Flying with Yorkies
 

Has anyone recently traveled by air with their Yorkie? Did you have to check them or can you bring them on board in a soft sided carrier like a tote? Mine would definitely fit under the seat in front of me; she is only three pounds.

We are traveling to Florida at the end of the month and I am just torn about leaving her at a kennel. What are your suggestions? Thanks everyone.

Hi! I am a flight attendant for United and you can take your Yorkie in the cabin with you! Each airline has different rules for animal travel, so you need to check with each carrier. For example, I don't think Southwest allows animals in the cabin at all. You also need to make sure that where you are going will allow you to bring a pet. Hawaii has very strict rules and used to not allow any dogs in without a 6 month quarantine. Anyway, at United, they charge $85 a leg for your pup to travel in the cabin with you. You need a USDA certificate of health from your vet if you are traveling across state lines. You will also need a copy of their rabies certificate. The pup must stay in it's carrier under your seat the whole trip unless you have your pup registered as a Therapy animal. Of course, these are the rules but they are not always applied consistently. I have been traveling with my dogs for 15 years and I have different experiences everytime. Sometimes they never even ask for any paperwork and other times they needed more paperwork than is even required! I have had flight attendants that said that they didn't mind if I put my pup on my lap and others that told me not to take the dog out under any circumstances!! My advice if you bring them on the plane is to wrap the bottom of the inside of the carrier with a few wee wee pads. When you put the kennel underneath the seat, wrap a blanket around the kennel, it is usually very cold on the ground. I keep the netted front covered so that my pup cannot see me, because if they can see you they usually cry more. Once you get into the air, the pup usually settles down because of the hum of the engines and the vibration of the plane. I also bring treats, in case I have to resort to bribery!! I hope this helps. Good luck and Bon Voyage!!

$85 per leg? lol is that x4, or per flight...

Yes, I know the answer, this just read funny. Thanks for your flight attendant info...I have wondered this myself and have a flight to TX with Southwest this month. Now I know I can't take my baby with me.

I have also thought that the new dog food that's in the form of a bone would be handy for a trip such as this. Have you seen them? They are sold in a bag packaging for about $4 for about 18 servings. They chew away and can eat it, as it's their din din. I plan to use them on our long car rides this summer.

What food are you talking abotu cook?

Make sure to give him water during the flight . I always travel with Royce international flights ...also treats . Royce is peepad trained so every hour or so i take him to the washroom ...put the pee pad on the baby lounge and he pees ...I also give him to drink....some flight attendants are strict others don't really bother ...anyway i keep royce on my lap under the blanket :D :D :D

We flew with our little one from Las Vegas to Dallas in November and she did fine. American Airlines did charge $80- each way (they say for insurance). We kept her under the seat in her soft sided carrier. We had her health certificate, but werent asked for it.

My Emotional Support Yorkie Travels by Air
 

My 3 yr old yorkie Seri flys all the time with me on Southwest. I have a prescription from my doctor and carry her shot records also. I haven't had a problem with Southwest. They only carry SERVICE animals.

I flew Alaska and America West. They both cost me above $75 each way. I walked by Southwest and they told me if she was a Service animal I could continue to fly with them. Seri has been flying since she was a few months old. She's good at the airport. She walks through the metal detector like a trooper and waits for me to come through. Sometimes her ears hurt at the beginning of the flight but not always.

We were flying from N. Idaho to Las Vegas for a nasty 2 yr divorce. We also travel to So. Cal to visit the grandchildren.

Have fun with your baby flying.
:aimeeyork

LOL - when I read this title, I immediately thought of Yorkies with wings .... not Yorkies on airplanes!!! LOL how funny

I recently took Ranger with my from Idaho to Arizona via Uniter Airlines. It was great. We had no trouble, and he actually seemed to like it (what yorkie doesn't want to be with mommy all day!) I was so surprised that I was never asked for any documentation- I don't think the flight attendants even knew he was on board?? Maybe someone else can answer that?

Anyway, I took a little baggie of his food and throughout the flight gave him a few pieces here and there. My vet advised me to feed him half his breakfast I think it was three hours prior to the flight, so he wouldn't have an empty tummy, but wouldn't be too full, either. He was starving when we got to AZ though!

As none of the flight attendants seemed to notice/care, I put his carrier on my lap and held him throughout the flight. On the way home, it was night-time and I actually kept the bad open on my lap, and he was so tired he just put his little head on my hand and slept the whole way. At the end of our flight, he woke up and the girl that was sitting next to me finally noticed him at that time and told me she thought I had been talking to myself the whole flight!! :p

Good luck!!

Where do you and Ranger live in Idaho? I'm in Athol
 

Seri and I live in Athol, h:aimeeyork alfway between Coeur d'Alene and Sandpoint. Seri has flown a lot and were flying again in June to Sacramento to see the grandchildren who moved up there in Sept.

Nice to read your post. Everyone on the plane loves my yorkie. Rode non-stop from Vegas to Spokane on the lap of a newly-wed man and his wife had to hold him for a while. So Funny.

