Re: airplane travel

In Reply to: airplane travel
Category:   Behavior Problems
Posted by:  Donna
Posted on:  May 10, 2003 at 21:32:36

: I have a 2 1/2 year old female JRT. She has been traveling with me on an airplane since she was about 5 months old. We fly about 3-4 times a year. She always went right in her bag, slept the whole flight and woke up when the plane landed. This past January she had an accident where she broke her duclaw nail and had to have surgery to repair it. Ever since then any type of travel is stressful to her.I think she feels she is going back to the vet) She once loved the car and now she cries, shakes, hyperventalates. I tried to fly with her last month and could not get her in her bag. She will go in it but will NOT let me zip her up! I tried 2 seprate flights and had to wind up canceling my trip.(and losing a lot of money) The vet even gave me some drugs(tranquilizers) to try and that didn't work. My main concern is getting her to fly again. I have a trip planned for July. My vet suggested a behavior modification program with the possibilty of Prozac/Buspar to get her past her fear. I have decided that putting my dog on those drugs will NOT be an option. Any suggestions in getting her zipped up in her bag withput having to go to drastic measures?

Response:

Dear Donna,

I'm not a big fan of using drugs to alter a dog's mood/perception either. However, in extreme cases -- and I think you'll agree your situation is "extreme" -- I believe that using drugs in combination with behavior modification therapy is necessary in order to help the dog overcome it's fear.

I've seen the process work with a rescue terrier, Donna. And I assure you that every other option was explored before the decision was made to use drugs in conjunction with behavior modification. Today, this terrier is a family pet who enjoys playing ball with her humans and swimming with her canine big brother. She is not "on drugs" and hasn't been since she settled enough to be able to respond to the behavior training. :-)