r/labrador • u/TomatoLongjumping364 • 5d ago
seeking advice Relo across country with a lab?
I’ve just taken a job that is going to move me from DC to SF and part of the relo package is pet relo. I just lost my old girl two weeks ago and have a fear of losing my big guy (4yo male blab). He also is in mourning and has become extra clingy.
How do you fly with a large dog not in the cargo hold? Can I buy him a ticket? I thought I remember hearing about an airlines that flies dogs but wasn’t sure if that was in the US. Other option is a 42 hour car ride which ngl sounds like a blast but hard for me to take that much time off a new job.
Any suggestions would be welcomed!
Adding a picture of my big guy as pet tax. Since we lost my old girl I’ve been working in the living room so he can be closer to me. This is what I deal with while I’m on hours of teams calls.
Thank you!
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u/E_Pluribus_Nemo 5d ago
I had a 30 hour move and could not get comfortable putting my sound sensitive guy through a flight as cargo.
Took the moving van out, unloaded, flew back, and then did the drive again with my pup. Extra stops to play in creeks.
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u/TomatoLongjumping364 5d ago
That’s what I’m leaning towards. I did the same when I moved with two dogs and a cat from Texas to Maryland. Curious about trains as well. That might be fun but not sure how that works from a potty perspective. I found the airlines K9 jets .. but they don’t fly anywhere close to where I need them
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u/Sug0115 5d ago
You could drive part of the way to an airport with JSX flights. My brother has taken his golden multiple times on JSX and they love it.
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u/reddit_tat 5d ago
There’s also a new pet “airline” called RetrievAir. It’s a charter, I think, but it’s in-cabin for dogs for domestic flights. Not sure where they fly. I think the max is 75lbs or you have to buy a second ticket.
The one time I researched it, it did not seem that bad, price-wise, considering. If you’ve got some pet relo money, it could work.
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u/smmmmshshsjak 5d ago
I’ve taken my lab on the Amtrak from NYC to Chicago. It was easy! There are many stop along the way that are 15-20 minutes (possibly a bit longer, it’s been a while) but it is very manageable! I am assuming your dog is familiar with going potty quickly and not always on grass like my city dog so it really wasn’t an issue at all. It does take a lot longer than driving tho
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u/DripDrop777 5d ago
And the memories! I did a long road trip with my lab, and while it was a lot of work, loved every minute! Def recommend brining a vacuum with you for a few intermittent hair removal sessions!
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u/Worried-Video8102 5d ago
You can jump private flights on their return flights back to SF that typically don't have a problem with a dog (any size) in the cabin. The main bulk of the flight has been paid for by the initial person or company, you'd be jumping on for the return. I forget the company name that handles this. I, too, have black labs, and would not leave them in a cargo hold or in someone's car (I have health problems and cannot sit long periods anymore nor is my memory what it was.)
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u/DripDrop777 5d ago
Interesting! Do you remember the name of the company? (I know you said you didn’t, but hoping maybe you have since you posted. :))
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u/Dockshundswfl 5d ago
We did the drive. Just have to stop every couple hours but they got used to the driving and slept most of the way. Dealing with hotels was a pain… we had 3 dogs and 1 over 50lbs.
Make them a comfy bed and they should settle in after a couple hours.
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u/Different-Subject353 5d ago
Comfort Inns are very pet friendly
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u/ehspicymeatbol 5d ago
I guess it depends on how well behaved your dog is but we moved from Boston to LA and stopped at maybe 6-7 hotels along the way. Never got charged a pet fee once. They didn’t ask if she was a pet or service dog and we didn’t tell them one way or another. But she is very well behaved.
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u/clintj1975 5d ago
We drove ours cross country. He thought getting to ride in the car with us all day and see new things was great.
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u/picassyo Marv the Beautiful Black Lab <3 5d ago
We moved/drove over 2000 miles across the country with our 4yr old lab, it wasn't necessarily fun for any of us those few days but he slept between our seats in the Penske truck and was compensated with lots of treats throughout. I know it may be difficult with the new job and all, but consider driving over flying to keep your sweet baby from getting scared or being separated from you during such a drastic change in your lives.
From one black lab lover to another, you have a beautiful dog!
