Before Toto's first flight, I just sat her carrier in the den and left it there for a couple of days [with the front and top unzipped]. I watched her and she showed curiosity but didn't go in. I then placed her very favorite toy way in the back so she would have to step inside to get it ... and left it there. She was soooo funny ... she would peek in there and whine a little and finally flew in really fast and grabbed it out. A few days after that, I put a treat in the back and she dashed in, grabbed it and ran out ... this time, not so fast! We "celebrated" with praise & happy talk! After she acted comfortable with just going in and seeing that there was nothing "scarry" in there, I began to carefully zip the front, take her out in it to a favorite place, etc. Before long, she only associated good things with it and now, all I have to do is say "kennel up" and she's in there like a flash!!
Also, we never, ever take her out of it through the top although we always leave it open where she can stick her head out and look around. We
only allow entrance/exit through the unzipped front. When we go through security and I have to take her out and carry her, they just love her! Some of them will want to hold her and show her off! It amazes them that she is so sweet and calm!
I can leave her sitting on the floor at the airport and she has never jumped out the top! It's like her "safe" place to her. The only thing about the carrier that makes her sad is when we have to zip the top to board the plane and she is "highly insulted" to have to stay under the seat but does not cry or protest! She's a
great little traveler!!
