Puppy in QM2 Kennels?

[HighSeas75]

I've been told by the Kennel Master that QM2 has had 12 week old puppies onboard. I have a spaniel that will be 15/16 weeks at sailing time. He is healthy but so small and fragile I am beginning to wonder if it is safe for him and if I should cancel and take the trip when he is a bit older. Has anyone here has had experience sailing on Cunard with puppies or have you seen some in the QM2 kennels?

[D&N]

1 hour ago, HighSeas75 said:

I've been told by the Kennel Master that QM2 has had 12 week old puppies onboard. I have a spaniel that will be 15/16 weeks at sailing time. He is healthy but so small and fragile I am beginning to wonder if it is safe for him and if I should cancel and take the trip when he is a bit older. Has anyone here has had experience sailing on Cunard with puppies or have you seen some in the QM2 kennels?

Unless there are any folk with veterinary qualifications and currently practicing in the profession contributing on these boards; I suggest that you discuss this with your own vet.

You probably won't permit your puppy to make any significant input to the decision, but the decision certainly shouldn't be made on the opinions of strangers!

[Winifred 22]

Are puppies that young allowed out to mix ? I thought they had to be older to mix with other dogs after they have all their injections ? 

 

[LibertyBella]

I have and have had many pets, and I have traveled with them and boarded them in the kennel at all ages, from babies to seniors (dogs, cats, parakeets).  I have not, however, taken my dogs on a cruise, although our very good friends just took their adult dog to and from Europe on the QM2, and our other good friends take their adult dog with them on the plane to their second home in France every Summer--he is small, and rides under the seat.  Many dogs become excellent travelers! (One of my dogs used to jump into the car with glee when he knew we were going on a ride.)

 

Younger animals are usually a bit more flexible with different arrangements, but they could become shy or scared if they are left alone too much. Does the dog sleep apart from you or with you?  Has he been socialized to other people?  Does he know how to get along with other dogs?  Does he get stressed easily?  Also, when I board my pets, I know there are veterinarians right there at the facility to treat them should any serious health problems arise (even a change in food can bring on problems).  I know you can visit your dog every day on the QM2, but only you know if he would become lonely or depressed.

 

I suppose the flag for me in your question is that you used the word "fragile,"--what do you mean by that? 

 

I have a Persian cat, she is very, very, tiny, five pounds full grown, just a ball of fluff.  As a kitten I also considered her a bit fragile because she was so, so small, and her nose is a little pushed up, and her eyes stick out a little bit.  She went on a long car ride from the breeder to our home (six hours), and I held her in my arms the entire time (she was crying so woefully in the car), and ever since then I never take her anywhere except to the vet for her check-ups.  She sleeps on our bed and sits right next to my pillow in the morning, and licks my face to wake-me up.  She is now nine years old, and extremely healthy, but for me the risk is too great to ever let her out of our house (even a hawk could scoop her up!), much less travel with her.

 

Your comfort level for the situation is also important as dogs react strongly to our emotions.  

Yes, it is important to be thoughtful and careful about our animal companions, because we are all they have.  Best wishes, and I hope both of you enjoy the cruise!

 

 

[LibertyBella]

And as much as I respect my vets, and I have used many over the past six decades, they all have various levels of expertise, experience, and knowledge. IMO the average vet would not be able to provide much feedback on the QM2 cruise kennel experience.  Past travelers would be an excellent source of feedback. (I would never expect someone who just purchased a puppy from a breeder to NOT be in contact with a veterinarian!)

 

In extreme medical cases I always use veterinary specialist practices, where each veterinarian is board certified in a different area, and all can consult together as a team to determine the best practices toward ideal outcomes.  Here in Philly we have one of the top veterinary hospitals in the country--the University of Pennsylvania, and even they struggle with how to treat certain cases (yes, I go all out for my pets).

 

And as I tried to discuss a little in my previous point, there can be a difference between being physically fit to travel versus emotionally/mentally fit.  The owner needs to decide if the pet can handle the cage experience, and being with strange people, and noisy dogs.  (One of my cats will stop eating if she is in a cage for any length of time--she is quite shy, and hides from everybody but me and my husband, but is now 16 years old and healthy!)

[HighSeas75]

On 8/15/2023 at 4:22 AM, LibertyBella said:

I have and have had many pets, and I have traveled with them and boarded them in the kennel at all ages, from babies to seniors (dogs, cats, parakeets).  I have not, however, taken my dogs on a cruise, although our very good friends just took their adult dog to and from Europe on the QM2, and our other good friends take their adult dog with them on the plane to their second home in France every Summer--he is small, and rides under the seat.  Many dogs become excellent travelers! (One of my dogs used to jump into the car with glee when he knew we were going on a ride.)

 

Younger animals are usually a bit more flexible with different arrangements, but they could become shy or scared if they are left alone too much. Does the dog sleep apart from you or with you?  Has he been socialized to other people?  Does he know how to get along with other dogs?  Does he get stressed easily?  Also, when I board my pets, I know there are veterinarians right there at the facility to treat them should any serious health problems arise (even a change in food can bring on problems).  I know you can visit your dog every day on the QM2, but only you know if he would become lonely or depressed.

 

I suppose the flag for me in your question is that you used the word "fragile,"--what do you mean by that? 

 

I have a Persian cat, she is very, very, tiny, five pounds full grown, just a ball of fluff.  As a kitten I also considered her a bit fragile because she was so, so small, and her nose is a little pushed up, and her eyes stick out a little bit.  She went on a long car ride from the breeder to our home (six hours), and I held her in my arms the entire time (she was crying so woefully in the car), and ever since then I never take her anywhere except to the vet for her check-ups.  She sleeps on our bed and sits right next to my pillow in the morning, and licks my face to wake-me up.  She is now nine years old, and extremely healthy, but for me the risk is too great to ever let her out of our house (even a hawk could scoop her up!), much less travel with her.

 

Your comfort level for the situation is also important as dogs react strongly to our emotions.  

Yes, it is important to be thoughtful and careful about our animal companions, because we are all they have.  Best wishes, and I hope both of you enjoy the cruise!

 

 

Thank you. He comes from a breeder, in the countryside, and was housed with other dogs in a kennel. I do worry about him becoming sick though as he is so young - he will be 15 weeks at sailing time. Most of the money for the fare paid will be lost if we cancel, but I'd rather that any day than lose him. Originally it was my beloved 12 year old dog who was supposed to travel, but he unexpectedly died and I was so devastated I didn't know how to cope except to get a puppy. I'm so glad I did, I love him so much - and I feel my other dog is closer as a result.

Edited August 17, 2023 by HighSeas75

[IB2]

Firstly, you need to check the legalities around the rabies injection, which will have a legal lower age limit and comes with a three week waiting period before you can apply for your documents to travel.

 

I have done four crossings with a dog and seen a young puppy just the once.  Puppies actually cope better with unfamiliar experiences as they are still within their socialisation period, but - as most owners do anyway - you would need to spend every hour the kennels are open with your dog, and manage its interactions with the others.  A week in cramped conditions with little opportunity for exercise is stressful for any dog, and although Cunard advertises the experience as some kind of holiday for the dogs, really it isnt.

 

You also need to judge the puppy’s temperament to make sure it will cope with the confinement.  Much of a TA is spent sitting with the dogs in the kennel rooms, since it’s often wet and windy out on deck (especially westbound), and you want a dog that is capable of sitting or being held calmly, or sleeping, for a good amount of time, next to other owners and other dogs.  A puppy from a breed that needs constant stimulation isn’t going to do so well. 

Edited August 27, 2023 by IB2