This is a guest post from Mary-Alice Pomputius, who has two blogs. Dog Jaunt offers advice about traveling with a small dog and Pet Carrier Reviews offers unbiased reviews of carriers and crates for dogs, cats and other pets. AndASmall Dog loves reading Dog Jaunt – always something new and informative!

Chloe ready for her next vacation

I write about all aspects of traveling with a small dog (our dog, Chloe, is a young Cavalier King Charles Spaniel), but most of the questions I get are about taking a small dog on a plane. And most of those questions are about choosing a carrier. It’s a bewildering task: There are lots of choices, and there are lots of parameters to worry about. Nearly all of the U.S. airlines allow small dogs to travel in-cabin, and many international airlines do too, but there is no standard accepted maximum carrier size. Take a look at the “Guides” section on my blog, Dog Jaunt, and you’ll see that the maximums range from extremely small (Sun Country’s 8Hx16Lx11W) to the relatively palatial (THAI Air’s 12Hv22Lx15W). What’s a dog owner to do?

Here are five tips:

1. Assess your dog

The very first thing you need to do is measure your dog’s height. The crucial measurement is the distance from the floor to the top of your dog’s shoulders — not his head, his shoulders. Imagine that your dog has put his head down to drink water. His head and neck have bent low; the remaining body height is what you care about. That’s because your dog will spend nearly all of his time in his carrier lying down, either curled up or stretched out. He needs to be able to turn around freely in his carrier (that’s merciful, and it’s also an airline requirement), but he doesn’t need to raise his head completely to turn around or be comfortable.

That number is the minimum height that your carrier needs to be. If you’re blessed with a mini Dachshund, for example, you’ll likely be able to purchase a carrier with extra vertical room. We, however, have a dog that is 12″ tall, and so is her carrier.

Another crucial measurement is your dog’s weight. In general, a dog that weighs more than 15 lbs. is going to be too large to travel in-cabin. Some airlines have maximum weight requirements (look out, especially, for some very low international maximums), but the main problem is that a dog larger than 15 lbs. may not fit in a workable carrier and still be able to turn around freely. Chloe weighs 13 lbs., and she is at the upper limit of what works.

2. Buy a good-quality carrier

If you plan to take only one plane trip with your dog (say, for example, you hate to travel, but you need to relocate from Houston to Seattle — please note that I’m choosing two cities not serviced by the pet airline Pet Airways, which will carry your dog in-cabin for you), ignore this advice. Buy an inexpensive but complying carrier, like the small Bergan Comfort Carrier (available on Amazon), and call it good.

If you plan to travel frequently with your dog, however, don’t chintz on the carrier. Yes, a good carrier is expensive, but it will be sturdy and have features that contribute to your dog’s comfort and to your peace of mind. The features I look for include sturdy and big/numerous mesh ventilation panels, good-quality zippers, visual access to your dog from above (since your dog will spend most of your journey at your feet), patting access to your dog from above, at least one good-sized pocket, and minimal weight. A bonus feature is the ability to slip the bag over the extended handle of my own suitcase.

The features that airlines require include mesh ventilation panels on at least two sides, water-repellant fabric, padding, the ability to completely contain your dog, and sufficient room for your dog to turn around.

My choices? Chloe’s go-to carrier, the one she uses for her longest trips, is her large SturdiBag. My other favorite, and the one I use when I suspect that under-seat space is going to be tricky, is her Sleepypod Air carrier. If she weighed 10 lbs. or under, I would use her Creature Leisure Pet Pilot XL carrier (it’s a heavy carrier, though, so I wouldn’t use it if I was concerned about weight maximums). Please note that none of these carriers is a Sherpa bag, which is the original (and still most popular) soft-sided pet carrier. They have many good qualities, but their tops are solid, and I insist on being able to see Chloe from above, for both her comfort and mine.

