Stuck On A Carrier Decision For Flying - YorkieTalk.com Forums

Furbaby Friend · 09-08-2010, 07:42 PM

Hello all,

It is official. My family is welcoming a Morkie into our bunch. We will be picking up our baby girl (Rylie Rose) in November. We have to go pick her up in person, well my mum does (I'll be in school), which we are happy to do! There are a few glitches though. I immediately started researching airline travel with a pup. She'll only be 12-13 weeks so I want to be prepared.

I was looking at carriers and I know she'll be well under 10lbs for her first flight (duh), but I wanted to buy a carrier I could use even when she is full grown (e.g. for vet visits and other such things). Sooooo I have a few questions for you all!

1. Is it a problem to buy a carrier that is too big for her now? For instance, a larger or medium carrier that would fit her adult size?

2. I need an opinion. I was looking at a Sherpa bag with wheels in medium (17.5" D x 10" W x 10.5"H) size which accommodates up to 16lbs.
Sherpa-On-Wheels Pet Carrier - Dog - Free Ship - PetSmart

I thought that the wheels were nice, but in my research I came across the Sturdibag:

SturdiBag Large Flexible Pet Carrier - Cat - Free Ship - PetSmart

I would get the large (18" L X 12" W X 12" H) size since I cannot locate a medium. It accommodates up to 25lbs. I know it is a bit large for standard airline requirements, but the blogger at Dog Jaunt:

Dog Jaunt : Airplane carriers for in-cabin pet travel : Traveling with a small dog

Assures that it fits well under airline seats. It also seems to me like it might be more comfy with the padding and have better ventilation???

OPINIONS PLEASE! >_< I'm leaning toward the Sturdibag, but I've already purchased the Sherpa (although I made sure it could be returned with the receipt).

3. I was thinking of getting a calming product to help with the stress of the flight. I just thought it might be a good idea to have something besides the blankets that we're sending ahead to smell like mum before she leaves (and they'll smell like us when they first arrive).

Should I use the spray inside the carrier?

Farnam Comfort Zone with D.A.P. Spray for Dogs - Health Care - Dog - PetSmart

Or the collar (which I could loop around the carrier and not the pup if that's an issue)?

Sentry HC Good Behavior Pheromone Collar for Dogs - Health Care - Dog - PetSmart

Or none at all?

4. I also purchased a reusable puppy pad to put in the carrier for potty, but since the pup is small I'm worried about her bladder...

5. Also, I'm looking for recommendations on good harnesses/leashes because I've heard you should have them when you fly. I have no clue where to start on this matter, carriers were a bit simpler.

I will NOT allow my pup to walk through security on the floor though, because I've been told (and read) that you shouldn't put them on unknown surfaces or floors (not even at the vet) until they are a certain age and have had all their shots!

6. Any other tips on flight? Especially with such a young pup along. I'm looking for anything and everything. (Such as food/water, etc.)

Please help! Any advice is much appreciated. I'm trying to get a jump start on researching this. Good news is we have until November for the actual flight! Although I will be booking that well in advance. Either this week or next.

Thanks in advance for all the great help! ^_^

Beamers Mom · 09-08-2010, 08:29 PM

I would be taking a look at the Kwigy Bo bags sold by a YT member.

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/yor...me-prices.html

Ryan can also advise you on which one would be the best one.

I know there have been a lot of positive reviews on them

Furbaby Friend · 09-08-2010, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beamers Mom

I would be taking a look at the Kwigy Bo bags sold by a YT member.

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/yor...me-prices.html

Ryan can also advise you on which one would be the best one.

I know there have been a lot of positive reviews on them

Thanks for the info! It is much appreciated.

A few questions though, is this a bag that is recommended for airline travel? It looks like a great a stylish carry around for trips out to the store or some such thing, but how is it on planes? I'm a bit concerned about the ventilation (which is why I kind of liked the Sturdibag). How is the ventilation on these? While I do love the style, I'd rather not sacrifice safety/function/ease of travel for it.