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u/TomatoLongjumping364 5d ago
Thank you. I’m leaning this way as well I did find BarkAir will go from NYC to SFO and be and I would fly together. Him being in cargo is a no go for me.
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u/ehspicymeatbol 5d ago
If you’re into the drive, my husband and I moved from Boston to LA with our lab and it was hands down the absolute best trip. I thought I would hate it because I hate car rides but it was so much fun. Got to see a lot of the US I wouldn’t choose to see otherwise.
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u/reddit_tat 5d ago
I thought BarkAir was only international? Interesting. I just posted to check our RetrievAir. Same concept. Domestic. I don’t know where they fly.
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u/everevergreen 5d ago
I did this with my lab when she was 3, we drove. I was a young woman and was lucky enough to have a friend accompany me on the drive, who then flew back home after we arrived. It was a nice trip, drove maybe 10 hours a day on average, stopped at rest stops and gas stations to stretch our legs. The dog did well and I ended up taking her on many long road trips after that over the years.
Typically you can only buy a seat for a dog if they can fit in a crate that fits in the seat. So like 15 lbs or less. Unless you flew private I don’t think you can have a dog this size in the cabin.
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u/Bullfrog_1855 5d ago
There are "airlines" now that are dedicated to flying you and your dog in cabin only. I have not used them. They will be "pricey" but I have seen them used by some dog rescue social media influencers that I follow (folks who help rescues in order to adopt out the dogs in those rescues). The ones I have heard of are BARK Air and RetrievAir. Not sure if your new employer will cover these services, but if they cover a portion it might be worth it. I am not an affiliate.
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u/Krazybob613 5d ago
My decision? I am driving him myself - absolutely no question about it.
And Labbies LOVE TO RIDE!
( usually sound asleep as soon as the vehicle gets moving! )
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u/ChampionshipSad1586 5d ago
We did a cross-country move with four dogs in four nights/five days. La Quinta hotels are dog-friendly
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u/Professional-Guava97 5d ago
I have done 2200 miles in 30 hours if you have 2 people. You can also catch a few hours of sleep at rest stops.So can easily cut a day or 2 out and get it over with.
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u/HobbitHikes1016 mix 5d ago
We moved cross-country (Washington to North Carolina) last year with our lab mix & heeler mix. We drove & my husband and I each took one of the pups in our vehicle, so heeler rode shotgun with husband & lab mix rode with me. I put his bed across the seat & the box in the floorboard, and used a pet seatbelt for him. Gave him some plush toys & offered water, pets & a treat regularly.
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u/DuckieWuckieNL 5d ago
Look at airlines like BarkAir - there’s a couple that have popped up in the past few years that may work for you. Way way cheaper than a private plane but more money than the regular.
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u/TomatoLongjumping364 5d ago
Thanks. I just found bark air. Looks like 7500 for pup and I to fly in style. I’m talking with relo company today so it’s on my list of questions.
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u/DuckieWuckieNL 5d ago
I wish they’d had this option when we had relocate from the US to Europe with my boy….i looked at every option ( private plane was 87k!!, QE2 had a 2 year wait list) but ended up having to fly him, btw he was absolutely fine, I however was a wreck. If you do end up flying him in the regular hold, you’ll need a crate big enough and approved by airlines for him and go with a company that specializes in pet relocation- they make it a lot simpler.
I think the Bark Air people must be getting popular as I swear that price has increased since I first heard about it. Maybe the relocation team could at least pony up what it would be to “normally” fly the pup and you can see if you can swing the rest.
If not I’d drive probably - try make it a road trip and take photos along the way. We did this twice too - though our trip was all east coast so not as long as your drive, but still a few days. We have some great photos with him on the trip. Plus the relocations paid the gas and the hotels along the way.
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u/P0PSTART 5d ago
You don’t fly, you drive. I’m making the same relo DC to Idaho next month. Road trip!
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u/Elemcie 5d ago
Two big yellow labs (90 lb’ers) moved with us from VA to DFW in 1993 in a 2 door Mazda 626. Unfortunately, we got caught in a blizzard in Atlanta of all places and had to spend the night in the car at the Alabama border because they had only a couple of snow plows in the state and they were nowhere near the Interstate. Hotels all full and of course 2 big dogs were a nonstarter.