3. Choose a carrier that flexes

The simple fact is that most pet carriers you see in use at an airport are non-complying. Only the tiniest of dogs can fit in a carrier that is 8-9 inches tall. The bag you will see most often, a classic Sherpa bag in size Medium, is 10.5 inches tall. No ticketing agent or gate agent will turn a hair over a medium Sherpa bag, and there is, in practice, a bit of leeway afforded to traveling pet owners. Don’t take it to extremes (a large Sherpa bag is too large, as is an extra-large SturdiBag), because even if you can charm your way past an agent, you still have to fit your dog in an airplane’s under-seat space. Since that space is fairly shallow, your dog’s carrier needs to fit oriented left-to-right. A carrier that is 18 inches long works; 19 inches is iffy; 20 inches is too long.

The three bags I like flex in important ways. The SturdiBag’s top and sides flex considerably, but its length is fixed at 18 inches. The Sleepypod Air can lose about an inch in height, but it is designed to (temporarily) lose up to 6 inches in length. The Creature Leisure Pet Pilot XL flexes in a different way: Zipped up, it just fits under most airplane seats, but as soon as you take off, you can pull it out from under the seat and unzip a large gusset that gives your dog a good deal of travel room during flight.

That last point is an important one to remember. Your dog needs to fit under the seat in front of you for takeoff and landing, but during the rest of the flight you can pull his carrier out into the space under your knees. With that room, the top of the SturdiBag pops back out, the ends of the Sleepypod Air flip back down, and your dog has the maximum scope his carrier allows him.

4. Choose black

Black bags look smaller. If you are the owner of a dog small enough to fit in a fully-complying carrier, buy one that’s neon orange. Live it up! The rest of us need to minimize the visual impact of our pet’s carrier.

5. Consider wheels

If you are traveling far enough that you have a layover, you’ll want to make it a long one, so that you and your dog have the chance to exit the airport, find the pet relief area, and return through security. Some pet relief areas are conveniently located and easy to find, but many are not — and sometimes the gate you arrive at is a remote one. You’ll need to hurry to achieve your goals, and wheels help. Chloe’s a small dog, but by the time I get to the pet relief area in Denver she effectively weighs about 57 lbs.

Only one of my favorite carriers (the Pet Pilot XL) has wheels, and it’s really too small for Chloe. Wheeled carriers that comfortably fit a dog Chloe’s size are typically too big to work as in-cabin carriers, unfortunately, but owners of dogs under 10 lbs. should give wheels serious consideration.

Thank you Mary-Alice for your wonderful and informative post! Please be sure to check out Dog Jaunt and Pet Carrier Reviews for more information.

Planning your spring or summer vacation? Why not take your pet? More and more hotels are allowing pets – as pets are part of the family too! It can be a bit of a pain to find the right hotel – especially when traveling with large dogs, multiple pets or exotic animals – but I am here to help! I have a background as a travel agent for humans, but now specialize in the growing niche of vacations for the whole family – including your pets. Just email me with your travel request and I will do the research so you don’t have to! Items to include in your email are:

• Chosen destination(s) – or if you need help, just let me know!
• Dates
• Type of pet(s) and their weight(s)
• How many travelers in total
• Any additional information that will help me suggest the perfect vacation spot for you and your whole family

If you are looking for things to do with your pet at your chosen destination, head over to GoPetFriendly.com to find some ideas!

Happy Travels!

Leila

Recently I contributed my first guest post on GoPetFriendly.com’s blog – Take Paws. Check it out by clicking here - GoPetFriendly.com blog.

And if you read the article on GoPetFriendly already and this is your first time visiting AndASmallDog.com – Welcome! I am here to help you with all your pet travel plans – from researching and reserving appropriate accommodations and transportation to finding pet-friendly things to do in your chosen location. I always travel with my small dog and so I have a lot of experience dealing with all the ins-and-outs of pet travel. Please feel free to email me with any questions or if you need help with planning your trip – my services are free!

Happy Travels!