Another feature about the Sturdibag that I liked was the seat belt track. It seemed like a good idea for car trips too! It seems more versitile than the other two, but I could be wrong.

Opinions now wanted on all original points in post 1, PLUS these Kwigy Bo bags! Thanks! ^_^

My Sophia · 09-08-2010, 11:37 PM

congrats on your new baby. I just flew from Orlando to Vegas three weeks ago with my new little man after waiting on him since May so i know exactly how anxious/excited you are.

I got a smaller carrier off Amazon. nothing fancy but he loves it. best of all it's light weight. I was travelling alone and besides him, I also had a checked bag and a carryon backpack with my laptop, all the puppy paraphenalia (food, water, treats, toys, leashes, first aid stuff) and a couple of books for me so I wanted something smaller and lighter for Gulliver to ride in. That's something you want to keep in mind when choosing your carrier. wheels are great but remember that you may not always be able to use them. Sometimes you might have to carry it and maneuver around in tight spaces with it.

One thing I did and would recommend is to arrive early enough that you can find somewhere off by yourself to play. We found a place in the corner away from the other passengers and played fetch for about an hour. By the time we were ready to board, he had eaten, drank a good drink of water, did his business on the pad and was completely pooped so he slept most of the flight. Plus the other passengers enjoyed our "floor show" LOL

I did put a potty pad in the carrier just in case and he was also wearing a belly band but he didn't need either. I was carrying extra pads and put one down while we were waiting in Orlando, put the belly band on for the flight but it stayed dry. Then when we landed I popped into the ladies room, took off his belly band and put down another potty pad.

My Sophia · 09-09-2010, 12:01 AM

To answer a few more of your questions.....

when I flew with Gulliver, I did have his collar with his ID tags on him at all times and did the harness and leash when he was out of the carrier.

i did the same thing you did and sent a blanket to the breeder a couple of weeks before I picked him up so it smelled like me when it arrived and like his family there when left. He flew with the blanket in the carrier with him.

His breeder sent a bag of food and a couple of bully sticks with him so I had that in my 2nd carryon. Check with your breeder to see if they're sending food or anything else along with your new baby. If they're not and it's going to be a long day with the flight and waiting beforehand, find out what he/she's feeding and bring a little ziplock bag of it with you. Don't forget a little fold up travel bowl or bring along one of those water bottles with the attached bowls that you can pick up at Petco/Petsmart. You can fill it with bottled water once you get through security

Once you book your flight online, make sure you call the airline and let them know you're going to have a pet on the return trip so they can get that on record. You'll pay the pet fee at the gate when you check in, but it's important to get confirmation for the pet well ahead of time.

we played for quite a while before we boarded so that he was tired and my guy is VERY used to travelling so I didn't have or plan to use any kind of calming aid.

harness, collars and leashes......collars are for the bling. ID tag, rabies tag, etc. Leashes should only be attached to a harness, never to the collar. Type of harness is going to be personal preference. I use a lot of vests and dresses (i've got a girl too

) with D rings on them and I love them. I also use just basic harnesses that you can pick up at any pet store. There are several sellers on this site that make vests and harnesses if you want something nicer also. I use cat collars on my babies because they have the breakaway in case they get caught on something.

RDB911 · 09-09-2010, 02:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beamers Mom

I would be taking a look at the Kwigy Bo bags sold by a YT member.

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/yor...me-prices.html

Ryan can also advise you on which one would be the best one.

I know there have been a lot of positive reviews on them

Thanks for recommending me

Yes, the kwigy bo carriers are airline approved. Also, they have side ventilation for the pup.

Please check to make sure the dimension of any carrier is allowed by your airline. Every airline is different.

