finally got him!

[Michael Romanos]

Jeni D - I have this theory that very young Corgi pups should not be subject to lengthy car drives and a plane trip is far, far better. What takes seven and a half hours by car could take a half hour flight in comparatively luxury conditions. One can still go and visit the pup's former home and his/her breeders - but just have the pup crated from the airport to the nearest airport to your home. It's worthwhile for a multitude of reasons, I'm convinced.

[darci]

This is off topic but Pockets mom I saw where you mentioned your husband had been home from Iraq and now gone back. I just wanted to take a moment and thank you and him for his military service. I too have had a husband in the service though not in this war and I know how difficult life can be.
Anyway I just wanted to thank you both for the incredible sacrifice you and your husband have made for our country and our freedom.

[corgimom]

Darci,

I second what you said about thanking Jeni D and her husband for their
sacrifices - you said it very well.

linda

[glencorgi]

I too would like to echo Cindy's (Darci's mom) thanks and express my appreciation for your sacrifice and service to protect our freedom.

Thank you!
Debbie

[Jhemphill]

I too would like to thank you and your husband for your sacrifice. My husband spent 20 years in the Navy.

[Chip's Mom]

Me too! I think you and your husband have a standing ovation!

[Jeni D]

Michael
I completely agree that flying is a better option; however, I had a bad experience with flying a pet before that resulted in extra time being wasted. I didn't want this to happen with this guy. I know that many pets are flown daily with no mishaps, but I just didn't want to risk it again. Of course, I also wasn't planning on him being sick for the majority of the ride either

[glencorgi]

Having gotten puppies both ways, I'll say there are pros and cons to both. I've done the 12 hour round trip to pick up a puppy and bring it home - no problem for the puppy. I've also driven nearly two days out and two days back to pick up a puppy - puppy did fine. I've been lucky in all the ones I've flown have had uneventful flights and no problems, something that can't be said about a lot of dogs and puppies that are flown. A lot of disaster stories that can be told about flying dogs and many a long term personality/temperament problem has been blamed on an incident on a flight.

Even though the drives were long - the perks were some nice visiting time with the breeders. Fortunately too, we didn't have any major weather concerns either and the puppies were real troopers, no worse for their long trip.

Flying, a number of logistics have to be taken into consideration - which airlines will fly pets and what is the closest airport they will be flying into. Is the embargo on about flying pets (which will begin soon). Too hot or too cold and the puppy won't fly. Is it a direct flight or will the puppy have to change planes? And sometimes the drive home from the closest airport that an airline that does the best job flying pets is a couple hours minimum.

Debbie

[Michael Romanos]

There is no problems or restrictions in New Zealand about flying dogs to any domestic airport by any of the airlines and any mishaps must go a long way back. Airline and airport staff treat dogs very well - like they are a precious commodity. I dare say that it's the same thing in Australia where airline useage is much greater than in NZ . For our size of population, NZ has by far the most airports of any country in the world. For example, we have four international airports - that's one for every one million people.

Everything it seems is not all milk and honey in the USA.

Here's a good example about airport staff in NZ: when my family and I picked up a three month old Taylor from the Wellington airport (which is the busuest airport in the country domestically), the staff at the office went into top gear to get a crated Corgi pup driven from the holding bay to the office. Once in the office, they put the crate on the bench top and asked us if they could see him come out. Of course we were as anxious as anyone to do just that. Once out, the staff lined up to pet, stroke and say hello to a overawed and subdued little Corgi. And their complimentary remarks were typical. Now its not that Taylor is the only dog or pup they have experienced - he's just one in a long line.

[PocketsMom]

Thank you all for your warm wishes. This is his second trip to Iraq and he has also done Afghanistan. I appreciate the warm wishes!

As for our puppy potty issues, Pockets has not messed in his kennel in 4 days and I think my hubby was slipping him some water after I was in bed. We only had 1 accident in the house today WooHoo. He is still not making any noise but hopefully that will come in time!


Jeni D- I would still ask your vet about dramamine for future trips. Tinker was on it for 6 months and then has been fine since, 5 years now!

[darci]

So glad to hear your potty training is going better.

Darci was the first indoor dog I had ever trained, and boy did I make a lot of mistakes and learned a lot or at least I hope I did......

[PocketsMom]

My other two are inside dogs but potty training was a while ago! I am learning fresh all over again!