Puppies Take Flight at Detroit Airport as They Train to Become Assistance Dogs

ROMULUS, Mich. — Five puppies learning to be assistance dogs had a howling good time during a training exercise at Detroit Metropolitan Airport.

During the Tuesday training, the group of five puppies and their trainers went through a Transportation Security Administration checkpoint, rode an elevated tram, and boarded an airplane.

This training was aimed at acclimating the dogs to various settings they may encounter in their future roles. The training was conducted by Paws With A Cause, a nonprofit based in Wayland, Michigan, that specializes in the custom training of puppies to become assistance dogs for individuals with disabilities. The organization assigns puppies to volunteers who raise and socialize them for the first year of their lives.

Liz Hood, who coordinates the foster puppy curriculum for the organization, explained, “Eventually, when they’re placed with our clients, they may well need to fly with them. So, if they have this exposure now while they’re young, then it means it’s not going to be a big deal for them when they’re with their clients when they’re older.”

In addition to airport training, the puppies also accompany their trainers to grocery stores, libraries, restaurants, and doctor’s appointments. However, the airport experience is unique due to its distinct sights and sounds.

The five puppies, which include Labrador and golden retrievers, as well as a papillon, enthusiastically explored the airport, attracting curious glances from airline passengers. They confidently walked down a jetway and boarded a plane, where they settled at the feet of their trainers and were rewarded with treats to keep them still.

Hood emphasized the importance of this type of training, stating, “One of the main reasons for doing this type of training is so that our puppies become calm and confident in all types of different social situations.”