Leila

Boone and Kenzie in San Francisco

Introducing Boone and Kenzie, two globe-trotting Scottish Terriers, who love to travel and share their photos and stories. These two adorable dogs have traveled all over Europe and the United States and they keep an online journal of their travels. The stories are amusing, told in first-person (first-dog?), and are about all their adventures. The highlight of the website, however, is the photos! These two dogs, one black and one white, have photos of themselves perfectly posing in front of famous landmarks all over Europe and the U.S. These two dogs have a lot of experience with traveling, so I asked them a few questions about their experiences.
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Q: Thank you Boone and Kenzie for sitting down for an interview for AndASmallDog.com! AndASmallDog.com is a website with information about traveling with a small dog – something you both know a lot about. Have you been on any trips recently?
A: Our most recent trips were to eastern Washington to see family and in the spring we went to the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival, which turns out it had more daffodils than tulips this year when we went.

Q: You traveled extensively through Europe, similar to what we did with our Jack Russell. What was your favorite place and why?
A: We enjoyed a lot of the places we travelled, however the one that sticks out in our mind the most was our stay in Milan, the first city in Europe that we visited (but Italy in general was nice).  Everyone was very friendly there.  We got to eat inside nice restaurants like Charlie Brown’s, visit dog parks all over the city, go through a castle, ride the trollies and visit the Piazza del Duomo and neighboring areas.

Boone and Kenzie in London, England

Q: You went to the UK when you traveled through Europe – did you have any problems with the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS)?
A: We planned ahead pretty well to avoid the 6-month quarantine by getting our rabies shot and ISO chip, but we were forced to stay an extra day in Calais because we needed to get a sign-off from a vet for flea and tick and de-wormer medication.

Visit http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-pets/pets/travel/pets/index.htm for information regarding the rules of importing pets to the UK.

Q: What was your least favorite place in Europe, or the least doggie friendly place?
A: Naples was our least favorite place in Europe.  After arriving by train, we walked outside only to find garbage dumped all over the roads and flies swarming on top of the garbage. It turned out there was a garbage strike.  So we ended up leaving that same day back home. Spain also because they need a doggie train pass, otherwise the cost is prohibitive to ride them.

Q: What do you prefer: planes, trains or automobiles? My dog, Bodie, definitely prefers automobiles but also loves a good train ride.
A: We definitely prefer trains the most, especially when passing by cows.  We always tend to pay the most attention to the scenery when we see them.  We wish we could travel by rail in the United States, but sadly Amtrak doesn’t allow pet travel on their lines.

Boone and Kenzie ready for the plane

Q: When you fly, can you fit under the seat or do you ride in cargo? Do you have any tips for calming nerves when flying?
A: When we fly, we’ve only done where we fit under the seat, since we’re pretty much the max width, height and weight for in-cabin flying.  Tips for calm nerves during flight would be to go potty just before leaving and get fed treats during takeoff and landing.  Also it’s a good idea to practice being “kenneled” in the bag/kennel you’ll fly in for long amounts of time to get used to being in there.

Q: The highlight of your website has to be all the photos! Have you thought about putting a book together with all the best ones?
A: Yes we have and we look forward to doing that sometime in the future.

Q: If you could choose, where would you vacation next?
A: We’d love to visit Greece, Egypt and India next if we had our choice.  If quarantine wasn’t an issue, we’d also try visiting China, Hawaii and Australia.

(Note: Hawaii no longer requires a long quarantine. For more info, click here)

Q: Do you have any travel-related tips, stories or reviews you’d like to share?
A: We tend to point people to our FAQ, though we don’t have it properly linked from our website:  http://scottietails.com/faq.html

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Boone and Kenzie haven’t had time to update their travelogue lately due to the birth of their new family member, Brendan. ScottieTails.com is still a delightful website and the photos are definitely worth seeing. Boone and Kenzie are two cute, lucky dogs who have traveled more than most people!

Thank you to Boone and Kenzie, and to Ben and Shelby (and little Brendan), for participating in the interview. I hope to read, and see more photos, of your future adventures.

Links:

ScottieTails.com Homepage

ScottieTails.com Photo Gallery

ScottieTails.com Videos

PetRelocation.com offers a slightly different service then AndASmallDog. While we focus on vacationing and spending time with your pet, PetRelocation.com offers assistance with relocating them across the country, or across the world. The website has many cool features including customer reviews and advice, and “Ask the Experts” section and photos of “happy pets” from around the world.

Check out my article on Examiner.com for more info!

Hot Bodie in Barcelona!