Congrats on the new pup

Dianab28 · 09-09-2010, 06:56 AM

If possible try to find out how much leg room you will have. I think I would go for a small carrier now and a bigger one later. You don't want to get to the airport and find out it won't fit

I have a friend who uses a diaper bag for her dogs and keeps bottled water, puppy pads, toys, treats etc in it and it seems to work great.

keokis mom · 09-09-2010, 06:36 PM

I have a Kwigy Bo- 2 actually and they are not roomy enough for a long flight- I would recommend the Sherpa bag- it stands square so your baby will have room. I travel all the time with Keoki and he loves his and feels very comfy and safe - there is ventilation all around not just on the sides so he can see easily and get ALOT of air. I think it's a great choice- even when we are at home Keoki goes and sleeps in his as if it were his " safe place" the Kwigy Bo is more for day to day use in my opinion. Good luck and let us know what you buy!!!!

Furbaby Friend · 09-10-2010, 08:22 AM

First of all, thank you all for your great replies. I really do appreciate them!

My Sophia: Thank you soooooo much for the tips! Great advice. I will take it all to heart. It will go in my compiled research file for flying (which my mum will have to read every single bit of, ha!). I need to wait to buy a harness because pups grow and I want an accurate measurement close to when we're picking her up.

RDB911: The bags are darling! I hope to get one in the future, but they aren't what I'm looking for right this second. I want to let my pup get to full weight/dimensions before I invest in such a lovely (but expensive) bag lol. That way, she'll be comfy and maybe I can even get the smaller size!

Dianab28: A care kit for the pup will be packed! We've come up with a solution to the bag dilemma (see below). We took the smaller carrier advice to heart.

keokis mom: That's what I thought about the Kwigy Bo bags. They look absolutely darling, but don't seem like what I need right now.

For day to day use though, they get a stylish A+ ^_^ Thank you for the recommendation on the Sherpa!

To all:

I ended up purchasing the Sturdibag (see link below). It was on sale and became cheaper than the Sherpa. Plus I liked the padding inside, the ventilation, the flexibility, the zipper locks, and especially the seat belt track for car rides! It is also pretty snazzy looking in red!

It will also fit Rylie even if she goes above the 12lbs mark at any point. If she doesn't end up getting that big, well she'll just have more room in her carrier!

SturdiBag Bordeaux Pet Carrier at PETCO

I called the airline we plan on flying with (after checking their policies online) and discussed the Sturdibag with them and they said it would be fine. We have a back up plan in place just in case the people on the phone were lying to me :P (they often do that). My mom's friend has an airline approved carrier that is within dimensions that we can borrow just for the trip home (and being a itty bitty baby still Rylie will have no problems fitting).

So crisis averted! Yay! I'll let you know how we, Rylie included, like the Sturdibag. It got rave reviews in general from what I've seen though. I'm pretty excited!!! Is it lame to be excited about a dog carrier? :P

NOTE: Numbers 3 through 6 on my original post are still open to answers/opinions/tips, so please feel free to respond to them! Thanks!

AllDogBoots · 09-10-2010, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Furbaby Friend

Hello all,

3. I was thinking of getting a calming product to help with the stress of the flight. I just thought it might be a good idea to have something besides the blankets that we're sending ahead to smell like mum before she leaves (and they'll smell like us when they first arrive).

Should I use the spray inside the carrier?

Farnam Comfort Zone with D.A.P. Spray for Dogs - Health Care - Dog - PetSmart

Or the collar (which I could loop around the carrier and not the pup if that's an issue)?

Sentry HC Good Behavior Pheromone Collar for Dogs - Health Care - Dog - PetSmart

Or none at all?

My vet told me that those types of sprays are similar to scented candles for humans. They may calm you, they may not. I know scented candles don't really work for me. Have you talked to your vet about a very mild sedative? If that makes you uncomfortable, purchase one of the products in the links above and test it before your flight.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Furbaby Friend

6. Any other tips on flight? Especially with such a young pup along. I'm looking for anything and everything. (Such as food/water, etc.)

Please help! Any advice is much appreciated. I'm trying to get a jump start on researching this. Good news is we have until November for the actual flight! Although I will be booking that well in advance. Either this week or next.