We're expecting first litter of puppies the end of this month (April). I'm so excited. My breeder picked the stud dog for her so no back-yard-breeding going on here.
:aimeeyork

Thanks for the Replies
 

Thank you everyone for the tips. It will be $190 round trip for Maybelline to fly with us, but it is almost worth it when you think about kenneling for several days and the seperation anxiety for both the pet and the owner.

I did not think about the feeding schedule. That is a good idea not to feed too much before the flight and just have water available. Might save on some potty boo-boos.

I just flew by myself with my little guy (Leo) from Oakland CA to Portland Or. Everything went fine!! Leo was really good!!

On the flight to Portland I was a nervious wreck. But, Leo was great. He only whined a few times before we took off and after we landed. The person next to me, did give me a funny look when my 'bag' made noise. I just explained that I had a dog with me. He said, " I thought the sit was making noise".

After we landed I went to use the bathroom. The lady in line behind me (who had been on the plane) asked me what kind of dog I had and was he asleep...because he was so quiet.

On our way home, Leo got lots of attention from all the 'secruity guys'. One stopped to pet him after we walk through. While I was gathering my stuff, 2 more guys came over to talk about the dog and one showed me pictures of his dog. If was really funny.

**I was so greatful that Leo loves to travel in his dog purse (carrier). I think that really made a big difference. Since, he is so use to being in his carrier he just laid down. If he didn't like his carrier...it would have been a different experience.

What about air travel with a new 10-12 week old baby?? A four hour flight..any advise? I know breeders send them all the time in cargo, but we want to bring home our new baby in the cabin with us...Help!!

You must choose an airline that will allow dogs. I would research their website and read their pet rules. I recently flew Southwest and was thinking of bringing Trixie with me,but then found I couldn't as they do not allow pets at all. I would imagine a young puppy will be fine in a puppy carrier or dog purse under the seat in front of you. They may be less frightened if left in the carrier as apposed to being held.

I flew on United or US Airways from Phoenix to SFO with my (at the time) 12 year old yorkie, Tahoe, in a carrier under my seat. I paid like $80 each way for a special ticket for him, but it was worth not having to kennel him. I gave him a tranquilizer (only about a 10th of what they advocate) to relax him for the flight. Many people exclaimed, as we were getting off the plane, "OMG, I didn't even know you had a dog with you this whole flight!".

My Tahoe is a good boy. :)

~ Kelly

It is true that some airlines will not allow animals. We flew American from Las Vegas to Dallas- about 2 1/2 hr flight - with Tessa in her soft sided carrier under the seat in front of us. She did fine. The vet had given us medication to calm her if we needed it, but only used it coming home because she did seem a little stressed for the flight out. I would only take my puppy if I could have her with me.

Thanks for the great advise! (and keep it coming!)
I would never consider flying my new baby home in cargo!
Gonna take him home with me as my super cute carryon :aimeeyork
just ordered a darling burberry style baby flight bag :angelyork is gonna
travel in style!

Beckgirl,
I don't know if you are aware. I am not sure of Southwest, however, most airlines don't charge for emotional support animals. My lil Rocco travels back and forth monthly with me on my lap. I have had some rude attendants shout across the rows that he must be in a carrier. I quietly try to advise that that he is a support animal. I once had one argue he was service not support. I went home read their website, and he in fact was a support not service on their particular airline. Service animals are like seeing eye dogs. Maybe she should check the website. Ha ha. Anyway happy traveling with your baby.

why shouldn't they get greenies? My lil one enjoys his weekly treat. Please let me know what is wrong with them.

Greenies are bad
 

Earlier up on this post -- someone mentioned the danger of Greenies....my Lhasapoo LOVES these...and we just got a new Yorkie puppy over 4th of July -- he's healthy and happy and now 4 months. He getting nice and big too and strong, at a strapping 5 1/2 pounds now! (So happy he's not teeny).

Anyway, view the following websites for some insight on the dangers of Greenies...after a few hours reading these sites and crying my eyes out, I went straight into my kitchen to toss the bag I had and have vowed to never give these to my babies again....

Greenies
Are the dogs treats Greenies bad for dogs? - Yahoo! Answers
Are Greenies bad for my puppy? - Yahoo! Answers

My lhasapoo has a very sensitive stomach (or so I thought) cause he vomits easily...but always is said to be incredibly healthy at his yearly vet checks. I'm seriously considering having a stomach X-ray this year to be sure there aren't undigested greenie bits still in his stomach/intestine....

I might be over-reacting, but my dogs are my babies and after my husband, they are the most important little guys in my life....

TWilson, you should try posting this in the General Discussion section. This thread is really, really old.

THere is concern about Greenies because pieces can break off and either get lodged in the throat, or be too large to pass through the intestines, causing a blockage that could result in emergency surgery or death. Many people still feed Greenies. I personally don't, but I do closely supervise my dog when she's eating any bully stick/chew that could break off in chunks.

Dog food taken by a customs' agent
 

My family has flied to Mexico many times. We've never dealt with this situation, but we've often sent items to our Hotel conceirge that we knew would be difficult or annoying to get through customs, like baby food, etc.
The hotel held the food for us until we got there. Don't see why yuo couldn't do the same with your puppy food.

I didn't realize you could fly to Mexico with a pet.....I would love to bring out lilttle lhasapoo and Yorkie to Cancun!!