One our favorite places we visited while living in Europe was the amazing Barcelona, Spain – and it was very dog-friendly!

The Flight

Of course, our small dog Bodie came with us. We flew KLM from Amsterdam – the only time we flew within Europe since it was a long drive! Upon arrival in Barcelona, I went searching for the place to meet Bodie (he unfortunately has to travel in cargo as he’s a few pounds/inches too big to fit under the seat). I went back over to my husband who was waiting by the baggage claim belt  to tell him I had no luck yet, and out pops Bodie riding on the conveyer belt! He was the first piece of “luggage” on the belt, and luckily we were there to take him off so he didn’t get dizzy from going around and around! Everyone was laughing and peeking in to his kennel – it was a surprise to us all! He seemed happy that the flight was short (compared to the overseas flights which he was used to by then!).

KLM

I have to applaud the KLM for being really pet friendly in both airports (Amsterdam and Barcelona). They were very friendly and caring about Bodie’s experience and took care of us all. They allowed us to take Bodie out for a walk before the flight (in both locations) and they also allowed us to stay with him until it was time for us to board the flight(s). All the KLM employees seemed genuine in their love of animals and were eager to help us. Bodie got a lot of positive attention during this stressful time!

The Adventure Begins!

Bodie Exploring the Roof Terrace, Barcelona

Bodie had a great time in Barcelona. We stayed at an apartment in a quiet street in the Gothic area and had the rooftop patio all to ourselves. Bodie couldn’t see over the side, but enjoyed having extra room to run around and sniff!

View from the Roof Terrace, Barcelona (What Bodie Couldn't See, But Wanted To!)

We all enjoyed exploring Barcelona by foot. It is a large city with lots of interesting areas. We ended up walking from our apartment, through the Parc de la Ciutedalla, to the Mediterranean Sea. It was a long walk, in hot weather, but we had lots of fun.

For Bodie, it was a trip of firsts – First time seeing a parrot in the park – very tame since they are fed all the time by Barcelonians.

Parrot in the Park, Barcelona

It was Bodie’s first time seeing the beach (as far as we know – at least the “beach” in Holland isn’t the same as the beach in Barcelona!).

And he was mesmerized!

Bodie at the Beach, Barcelona

And it was also his first time riding in an elevator! Now he understands the concept.

Bodie in an Elevator, Barcelona

I definitely recommend Barcelona as a great destination to visit, and you can be rest assured that your pet will also have a fantastic time! 

If you are interested in visiting Barcelona, with or without your small dog, please don’t hesitate to email me at Leila@worldclasstvl.com!

Being Patient With His Humans In Poland

What To Know When Flying With Your Dog

Flying with your animal is a stressful experience for everyone involved. It is best to prepare for your trip as early as possible, and use common sense when deciding if your pet is capable of flying. It is not recommended for some animals so consult with your veterinarian if you have any doubts. However, sometimes its inevitable, such as in the case of moving overseas – which I did twice with two different dogs. 

 - Make your flight reservations as early as possible. Airlines only have a limited amount of room in the pet cargo area, and they only allow a certain number in the cabin on each flight. Also be aware that there are embargo periods depending on the weather (i.e. no summer travel in hot areas, no winter travel in very cold areas).

- Have the following information ready when making a reservation with an airline: Dog Breed, Age and Weight; Size of Kennel (L x W x H); Combined Weight of Kennel and Dog.

- Research your destination(s) and make sure you have the proper documentation for your pet. Most countries require a Health Certificate dated within 24-48 hours before departure. Some countries also require a USDA stamp from your state’s USDA department. Make sure you know the return destinations requirements also.

- Get your dog used to the kennel that he will be flying in. And make sure he/she can stand fully and have room to turn around or you could be denied boarding at the airport. Put blankets, toys, treats, and any other familiar items in the kennel to get the dog used to going in it. During the flight, put comfy pillows/blankets in the kennel along with any other security-blanket type items (but only if you are sure your pet won’t choke on them). Keep treats handy for giving to your pet at the airport.