Thanks in advance for all the great help! ^_^

What airline are you flying? I am a HUGE advocate of Dog Jaunt : Traveling with a small dog and through the web owners help with various traveling issues with my dog, we have become friends. Please review her site and feel free to contact her. I'm happy to put you in touch.

With the help of Mary-Alice (dogjaunt), I was finally able to take my Cooper on his first flight. Feel free to read about our experience together: Traveling With My Small Dog On An Airplane

My absolute most important piece of advice - bring a photo of Rylie Rose! She will be stowed under the seat in front of you and the folks sitting beside you will wonder what the heck is in the bag. Whip out the picture and voila! They are thrilled to be traveling with such a cutie, plus it puts them at ease as well.

Furbaby Friend · 09-10-2010, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AllDogBoots

My vet told me that those types of sprays are similar to scented candles for humans. They may calm you, they may not. I know scented candles don't really work for me. Have you talked to your vet about a very mild sedative? If that makes you uncomfortable, purchase one of the products in the links above and test it before your flight.

I'm adverse to a sedative. I've read it can affect breathing and such at high altitudes. Plus, she's so small I would never want to drug her. I thought the sprays might be a safe alternative. I wish we could test it, but I'm not sure how that would work as my mum picking her up (so she's only going one way, back home with us!). Would my mom test it before she got back on the plane? Would it hurt her if we just used it right out, since it will either help or it won't?

Quote:

Originally Posted by AllDogBoots

What airline are you flying? I am a HUGE advocate of Dog Jaunt : Traveling with a small dog and through the web owners help with various traveling issues with my dog, we have become friends. Please review her site and feel free to contact her. I'm happy to put you in touch.

With the help of Mary-Alice (dogjaunt), I was finally able to take my Cooper on his first flight. Feel free to read about our experience together: Traveling With My Small Dog On An Airplane

I was thinking of booking AirTran because they 1. go to where we need to go 2. have the lowest in-cabin fee I have found (at $69 one way). 3. I called ahead and assured that even with the layover I'd only have to pay the $69 once. I know that sometimes you have to pay it when you switch planes. 4. I called ahead and they should accept the Sturdibag (we'll see about that though) 5. the tickets themselves were decently priced.

That's great! She seems really awesome (from her writing anyway). I've been reading her blog, but there's a lot to get through! She's the only reason I considered the Sturdibag. Her reviews are great! I was so happy to find the site.

Oh! I read that article already

I found it extremely helpful and informative. Thank you for writing it!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by AllDogBoots

My absolute most important piece of advice - bring a photo of Rylie Rose! She will be stowed under the seat in front of you and the folks sitting beside you will wonder what the heck is in the bag. Whip out the picture and voila! They are thrilled to be traveling with such a cutie, plus it puts them at ease as well.

That is such a great tip! I already wrote it down in my file when I saw it in your article before I even posted it in this thread. I never would have thought of it if I hadn't read it though! It is such a smart, simple tip.

It makes so much sense, you think I would have thought of that. Especially being a proud new mama and all, ha! :P

AllDogBoots · 09-10-2010, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Furbaby Friend

I'm adverse to a sedative. I've read it can affect breathing and such at high altitudes. Plus, she's so small I would never want to drug her. I thought the sprays might be a safe alternative. I wish we could test it, but I'm not sure how that would work as my mum picking her up (so she's only going one way, back home with us!). Would my mom test it before she got back on the plane? Would it hurt her if we just used it right out, since it will either help or it won't?

I may be completely wrong here but I believe breathing is only affected in cargo, NOT the cabin. If breathing at high altitudes on a plane was an issue, do you know how many people on medication would have a problem??

I wouldn't fly again without giving Cooper a sedative, but I know it's a fairly controversial topic. Some dogs just have no issue flying. Maybe since an alternative will either work or not, and there's really no back up plan, then I suppose there's no reason to test it!

Where are the flights to and from?

LuvMySissy · 09-10-2010, 02:31 PM

As a puppy courier, I fly 2-4 days a week with yorkie/biewer puppies and adults.

