After crossing the Atlantic on a seven-hour flight from London to New York, one globetrotting dog reached her limit as exhaustion caught up to her.
Owner Sam told Newsweek via email that she and her husband, Nick, won the dog-friendly trip through a giveaway run by private charter company K9 Jets in partnership with the U.K.’s famous canine show, Crufts. The prize sent the couple and their 5-year-old goldendoodle, Gwen, on a nearly three-week adventure exploring cities along the eastern United States.
They landed in New York around 5 p.m. after a seven-hour flight. Sam said they spent time at the hotel before grabbing food and crashing. They wanted to get up early to watch the sunrise over the Brooklyn Bridge. The next day, they traveled to Boston, where the couple started noticing that the time difference was catching up to Gwen.
In a March 15 TikTok video posted to her account @samandgwen, Sam filmed Gwen while they were out to dinner. The dog attempted to keep her eyes open, fighting off the tiredness, but her head slowly drooped down. The jet lag from the four-hour time difference caught up to her. They were out to eat when it would have been her bedtime at home.
“By that point, I think it must have hit that we were going to be doing a lot of walking and that she would be doing lots of exploring,” Sam said.
But to the couple’s surprise, Gwen started to settle into the new routine. The dog never wanted to miss an opportunity to go with the couple, and she took every chance she could to rest and nap in between outings.
The family went from New York to Boston, visiting Salem and walking around Harvard University, before going to Newport, Rhode Island, to see the mansions. Then came Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia, to “let her experience Philly cheesesteaks.” They traveled back to New York before heading home.
“She just loves to be with my husband and me, so we were absolutely thrilled to be able to spend all of that time with her on holiday,” she said.
Do Dogs Get Jet Lag?
While jet lag is commonly associated with human travelers, experts say dogs can also experience similar disruptions after crossing time zones.
Travel can temporarily throw off a dog’s circadian rhythm—the internal clock that regulates sleep, hormones and daily activity—leaving some pets feeling drowsy, confused or out of sync, according to a veterinarian-reviewed article from Dogster. Dogs are also sensitive to changes in routine and environment, meaning the stimulation of airports, flights and unfamiliar surroundings can contribute to fatigue in the days following a long journey.
The good news for traveling pet owners is that most dogs adjust quickly. With rest, hydration and familiar comforts—such as bringing a dog’s usual blanket, travel bed or calming aids—many pets settle back into their normal behavior within a short period.
Viewer Reactions
The TikTok video had reached nearly 50,000 views and over 8,560 likes, as of Tuesday, with viewers falling head over heels for the well-traveled dog nodding off after a transatlantic adventure.
“Omg that sleepy face…I’m in love,” said one person.
Another commented: “Bless her, fighting a losing battle against sleep.”
A third user wrote: “I hope you had an amazing time! Manifesting one day I can afford K9 Jets or maybe even win a giveaway.”
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