Hi all… I am planning a trip to Albequerque from Los Angeles sometime in a month or two. I’m visiting my sisters, who are big time dog freaks, as am I. We always compare notes and stories about our dogs. They have never met my beloved Golden, Maggie, and I would love to take her with me. However, I am absolutely TERRIFIED of her coming to harm during the trip…I’ve heard such horror stories, and I’d simply never forgive myself.
It’s a pretty short flight…
Tell me about your experiences.
stoid
PS: The alternative would be to drive from LA to Northern New Mexico (they actually live about 45 minutes south of Durango, CO.) but I think that would just be too much of a trek.
I’ve both flown and driven with my dogs without too many problems. When flying, consider the following:
[ul]1. Use a sturdy crate large enough for your dog to stand up and turn around in. The airlines can tell you which crate is approved for pet travel (call them to find out about their pet flight restrictions). Opaque crate with grill doors are good - make sure doors are securable and that the crate has food and water containers. Place both your home address and your destination address on the crate.
2. If your dog has not used a crate, get him used to it now by putting a towel or blanket in there and allowing him free access. Close the crate for short periods of time to get him used to being locked inside. Eventually move the crate and dog to your car so he will get used to the motion of travel.
3. Fly only during times of cool weather (some airlines will not fly pets during the summer months). If it is particularly cold, fly during the afternoon.
4. Take a picture of your dog and make sure your dog wears his tags. Add a tag with your destination address.
5. Take a bottle of your hometown water and a few dog snacks. Don’t feed him too much just prior to his flight and give him a little bit of water (too much food or water may upset his stomach). If you have connecting flights, you will want to see your dog between flights and give him some water (but try to get a non-stop flight if at all possible).
6. When checking in, ask for permission to watch your dog being loaded into the plane. When boarding the plane, tell the flight attendant that you have a pet traveling in the cargo hold. If you see the pilot, tell her too.
7. Call USDA-APHIS (Animal Plant Health Inspection Service) Phone Numbers Toll-Free: 1-800-545-USDA for information about pet travel.
8. If possible, consider driving. There are a number of accomodating hotels (Red Roof Inn, for example) that happily take dogs. If you drive, you can secure your dog using a seat harness. Always use your leash when out of the car. [/ul]
I’ve traveled cross country by car with my dogs and flown from Pocatello to LA with one (found out my retriever would increase her bark rate in response to increasing engine RPMs of a twelve-seater plane ). It was always a joy to travel with them when taking a few precautions. Have fun!
Never flown with my own dog, but I was on a flight from Cincinatti to Raleigh and a large dog in the luggage section barked the entire flight. You could hear him all over the passenger cabin. He sounded miserable.
My dogs don’t particularly like travelling by car, but they don’t complain too much either.
I feed them only after we have stopped for the night so they won’t get car-sick (not usually a huge danger with them, but I like to be on the safe side). My younger dog lost her appetite after the last long trip (5,500 miles round trip.) She didn’t start eating normally again for 7-10 days after we got home. Not sure why, but she did get a lot less exercise on the trip than usual.
The older dog is very sedate on a road trip (but not otherwise) so she can ride with me in the front of the truck. The younger is rambunctious, so she has to go in the back (there’s a cap on pickup). I made the mistake once of putting them both in the back. They fought like wildcats and drove me to distraction.
Roll up your windows if the dog is in the car and you get out for a minute. My older dog jumped out of the truck while I was pumping gas once in New Jersey. Luckily she didn’t get very far and came when I called.
Many motels allow pets in the room. Motel 6 tends not to ask too many questions about the size and number of dogs, and I don’t volunteer anything more than the fact that a dog will be in the room with me. I think their official policy is one small dog per room, but I don’t think they care too much, so long as the dogs don’t destroy the place.
). It was always a joy to travel with them when taking a few precautions. Have fun!