I would not recommend sedating your puppy. With any type of sedation (even Rescue Remedy) you want to test it at home first to make sure there are no adverse reactions. Having flown more than 50 puppies this year alone, the vast majority of them will sleep during the flight. Unless there is a collapsing trachea issue, you should not have to worry about resipiration issues in the cabin.

I would recommend a smaller carrier than what you have purchased for the flight. Larger is not better for this type of travel. A smaller carrier will make your puppy feel more secure and keep them warmer. Please make sure you have a blanket available as well. Many planes have vents along the window seat floor boards that literally pour cold air out - putting a blanket to block this out is very helpful.

Ask your breeder to please give Nutrical before meeting you with the pup to ensure you won't have any hypoglycemic issues during the flight.

LuvMySissy · 09-10-2010, 02:41 PM

I recommend putting a disposable wee wee pad inside the carrier. If you bring a couple extra, depending on the duration of the flight, the disposable pads are the right size for the floor of the bathroom plane if you need to let the puppy out. It also works great for quick disposal if there are any sickness issues.

Going through security you will be holding the puppy. Most airports will not allow a dog on a leash (or puppy) unless it is a service animal. I would recommend a harness for ID of some type just in case, but you won't need it for walking purposes.

If you purchase a bottle of water (once through security) with an screw top on it, most pups will drink out of the small screw-top lids when they won't out of a strange bowl. A small bully stick can also help entertail your pup during the flight.

Furbaby Friend · 09-10-2010, 08:00 PM

AllDogBoots and LuvMySissy: Thanks for all the fantastic advice! I really do appreciate it. I will be taking note.

We will use the smaller borrowed carrier for the flight and the larger one at home.

We already planned on the blankets (we are sending some ahead of time so they smell like us there and like Rylie's mum on the way back!). I didn't think they'd be needed for anything more than comfort though! Good to know there are temperature issues.

Nutrical was already on my purchase list. I'm hoping they'll let it through security... Anyone know anything about that?

I don't like sedatives to begin with and I never planned on using one (hence the blanket smell idea). That is why I asked about the DAP spray or pheromone collar. :/

I will buy disposable wee wee pads on top of the reusable one I've already purchased for the flight. The sickness/clean up makes sense. I planned on not adding to landfills, but I can use them for the flight and not use them at home.

Oh! I didn't know she might not drink out of a collapsible bowl. The bottle lid is a good trick to know. I have added bully sticks to my list as well.

We ended up booking with Southwest instead. It seemed more comfortable in general for everyone and the puppy fee was only $10 more than AirTran! The flight is 3h 50m there, with no plane changes (there is a stop however). A 2h and 20m wait at the destination to assure my mum has time with the breeder/pup and can get back through security! Then the return flight is 4h 15m including the one stop and one plane change (with 1h 30m to make the plane change).

