After months of searching, a few twists, and one cross-country adventure, we finally brought home our golden retriever puppy, Bowie. Flying with puppies can be stressful, but it was totally worth it – still one of the best decisions we’ve ever made.

The Backstory

I (Kristen) am originally from Georgia, but my fiancé, Thomas, and I live in San Diego now. When we started talking about getting a puppy, we were so excited, but we didn’t expect the search to be so complicated.

Finding the Right Breeder

We started locally, hoping to find a breeder in Southern California, but nearly every one we contacted had waitlists that stretched out for months. Eventually, we found a promising pair of golden retrievers in Michigan and put down a deposit – only to later find out the mom wouldn’t be able to breed. It was a tough setback, but we weren’t ready to give up.

A Lucky Break in Kentucky

That’s when we came across a breeder in Lexington, Kentucky. We loved the look of their dogs and the care they put into breeding. Around the same time, Thomas’ cousin decided he wanted a puppy too, so we figured maybe we’d end up with siblings. But unfortunately, there was only one puppy left.

Then, a few days later, a surprise: the breeder let us know she had one more available (now Ollie). Just like that, we had two puppies and a cross-country trip flying with puppies to plan.

The Pickup

During my next trip to Georgia, my mom and I drove from Atlanta to Lexington, picked up the boys the next morning, and made the five-hour drive back to Georgia. They were absolute champs – calm, snuggly, and already bonded. I couldn’t believe how quickly Bowie felt like my puppy.

Puppy Air Travel: Keeping Puppies Comfortable While Flying

Flying home to San Diego with two golden retriever puppies was definitely an adventure. Delta required them to fly in one carrier, which made me nervous at first, but they curled up together and slept the whole way.

Tips for flying with puppies:

• Bring ice packs in the carrier to keep them cool (the breeder suggested it, and it worked!).
• Use an airline-approved pet carrier like the WEPLAN Airline Approved Pet Carrier, which fit both puppies snugly and met Delta’s in-cabin requirements.
• The airline staff were kind and attentive, checking in on them throughout the flight.

Flying with puppies might seem stressful at first, but with the right prep, it can be a smooth and even fun experience!

Settling In

Once we landed, it hit me – Bowie was home. Ollie went with his family, and now the boys see each other often. Watching them grow up together has been such a joy. Their bond is the sweetest, and every time they reunite, it’s like no time has passed.

Bringing Bowie into our lives has been the happiest kind of chaos. We’re so grateful for every step that led us to him, especially our first adventure flying with puppies. Bowie and Ollie’s bond has only grown stronger – one of their first reunions was a special dinner for dogs at Madison in San Diego when they were about four months old! You can read more about that adventure here.