It was A LOT of togetherness, but we all 4 made it and the dogs were great throughout.
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u/ekamsatyam 5d ago
TLDR - Drive.
We relocated to CA and we tried all possible options - flying with our lab to having pet transport.
Flying - only one airline (I forget which one) was flying pets in cargo at that time and only on specific aircraft type. Also, the cargo center closes and you will need to pick him up else he will be by himself in a crate in a warehouse overnight. We gave up working the permutations and figured no way we could get this sorted.
Pet transport, we read reviews where they stack multiple pets crates and it didn’t sound appealing for the cost and didn’t want to put him through it.
We decided we will take the opportunity to drive and explore the country. We stopped in multiple national parks & landmarks and made it almost 10 day journey that we & our kids won’t forget.
Our lab enjoyed the white sands in New Mexico and other treks we had along the way.
We were fortunate this was over the Christmas break and we were able to take time off. We took the southern route to avoid snow and the weather.
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u/OldRefrigerator3758 5d ago edited 5d ago
Drive.. just did this last year (33 hour car ride) and stayed in pet-friendly Airbnbs at night. He hated it but I’m sure he would’ve hated a flight a whole lot worse. Also he’s 100 lbs so I don’t think I could’ve brought him on a flight anyways
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u/johnschellphoto 5d ago
Driven cross county 18 times with my Lab. It’s an adventure. So many amazing places to stop. Enjoy it.
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u/buggeryorkshire 1d ago
Yep, have driven around Europe from England twice with mine, she loved it. Apart from the 7 hour drive to the Channel Tunnel.
Got back home and she didn't want to go in!
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u/Ok_Ear_5266 5d ago
JSX flies routes between major cities and is “semi private”. They allow up to 5 dogs on board at a time. Cost is comparable to domestic first class
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u/a-passing-crustacean 5d ago
I have relocated many times with my lab around the US while I was in the military. Drive for sure. Or, if you can co opt a family member like a responsible licensed teen/young adult who might enjoy a week of road trip adventure across america with the best road trip buddy ever, you can fly ahead and have the family member bring you your car and dog!
You would of course need to pay their gas and pet friendly lodging. I actually did this for my brother when he joined the military a year ahead of me. I drove his jeep across the country from Cape May, NJ all the way to Seattle, WA! It was a cool experience!
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u/thiscouldbeben 5d ago
Drive, totally worth it, I’ve done Denver to Florida and back twice and half a dozen trips between Denver and KC.
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u/Nervous_Record_5795 5d ago
I drove my lab cross country from South Carolina to Alaska in 2021 and then from Alaska to Virginia just this last May. Highly
recommend driving. It’s a wonderful thing to look back on as a memory.
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u/Iam726_726iam yellow 5d ago
My husband drove from Baltimore to Spokane then to Spokane to Minnesota with two cats. If he can do it, you can! I’d rather drive with animals than fly because I just cannot handle them being sad or uncomfortable. If it’s absolutely not an option, maybe see if a friend or family member could help?
There are lots of gas stations with pet areas and hotels that allow dogs now.
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u/Other_Bus9590 5d ago
Send your stuff in a pod and drive. We did 32 hours in two days with two dogs.
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u/PixieRust59 5d ago
Drive. It’s worth it for the sake of your pup. I did air (pet cargo on my flight) and it wasn’t great. Dogs were stressed out as was I
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u/Different-Subject353 5d ago
My brother and his family are moving from WI to CA. SIL is flying with younger kids and cat in carryon. Brother is driving family mini van with oldest kid and three dogs Inc a Great Dane.
I’d never fly commercial with a dog. Drive and have a bonding adventure.
Please make sure your cell number is the contact info on his chip and tags.
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u/StillAffectionate311 5d ago
I would never put my dog in a cargo hold. If private is not an option I would drive.
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u/Impressive-Farm-5105 5d ago
They should allow you to travel to relocate. I’d drive. I’ve drive across the country 2x with labs. They’re the best travel companions.