09-08-2010, 07:42 PM	#1
Furbaby Friend YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Buffalo, NY, United States Posts: 971	Stuck On A Carrier Decision For Flying Hello all, It is official. My family is welcoming a Morkie into our bunch. We will be picking up our baby girl (Rylie Rose) in November. We have to go pick her up in person, well my mum does (I'll be in school), which we are happy to do! There are a few glitches though. I immediately started researching airline travel with a pup. She'll only be 12-13 weeks so I want to be prepared. I was looking at carriers and I know she'll be well under 10lbs for her first flight (duh), but I wanted to buy a carrier I could use even when she is full grown (e.g. for vet visits and other such things). Sooooo I have a few questions for you all! 1. Is it a problem to buy a carrier that is too big for her now? For instance, a larger or medium carrier that would fit her adult size? 2. I need an opinion. I was looking at a Sherpa bag with wheels in medium (17.5" D x 10" W x 10.5"H) size which accommodates up to 16lbs. Sherpa-On-Wheels Pet Carrier - Dog - Free Ship - PetSmart I thought that the wheels were nice, but in my research I came across the Sturdibag: SturdiBag Large Flexible Pet Carrier - Cat - Free Ship - PetSmart I would get the large (18" L X 12" W X 12" H) size since I cannot locate a medium. It accommodates up to 25lbs. I know it is a bit large for standard airline requirements, but the blogger at Dog Jaunt: Dog Jaunt : Airplane carriers for in-cabin pet travel : Traveling with a small dog Assures that it fits well under airline seats. It also seems to me like it might be more comfy with the padding and have better ventilation??? OPINIONS PLEASE! >_< I'm leaning toward the Sturdibag, but I've already purchased the Sherpa (although I made sure it could be returned with the receipt). 3. I was thinking of getting a calming product to help with the stress of the flight. I just thought it might be a good idea to have something besides the blankets that we're sending ahead to smell like mum before she leaves (and they'll smell like us when they first arrive). Should I use the spray inside the carrier? Farnam Comfort Zone with D.A.P. Spray for Dogs - Health Care - Dog - PetSmart Or the collar (which I could loop around the carrier and not the pup if that's an issue)? Sentry HC Good Behavior Pheromone Collar for Dogs - Health Care - Dog - PetSmart Or none at all? 4. I also purchased a reusable puppy pad to put in the carrier for potty, but since the pup is small I'm worried about her bladder... 5. Also, I'm looking for recommendations on good harnesses/leashes because I've heard you should have them when you fly. I have no clue where to start on this matter, carriers were a bit simpler. I will NOT allow my pup to walk through security on the floor though, because I've been told (and read) that you shouldn't put them on unknown surfaces or floors (not even at the vet) until they are a certain age and have had all their shots! 6. Any other tips on flight? Especially with such a young pup along. I'm looking for anything and everything. (Such as food/water, etc.) Please help! Any advice is much appreciated. I'm trying to get a jump start on researching this. Good news is we have until November for the actual flight! Although I will be booking that well in advance. Either this week or next. Thanks in advance for all the great help! ^_^

09-08-2010, 08:29 PM	#2
Beamers Mom Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Palm Bay, Fl, USA Posts: 5,957	I would be taking a look at the Kwigy Bo bags sold by a YT member. http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/yor...me-prices.html Ryan can also advise you on which one would be the best one. I know there have been a lot of positive reviews on them __________________ Help control the pet population. Have your pet spayed or neutered. - Bob Barker

09-09-2010, 12:01 AM	#5
My Sophia YT Addict Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Las Vegas, NV, USA Posts: 467	To answer a few more of your questions..... when I flew with Gulliver, I did have his collar with his ID tags on him at all times and did the harness and leash when he was out of the carrier. i did the same thing you did and sent a blanket to the breeder a couple of weeks before I picked him up so it smelled like me when it arrived and like his family there when left. He flew with the blanket in the carrier with him. His breeder sent a bag of food and a couple of bully sticks with him so I had that in my 2nd carryon. Check with your breeder to see if they're sending food or anything else along with your new baby. If they're not and it's going to be a long day with the flight and waiting beforehand, find out what he/she's feeding and bring a little ziplock bag of it with you. Don't forget a little fold up travel bowl or bring along one of those water bottles with the attached bowls that you can pick up at Petco/Petsmart. You can fill it with bottled water once you get through security Once you book your flight online, make sure you call the airline and let them know you're going to have a pet on the return trip so they can get that on record. You'll pay the pet fee at the gate when you check in, but it's important to get confirmation for the pet well ahead of time. we played for quite a while before we boarded so that he was tired and my guy is VERY used to travelling so I didn't have or plan to use any kind of calming aid. harness, collars and leashes......collars are for the bling. ID tag, rabies tag, etc. Leashes should only be attached to a harness, never to the collar. Type of harness is going to be personal preference. I use a lot of vests and dresses (i've got a girl too) with D rings on them and I love them. I also use just basic harnesses that you can pick up at any pet store. There are several sellers on this site that make vests and harnesses if you want something nicer also. I use cat collars on my babies because they have the breakaway in case they get caught on something.

