Has anyone flown with their yorkie?

[Meg]

As I mentioned before I am going home to visit my family in a few weeks. I am playing with the idea of taking Keeley. I really want to introduce him to my family and take him to the family reunion in the canyon. I have read up on all the size requirements, prices to fly with them, how there can only be 2 pets in the whole airline ect. So I know all that goes into taking the pet with me, but now I want to know the "emotional" side of it?

How did your yorkie (or other dog) do? Was it stressful for you? Was it stressful for your baby? Did it bother people around you? What did you do to make it more comfortable? Do their ears get bothered (like mine do)? Would it be better to leave him home with my husband where he'll be home alone for most of the day while he is at work?

I'd really apreciate your feedback.

[ReconsMomma]

I haven't taken my yorkie on a trip with me yet but I take memphis with me all the time when I got to arizona. He does really well. He is used to being in a carrier and I have a really nice LV carrier for him that has plenty of room for him in it. I usually try to tire him out as much as I can before the flight so that he sleeps the whole way. I have never had a problem with him. He has a few little non noise making toys that go in his carrier with him.

[Carters Mom]

I consulted my vet before flying and she gave me the correct dosage of benadryl for him prior to flying. She is against sedating dogs this small.

If your pup has never stayed in a crate before, he/she may go through anxiety of being forced into that situation.

You cannot remove your pet from its carrier on the plane -- the flight attendant told me that the airline is subject to severe fines if you do so. I did sneak Carter under my blanket instead of hearing him cry on our return flight.

Do yourself a favor and acclament your baby to its carrier prior to the trip.

[YorkieRose]

I have flown with my pets. I give them a bite or two of a treat as the plane takes off and lands..makes them swallow and that clears the ears.
I would have someone take you to the airport and if the pet limit is met, your boy could go home instead of flying cargo.
I have had no problem with mine on flights..good luck

[Carters Mom]

Right before you book your flight (assuming you'll do that online), call the airline to make sure that the flight you are booking has room for your pet. As soon as you make the reservation, call the airline with your confirmation number and ask them to book your pet as carry-on. This will reserve your pets place as carryon for the trip both ways!

[SissaYSU]

Flown with Tyke on several occasions. Had to take him to the vet first though for a checkup since the airline at that time required a visit 10 days or sooner in advance...so check and see if that has to be done...

Also...bring along a candy cane or a candy stick of some kind for you to stick in the carry on that your dog will be in...they do have ear problems in airplanes much like humans do and our vet reccommended we have that and stick it in the carry on every once in a while for tyke to lick...apparently that helped with the ears a bit. He had been given a sedative but surprisingly he was more worked up when we gave him that So we no longer give him one...as long as he's in a carry on underneath the seat but can still see our feet he's fine...we stick our hand in to pet and reassure him every once in a while...it went A-OK

--Sissa

[Carters Mom]

Something else I just thought about . . .

when I called within the last two weeks to make Cooper's reservation on Delta to fly with my daughter to NC, the CSR on the phone asked me for the exact dimensions of our carrier. She needed to be sure that it conformed to their specifications.

[Meg]

Thank you everyone for the help so far, I just got off the phone with the Delta and Keeley is set to jet.

I am so excited he gets to come home with me!! Now I have just got to get him a carrier, a portable crate, a life vest, and any other things that I can think of between now and then. ( I love shopping for him, this sould be fun!)

Here is my list of to do's from what you have told me. Let me know if I need to add anything--

-Get a carrier and get him used to being inside of it.
-Call the vet about what they suggest with keeping him relaxed (benadryl doseage, sedative, ect.)
-Bring treats and/or a sucker (a human sucker?) for take off and landing.

[Carters Mom]

Glad I could help! Make sure you find something leakproof to put water in for Keeley to drink from.

How long is your flight?

I took Britt's suggestion and put a pee pad in the pocket of Carter's bag in case he needed to potty on our layover. From the time we arrived at our home airport to when we landed at our destination was 7 hours. He never once peed or pooped in that time (10 months old at the time). In the airport, no one told us anything for having him sit on our lap (at the gate) but we weren't sitting right in front of the desk either.

Lisa

[Meg]

The flight is 3 1/2 hours with no layovers. I was wondering about the whole potty thing. I hope I can get him to go before we board, he isn't very good at going on command yet.

Did you keep water in his carrier on the flight?

[Carters Mom]

No -- we kept it separate and offered it to him periodically. Once you land at your destination, you may need the water prior to arriving at your true final destination.

We flew into a one-gate airport. When we landed, my daughter and granddaughter took Carter outside in the grass to potty while I waited for our luggage.

I don't know how young your baby is . . . . but if he's really little, Petsmart has the cutest little carrier that would meet your needs. I know Cooper would fit in it and he's 16 weeks old but probably only about 2# by now. He needs to go to the vet before Tuesday for his last shot and prior to his two week vacation in North Carolina.

[SoCalyorkiLvr]

Originally Posted by Carters Mom

You cannot remove your pet from its carrier on the plane -- the flight attendant told me that the airline is subject to severe fines if you do so. I did sneak Carter under my blanket instead of hearing him cry on our return flight.

What about St Francis and the pearly gates?

Actually, I think that just like the "stay in your seat with the seatbelt securely fastened until the captain has turned off the seatbelt sign" this rule about leaving the dog in the carrier is not always strictly enforced from what I have understood. I have heard of the flight attendants passing around a cute puppy and playing with it during the flight.

I am sure it depends on the airline and the attendants you happen to get. I remember on Show Mom Dogs and Dads the weimeraner sat in the seat right next ot it's owner for the entire flight. I don't think that dog was a service dog. Not sure. She probably paid full price for the ticket.

[Carters Mom]

Originally Posted by SoCalyorkiLvr

What about St Francis and the pearly gates?

Actually, I think that just like the "stay in your seat with the seatbelt securely fastened until the captain has turned off the seatbelt sign" this rule about leaving the dog in the carrier is not always strictly enforced from what I have understood. I have heard of the flight attendants passing around a cute puppy and playing with it during the flight.

I am sure it depends on the airline and the attendants you happen to get. I remember on Show Mom Dogs and Dads the weimeraner sat in the seat right next ot it's owner for the entire flight. I don't think that dog was a service dog. Not sure. She probably paid full price for the ticket.

Excuse me? I said in the airport at the gate . . . not on the airplane.

My prior statement about St. Francis and the pearly gates applied to printing off cards saying that my dog was a service animal so that I didn't have to have him in his carrier on the plane. It had nothing to do with what I'm discussing here. Thank you!

[Carters Mom]

To refresh what I said in case you forgot:

"I know it is ridiculous that they make you pay to take a carry-on that is a dog but I couldn't imagine ever inventing a disability just to be able to take them as a service animal. I have to meet my maker one day and if St. Francis is standing on the side of him, I can enter the pearly gates with a clean slate having not lied. I'd never wish a disability on anyone."

I don't think this quote at all corresponds properly with what Kim posted.

[SoCalyorkiLvr]

Oh, sorry....

I was just kidding....didn't mean to offend. I thought it could just be a private joke between us. My mistake and I apologize. I thought it was cute that you snuck Carter under your blanket on your return flight and thought I would tease you a little.

A lot of people on here have admitted to doing little things for our dogs that are "against the rules" like sneak them into places they are not supposed to be, etc. I do not consider this a "lie" or that anyone who does this is morally inferior as a result. I think we just live in a world that is not as dog friendly as we are and we try to get around it when we can for the benefit of our furbabies who are family to us.

Please accept my sincere apology if I offended.