Flying With Your Dog

G

gtmize

Filing Flight Plan
Joined
Jun 4, 2017
Messages
1
Display Name
gtmize
I didn't find an existing thread on this .... but I was wondering how dogs do on 2 to 3 hour hops.

I've just purchased a Diamond DA40 and have a 7 month Lab .. was planning to fly with him in back. He does great traveling in the car ..

any advice would be appreciated
 
How do humans do for 3hr flights, depends on the human

I've had good luck, ideally have someone to be with the pup
 
There are a few on here who move dogs in their small planes, some boxed up in the back (perhaps also drugged) and some patiently seated in an open chair.

Mine are moved sober in a soft crate in the back of a 182. Except for takeoff, I run the engine gently to reduce noise. The typical trip for them (about 4 times per year) is around 3h 45m. Mine don't like the plane, but they tolerate it.

If possible, give the new pooch several happy exposures to the plane before the big day, first engine off (lots of treats), then engine on (lots of treats), then taxiing (lots of treats), etc.

Others will chime in to help.
 
Think folks drugging dogs are in the vast minority
 
gtmize said:
He does great traveling in the car ..
Click to expand...

98% chance he'll do great in the plane. Most dogs just sleep; the sound and vibration is perfect for that.

And to answer your next question; you probably won't have much luck with hearing protection for dogs. I'm not impressed with the "Mutt muffs" product. I suspect the effect to dogs are minimal.
 
Ive flown both my pups (a 65lb pibble and a 65lb Lab / Heeler mix) on 2.5 - 3.0 legs. Theyre leashed but tethered in the back seat of the 182. On the first flight the pibble sat ans shivered most of the flight until the Lab went over and lay across her back. After that she settled down. On the return flight, as I was loading the plane, both of them were at the plane door like we were getting ready for a car ride, ready to go.

Ive only had one issue on a PnP mission. I had a momma pibble in the back seat. She did great the entire flight until landing. After I handed I looked into the back seat and she was GONE! Somewhere during the landing she vaulted the seat and went into the cargo area (where I had a couple of other dog crates. Could have caused an interesting aft CG issue I guess, but never felt a thing.

I like flying with dogs!
 
Last edited:
Our American Mastiff climbs aboard then settles in for a nap. Sometimes she will sit up and look out the windows but pretty much its sleepy time. Our girl has flown through some IMC and when it gets raining or really bumpy she will wake up and lick my Brides arm or mine. I take that as the get me on the ground now signal.

Our Ziva girl to/from St Michaels on Friday.

Ziva%2B1.JPG


looking%2Bfor%2Bponies.JPG


Our Italian Mastiff Maggie, we sure do miss her.
CM+3.19.10+002.jpg
 
Last edited:
We have 2 dogs that both love car rides. They get somewhat stressed in the plane but not too bad. Best to not feed them much before the flight at least until you know they don't get sick. We use crates as our dogs have a tendency to want to crawl up into our laps at bad times.
 
Our Lexi dog does fine. Went to Sedona... 3 hours there and 3:15 back or so. She slept. The bumps woke her up a couple times but she went back to sleep. The only time she got up was to look around on our first landing and when we were coming home. I can't blame her. It was super pretty outside.
 
We had a black lab and took him on vacation. We chartered an Otter to drop us off at a remote forest service cabin here in Alaska. Well it was an older radial engine Otter, very loud inside the cabin. Tami my wife held a headset over Nic's ears the entire flight. It helped calm him down. I think Nic had more fun than the rest of us on that vacation. Swam in the lake for most of the day.

We returned to that same cabin a few years later and Nic was the first one in the plane. It was another Otter but this one had the turbo prop conversion. Much quieter but still needed a headset, Nic was also the first one out of the plane, swimming in the lake and having fun...:)

Do get hearing protection for your dog...
 
JCranford said:
Ive flown both my pups (a 65lb pibble and a 65lb Lab / Heeler mix) on 2.5 - 3.0 legs. Theyre leashed but tethered in the back seat of the 182. On the first flight the pibble sat ans shivered most of the flight until the Lab went over and lay across her back. After that she settled down. On the return flight, as I was loading the plane, both of them were at the plane door like we were getting ready for a car ride, ready to go.

Ive only had one issue on a PnP mission. I had a momma pibble in the back seat. She did great the entire flight until landing. After I handed I looked into the back seat and she was GONE! Somewhere during the landing she vaulted the seat and went into the cargo area (where I had a couple of other dog crates. Could have caused an interesting aft CG issue I guess, but never felt a thing.

I like flying with dogs!
Click to expand...
My "Aw Crap! Where is the dog?!?" Moment on a PNP mission was in the same 182 as John uses, but mine hid underneath the copilot seat. After departure, looked back to check on the dog I thought was tethered in the back seat to find the rear seat empty. Looked down and all I saw was a hind end and tail. Looked order the front edge of the seat and found the nose.


Then there was the prank @texasag93 pulled on the poor ramp guy at Ardmore (KADM). We had stopped there to use the restroom and switch seats. After the engine stopped, the ramper walked over to say howdy, put the chocks down and see if we needed any fuel. He also pointed out that the baggage door was open. Brian exclaimed, "Holy ****...where is the dog!!??" Of course we didn't have a dog with us, but the look on that ramper's face is one I'll remember for a long while.
 
My dog flies with me all the time. She's happy and quiet until I start to descend and then starts getting excited and barks a bit. She's used Mutt Muffs since flight one and 10 years later I'd testify that they work great. I wish I'd used them on her predecessors. At 10 years old this dog hears far, far better than my earlier dogs did.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top