-Get 2 bowls that will clip onto the inside of the kennel – one for food and one for water. Don’t fill the water bowl until they come to take your pet onboard (some people also suggest freezing the water in the bowl overnight so it will melt during travel). The water will spill so try to find a deep bowl (I also put a washcloth down under the bowls to soak up the spills so it doesn’t get on my dog’s blankets). It’s recommended to not feed your pet within 24 hours of departure (especially for long-haul flights), but to put a bit of food in the bowl. Also attach a ziploc bag to the top of the kennel with extra food and feeding instructions in case of delays, etc.

- Put clear labels on all sides of the kennel with your contact information including the pet’s name and type, destination address, phone number(s), and flight information including your flight and  reservation numbers. Also put signs on the outside (writing should be a minimum of 2 inches high) with an arrow up and “Live Animal”. Some airlines have their own stickers, but its good to be prepared just in case.

- Once onboard, if your pet is flying in cargo, ask the flight attendant to confirm your pet is onboard. They will call the captain who can call the ground crew to confirm. Live animals are the last items loaded, and it’s always a relief to know your pet is onboard.

With a little preparation, a lot of the stress of flying with your dog can be eliminated. The first time is always the worst, but just try to remain calm for the sake of yourself and your pet. The flight will be over soon enough, and you can once again enjoy one another’s company! 

Happy Travels!

If you have any questions about flying with your pet, please don’t hesitate to email Leila@worldclasstvl.com. I have flown with my dog multiple times and can answer any questions you have, plus help you book your flight and vacation.

The Five Most Pet-Friendly Airlines of 2009 – from Petfinder.com

1. Continental – Safety First Continental is proud of its PetSafe program, which has a 24-hour Live Animal Desk (1-800-575-3335) that tracks the pets from origin to destination. It’s pricier than other programs, but it’s climate-controlled, allows roomy carriers and has designated cargo staff. Travelers using PetSafe can even earn miles. The airline also allows small cats, dogs, pet rabbits and household birds to be carried in the cabin on most domestic flights for $125 each way. Pets allowed in cabin: Small dogs, cats, rabbits and birds. Pets allowed as checked baggage: No. Pets allowed in cargo: Yes, all pets that are checked travel in climate-controlled cargo, not as checked baggage.

2. JetBlue Airways – Full-Service Pet Love JetBlue really embraced pet-toting travelers when it launched JetPaws last summer. For no additional cost, JetBlue provides a pet carrier bag tag, two TrueBlue points each way, a welcome e-mail and a free pet-travel guide. However, like other airlines, JetBlue has hiked its in-cabin pet charge: one-way fees range from $75 to $100. Pets allowed in cabin: Small cats and dogs. Pets allowed as checked baggage: No. Pets allowed in cargo: No.

3. Airtran – Budget-Friendly Airtran won’t make you break the bank to fly with your pet beside you (well, technically, under your seat). It’s currently the least-expensive airline to fly with your small pet: just $69 each way. Pets allowed in cabin: Small dogs, cats and bird.s Pets allowed as checked baggage: No. Pets allowed in cargo: No.

4. American Airlines – Zoo-Trusted American Airlines’ animal-trained staff has assisted in transporting animals from popular zoos in cargo. While they only allow a limited number of pets in the cabin, they ask pet parents to make special notes for their animal companions flying in cargo and promise to abide by all requests. Pets allowed in cabin: Small dogs and cats. Pets allowed as checked baggage: Yes, larger dogs and cats. Pets allowed in cargo: Yes.

5. United Airlines – Non-Discriminating United Airlines loves animals of all kinds. They accept small cats, dogs and birds in the cabin; rabbits, hamsters and guinea pigs as checked baggage and other animals including parrots, cockatiels and ferrets in United Cargo. (Shipping by cargo is for items, like some pets, that you can’t check as baggage. Your pet may or may not be on the aircraft with you.) Have a short-nosed dog that you can’t bring in the cabin? Check your date of flight; some breeds and mixes are not allowed in cargo or as checked baggage from June 1 through September 30 of each year. Pets allowed in cabin: Small cats, dogs and birds. Pets allowed as checked baggage: Depends on the aircraft. Pets allowed in cargo: Yes; however, the type of animal allowed depends on destination and arrival locations.