09-10-2010, 08:22 AM	#9
Furbaby Friend YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Buffalo, NY, United States Posts: 971	Thank you all for the replies! ^_^ First of all, thank you all for your great replies. I really do appreciate them! My Sophia: Thank you soooooo much for the tips! Great advice. I will take it all to heart. It will go in my compiled research file for flying (which my mum will have to read every single bit of, ha!). I need to wait to buy a harness because pups grow and I want an accurate measurement close to when we're picking her up. RDB911: The bags are darling! I hope to get one in the future, but they aren't what I'm looking for right this second. I want to let my pup get to full weight/dimensions before I invest in such a lovely (but expensive) bag lol. That way, she'll be comfy and maybe I can even get the smaller size! Dianab28: A care kit for the pup will be packed! We've come up with a solution to the bag dilemma (see below). We took the smaller carrier advice to heart. keokis mom: That's what I thought about the Kwigy Bo bags. They look absolutely darling, but don't seem like what I need right now. For day to day use though, they get a stylish A+ ^_^ Thank you for the recommendation on the Sherpa! To all: I ended up purchasing the Sturdibag (see link below). It was on sale and became cheaper than the Sherpa. Plus I liked the padding inside, the ventilation, the flexibility, the zipper locks, and especially the seat belt track for car rides! It is also pretty snazzy looking in red! It will also fit Rylie even if she goes above the 12lbs mark at any point. If she doesn't end up getting that big, well she'll just have more room in her carrier! SturdiBag Bordeaux Pet Carrier at PETCO I called the airline we plan on flying with (after checking their policies online) and discussed the Sturdibag with them and they said it would be fine. We have a back up plan in place just in case the people on the phone were lying to me :P (they often do that). My mom's friend has an airline approved carrier that is within dimensions that we can borrow just for the trip home (and being a itty bitty baby still Rylie will have no problems fitting). So crisis averted! Yay! I'll let you know how we, Rylie included, like the Sturdibag. It got rave reviews in general from what I've seen though. I'm pretty excited!!! Is it lame to be excited about a dog carrier? :P NOTE: Numbers 3 through 6 on my original post are still open to answers/opinions/tips, so please feel free to respond to them! Thanks!

09-10-2010, 02:31 PM	#13
LuvMySissy Luv my Angel, too! Donating Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: USA Posts: 9,333	As a puppy courier, I fly 2-4 days a week with yorkie/biewer puppies and adults. I would not recommend sedating your puppy. With any type of sedation (even Rescue Remedy) you want to test it at home first to make sure there are no adverse reactions. Having flown more than 50 puppies this year alone, the vast majority of them will sleep during the flight. Unless there is a collapsing trachea issue, you should not have to worry about resipiration issues in the cabin. I would recommend a smaller carrier than what you have purchased for the flight. Larger is not better for this type of travel. A smaller carrier will make your puppy feel more secure and keep them warmer. Please make sure you have a blanket available as well. Many planes have vents along the window seat floor boards that literally pour cold air out - putting a blanket to block this out is very helpful. Ask your breeder to please give Nutrical before meeting you with the pup to ensure you won't have any hypoglycemic issues during the flight. __________________ Sissy & Angel

