a pet relocation company about what to do. They have a lot of experience sending short nose breeds across the world which is a little reassuring but I'm so scared! It's also starting to get hot in Hong Kong so I need to send her asap. She needs to fly cargo

too. Lufthansa can do it and they fly pets all the time so it seems like there is an area for them in cargo. I'm just so worried about her. According to my vet she has a very good airway for a frenchie and she hardly ever snores (only in certain positions when she's asleep). I'm more worried about her anxiety. I'm getting a travel crate tomorrow so I'm going to restart crate training, maybe have her sleep in it so she can really get use to it.

Has anyone flown their frenchies internationally? Any advice on flying them in general would also be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

2bullymama · Mar 23, 2015

check with your airline... some allow dogs in the cabin if they fit in a carrier under the seat in front of you

Alice Kable · Mar 23, 2015

2bullymama said:
check with your airline... some allow dogs in the cabin if they fit in a carrier under the seat in front of you

I agree, try to have her fly as your carry on. Or get her qualified as a service dog so she can fly out of cargo.

MaplesMommy · Mar 23, 2015

Most airlines allow dogs to fly as carry on if they fit under the seat in front of you. I know Maple wont unless she lays completly flat. I was thinking about taking her with me to Germany next time I go visit my family but since she woulnt fit under the seat I would have to fly her cargo and that would be way to stressful for just a vacation.

Also,some airline dont fly short nosed breeds cargo at all because too many have died

Definitely check with your airline on that.

Also,check what vaccinations you will need and when they need to get done. I wouldnt do them shortly before you leave because vaccinations stress and supress the immune system and then the additional stress of traveling wouldnt be a good combo.

You may wanna look into Bach Flowers (rescue remedy) which will help her to calm down and handle the stress better.

milano88 · Mar 23, 2015

Unfortunately she has to go ahead of me since it's getting too hot here in HK so I can't travel with her. She's too big to fit under the seat anyway. The agency I'm using has done all the research on which airlines take them and already booked through Lufthansa as they have used them previously to fly short nose breeds (he just flew a pug last week with no issues). I did find out that Lufthansa have a special pet section in their cargo that's just under the cabin is temperature controlled with no other baggage so that's good news!

She still cries a little when I leave (and is almost 2!) so I'm worried about separation axiety. The vet said he could give her Prozac but doesn't think she'll need it and would rather not since she's never taken it so we don't know how she'll react. I was going to put a tshirt with my scent in the crate and have her sleep in it until she leaves. Any other ideas?

Jakeyjake · Mar 24, 2015

Some people feel Thunder Shirts work for anxiety issues. Since she cries at home you could see if it works for her. It helped my daughter's Am BD rescue. Do you have time to get her qualified as a therapy/service dog?
How long is the flight?

MaplesMommy · Mar 24, 2015

Like I said , you could look into Bach Flower's rescue remedy as well. It is very effective with most dogs.

winginit66 · Mar 25, 2015

Definitely check into the vaccinations... my ex had a client who was re-posted overseas and didn't get the list that he needed soon enough.

davidh · Mar 25, 2015

If cargo is the only way, then ask your vet to give you something to help with the anxiety. I wish you luck, as I would never want any of mine in cargo, but I know you don't have much choice.

milano88 · Apr 1, 2015

She made it to NY with no issues! She actually seemed excited to leave. She ran after her crate as they were loading it into the van to take her to the airport and tried to jump in. The vet told me not to give her anything for the flight. She was great when she landed too, not shaking at all and started running around my parents' house playing. I think Lufthansa were really great and would definitely recommend them. They treat pets with extra care and its not the same as normal cargo at all.

Squishy Walnuts · Apr 1, 2015

Great news!!

Tgirl · Apr 1, 2015

I'm so glad to hear that she did well. I know you were worried.

Jakeyjake · Apr 1, 2015

Oh such great news!!! I have been thinking about her. Glad she arrived to the US safe and happy!!!

Erica Branch · Apr 1, 2015

Glad to hear everything worked out! I know how stressful it can be as we recently relocated from Germany to Texas and my big frenchie had to fly in cargo. I wish airlines would just let me buy a seat for him, lol!