"Peter Duniho" wrote in message
...
"Chuck" wrote in message
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Thanks for all the replies. I'm really not sure if the dogs mind the
flights...they just seem a bit uncomfortable. It's hard to tell.

Every dog is different. Also, how the dog is introduced to airplanes
matters too. I introduced our dog a little bit at a time. Starting out
with just visiting the airport, to showing him the airplane, to showing
him
that the airplane actually moves, to taxiing around, and finally to a
flight.

Some dogs you can just toss them in, and they'll be fine, but you never
really know until you try. And if it turns out they weren't fine, it may
be
a lot harder to get them used to it. They may NEVER get used to it.


Dogs go through two fear imprint stages in their first year. If they have a
bad experience during those times they will fear whatever they associate
with that experience for the rest of their life. These would be the times
that parent dogs would have introduced their pups to the dangers of the
wild, taking the pup near dangerous animals and then making him lie low and
hidden to emphasize the situation. Making your dog sit or down whenever a
vehicle approaches during the fear imprint period will cause the animal to
become terrified of automobiles forever. This can be a good or bad thing
depending on your training objectives.

Dogs that are afraid of fireworks, guns, riding in the car, etc., for no
apparent good reason probably learned this fear during one of the fear
imprint periods. The best way to teach a dog to fear flying is to crate him
up during a during a fear imprint period and take him flying while you
'comfort' him the whole time with sympathetic little worried sounds. It
really teaches the dog that flying is something to be afraid of. The second
period during early adolescence is the least rational of the two. The
trainer has to be very careful or you can absolutely ruin a dog. I would not
take a dog flying during the second fear imprint period at all. Taking your
dog for rides in the car to the park or to meet other dogs during the second
fear imprint period will teach the dog that riding in the car is desirable
and fun. Taking him to be neutered may well teach him that the car takes him
to the vet or some other painful place. Unfortunately, this is right when
most dogs are neutered because owners like to maintain a somewhat puppy-like
personality.

The breed of dog has a big effect on both the timing and duration of the
fear imprint periods as well as how the dog reacts to fear. Non-aggressive
dogs such as poodles will cower and piddle, whereas a terrier might well
bite or even viciously attack. Independent hunting dogs such as Scotties
have short fear imprint periods and generally fear absolutely nothing. These
breeds will chase anything that moves and, if they can't chase, will bark.
Some other breeds seem to be afraid of nearly everything.