Puppy on Long Flight Question

[AngelFace]

I just bought my tickets to come back home to Washington, from Germany, in October for Deer Hunting Season and i want to bring my new puppy. She will only be 4 months old. It isn't too expensive, but i am nervous of how she will do on a 10 hour flight down there below the plane by herself. The airline has a limitation of 8 kilos (about 18 lbs.) for animals to be carried on with the passenger.

Bayla is a yellow lab and weighs 10 lbs. right now at 8 weeks. By the flight she will be about 4 months, like i said, and will probably weigh roughly 30 lbs. I am nervous for some reason and i was wondering if anyone else has taken a young puppy on a long flight like mine.

All the advice will help.

Here are pictures of my baby, Bayla.
http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,9987.0.html

[addicted]

the sooner someone makes her feel better about it, the sooner i can call the airline and make the reservation for the dog.    i want to send the pup home to so she can play in WA and maybe get her due claws off.

[Machias]

She'll be fine, lots of pups from Europe make that flight all the time.  She'll probably arrive a little thirsty and maybe slightly dehydrated, but she'll be fine. I have brought back a couple of dogs and a cat from England which was about a 9 hour trip for them and they were happy to see me, but good to go.

[AngelFace]

I am getting so frustrated!! I am just trying to put Bayla (my 3 month old yellow lab) on a flight to Washington. I leave from Frankfurt, Germany on the 7th of October. I am going for deer season and then coming back to Germany on the 29th of October. I never thought it would be this frustrating and complicated just to get a dog on a flight. You think it would be a lot like buying a ticket for yourself on the flight, but no. I have to go through some completely different company just to put her on my plane, and they can only book from here to Washington. Then when i am in Washington i have to find some company to put her on that plane to Germany. I can't just put her on the plane through my actual airline. Or if i can i haven't found somebody that speaks good enough English to tell me what i need to do.

Does anyone have any advice on how to make this a little easier and a little less stressful? I just want my puppy on my flight. She will only be 4 months old. I am about ready to give up.

[Flak Jacker]

I absolutely understand your desire to bring your puppy with you.  However, is there any truly responsible person where you are at that can take care of the puppy while you are gone.  I have two yellows myself and have had to leave them at home on occasion.  I believe a transatlantic flight would be be one of those occasions where I would say leave the pup in her bed.  Make the call for the dog and not for yourself, she will survive your three week absence (in good hands).

Safe travels...

[zamphier]

I've worked in Veterinary Hospitals for quite a while and help people with the paperwork when flying out of the country, there really is no easy way around it.  It amazes me the hoops you have to jump through.  Best of luck