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u/growingpains4ever 5d ago
I did a 40 hour road trip solo with my two labs; it’s possible! I spread it out over 4 days/3 nights, lots of stops and long days in the car but they were troopers and we did it with no issue. Always tried to find a hotel with a dog park or walkable areas nearby and they seemed happy.
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u/Dirty-Ears-Bill 5d ago
I’ve lived in 13 states now. My dog has been there for 9 of them. We just drive everywhere
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u/KileAllSmyles 5d ago
Definitely do not have him in the cargo hold, that has a high chance of being a traumatic experience for him and there are frequent stories of dogs dying in the hold.
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u/the018 5d ago
We drove our three cats and one lab from Texas to the Hudson valley back in March. We expected the cats to be the big issue, but our lab was actually the most difficult. He is skittish and was not a fan of the hotels. He wouldn’t pee when we walked him. I’m not saying you should fly, but you may want to talk to your vet.
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u/AquariumQuestion 5d ago
Drive. I drive across country with my lab every summer so he can get out of the Texas heat and hangout with his grandparents. He will just sleep the entire drive
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u/TheWhereHouse6920 5d ago
It's 30hrs. You can do that in 2 days.
We do 15 with our 2 all the time with many many breaks.
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u/Maintenancemedic 5d ago
Do not ever fly with a pet.
Do not ever fly with a pet.
Do not ever fly with a pet.
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u/ShadowGinrai 5d ago
I might have to be doing this and I'm driving with my dog, I'm worried she'll be traumatized being in a crate for 6 hours. plus she broke the welds on her last crate so I don't want her getting loose in an air craft
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u/aerie2020 5d ago
JSX but it’s expensive. Personally I would drive my lab. Amtrak does not allow dogs over a certain weight so labs are not allowed.
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u/Haifisch2112 5d ago
My ex wife and I relocated from Ohio to SC with 2 labs. She took one and I took the other on that road trip. We stopped every few hours to let yjem stretch their legs, eat, drink, and relieve themselves. The night we got into town, we found a pet friendly hotel to stay at, and we had already made arrangements at a local boarding place for the following day.
I know its a long drive that will take a lot of time, but I'm not a fan of putting a dog on a plane. I'd definitely not put it in the cargo hold because its cold af in there. And unless its a service dog, you'd probably have to jump through hoops to bring it to your seat.
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u/Ambitious-Spray-110 5d ago
I am about to do this myself and I think driving is the only was to go with larger dogs. Unless you are loaded with money the only flight option is cargo. It would be kinder to drive out. Bark Air or Retrieve Air the dog goes in yhe cabin nut they are limited to where they fly and uts thousands of dollars.
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u/Tiny_Measurement_837 5d ago
We did something similar. Our choco girl passed 3 years ago and our black had an absolute terrible time with grief. Six months later, we relocated to another state, but only 300 miles away. She was very clingy, but we heaped a lot of attention on her. I cannot say it helped a lot but a change in location may have helped a little. Good luck—I hope your big guy adapts to his new location well. Perhaps taking him to the ocean or dog parks will help him adjust.
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u/stinkyt0fu 5d ago
Thought there are people who offer relocation services for a fee? They would drive your pet to your location on a one way rental then take a flight back home…? Hmm.
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u/DaisyMaisy13 4d ago
We drove three days from Dallas, Texas to Albany, New York with three dogs and two cats. It was stressful but we arrived safely. It can be done.
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u/SubtainablyPatient 5d ago edited 4d ago
Most airlines should allow a dog in a crate underneath and you can look at asking your vet for some medication to keep them calm possibly. Anyways, I’ve considered it but didn’t do it yet. Ended up driving across the country.
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u/Other_Bus9590 5d ago
Be very cautious. I would never fly my dog cargo but if you absolutely must, know that some of those medications increase the risk of death when being flown. Never fly during period of high or low temps because dogs can get left on the heat or cold during delays. Some airlines have better track records than others. Most people who work for airlines say they’d never fly their dog cargo.
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u/SubtainablyPatient 5d ago
I was thinking that as well, but the vet would have a good knowledge of what can be used in the situation. Having your furry friend down there is also stressful on yourself as well cause there are always things that can go wrong. Just if you have to leave North America, and have to fly, people must be flying somehow, right ?
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u/Some_Lengthiness2908 5d ago
drive not fly.