09-08-2010, 11:37 PM	#4
My Sophia YT Addict Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Las Vegas, NV, USA Posts: 467	congrats on your new baby. I just flew from Orlando to Vegas three weeks ago with my new little man after waiting on him since May so i know exactly how anxious/excited you are. I got a smaller carrier off Amazon. nothing fancy but he loves it. best of all it's light weight. I was travelling alone and besides him, I also had a checked bag and a carryon backpack with my laptop, all the puppy paraphenalia (food, water, treats, toys, leashes, first aid stuff) and a couple of books for me so I wanted something smaller and lighter for Gulliver to ride in. That's something you want to keep in mind when choosing your carrier. wheels are great but remember that you may not always be able to use them. Sometimes you might have to carry it and maneuver around in tight spaces with it. One thing I did and would recommend is to arrive early enough that you can find somewhere off by yourself to play. We found a place in the corner away from the other passengers and played fetch for about an hour. By the time we were ready to board, he had eaten, drank a good drink of water, did his business on the pad and was completely pooped so he slept most of the flight. Plus the other passengers enjoyed our "floor show" LOL I did put a potty pad in the carrier just in case and he was also wearing a belly band but he didn't need either. I was carrying extra pads and put one down while we were waiting in Orlando, put the belly band on for the flight but it stayed dry. Then when we landed I popped into the ladies room, took off his belly band and put down another potty pad.

09-09-2010, 06:56 AM	#7
Dianab28 Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2010 Location: Manhattan, Ks, USA Posts: 170	If possible try to find out how much leg room you will have. I think I would go for a small carrier now and a bigger one later. You don't want to get to the airport and find out it won't fit I have a friend who uses a diaper bag for her dogs and keeps bottled water, puppy pads, toys, treats etc in it and it seems to work great.

09-09-2010, 06:36 PM	#8
keokis mom Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: New York City Posts: 503	I have a Kwigy Bo- 2 actually and they are not roomy enough for a long flight- I would recommend the Sherpa bag- it stands square so your baby will have room. I travel all the time with Keoki and he loves his and feels very comfy and safe - there is ventilation all around not just on the sides so he can see easily and get ALOT of air. I think it's a great choice- even when we are at home Keoki goes and sleeps in his as if it were his " safe place" the Kwigy Bo is more for day to day use in my opinion. Good luck and let us know what you buy!!!!

09-10-2010, 02:41 PM	#14
LuvMySissy Luv my Angel, too! Donating Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: USA Posts: 9,333	I recommend putting a disposable wee wee pad inside the carrier. If you bring a couple extra, depending on the duration of the flight, the disposable pads are the right size for the floor of the bathroom plane if you need to let the puppy out. It also works great for quick disposal if there are any sickness issues. Going through security you will be holding the puppy. Most airports will not allow a dog on a leash (or puppy) unless it is a service animal. I would recommend a harness for ID of some type just in case, but you won't need it for walking purposes. If you purchase a bottle of water (once through security) with an screw top on it, most pups will drink out of the small screw-top lids when they won't out of a strange bowl. A small bully stick can also help entertail your pup during the flight. __________________ Sissy & Angel Last edited by LuvMySissy; 09-10-2010 at 02:43 PM.

09-10-2010, 08:00 PM	#15
Furbaby Friend YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Buffalo, NY, United States Posts: 971	AllDogBoots and LuvMySissy: Thanks for all the fantastic advice! I really do appreciate it. I will be taking note. We will use the smaller borrowed carrier for the flight and the larger one at home. We already planned on the blankets (we are sending some ahead of time so they smell like us there and like Rylie's mum on the way back!). I didn't think they'd be needed for anything more than comfort though! Good to know there are temperature issues. Nutrical was already on my purchase list. I'm hoping they'll let it through security... Anyone know anything about that? I don't like sedatives to begin with and I never planned on using one (hence the blanket smell idea). That is why I asked about the DAP spray or pheromone collar. :/ I will buy disposable wee wee pads on top of the reusable one I've already purchased for the flight. The sickness/clean up makes sense. I planned on not adding to landfills, but I can use them for the flight and not use them at home. Oh! I didn't know she might not drink out of a collapsible bowl. The bottle lid is a good trick to know. I have added bully sticks to my list as well. We ended up booking with Southwest instead. It seemed more comfortable in general for everyone and the puppy fee was only $10 more than AirTran! The flight is 3h 50m there, with no plane changes (there is a stop however). A 2h and 20m wait at the destination to assure my mum has time with the breeder/pup and can get back through security! Then the return flight is 4h 15m including the one stop and one plane change (with 1h 30m to make the plane change).