| Hot dogs and planes! Summer is a good time for both | | | | all. Let them get used to the sights and sounds. |
| of them. Why not try taking your dog flying with | | | | Then your next trip you can put your pet into the |
| you if you haven't already? | | | | plane, but don't take off yet - let the animal sit in the |
| I'm not talking commercial airlines here, this is general | | | | plane and get used to it. If you will be using a |
| aviation. Little private planes owned by little private | | | | harness to secure them now is a good time to calmly |
| people who fly out of little private airports (or dirt | | | | give it a try. Nonchalance and acting like you have all |
| strips as the case may be). | | | | the time in the world is crucial here if you have a |
| There are probably lots of people reading this who | | | | skeptical pet. |
| have put their dog in a crate and watched it vanish | | | | A couple of dry runs like this are ideal as they allow |
| off into the cargo hold of the commercial jet for a | | | | the pet to acclimate themselves to the new situation |
| trip and wondered if that animal would have | | | | on their own terms. |
| disintegrated into a nervous puddle of goo by the | | | | Eventually you can start up the plane and see how |
| time the plane landed at the destination...this is a | | | | things go in the backseat. If you are happy with |
| completely different situation. We're talking a chance | | | | what is going on then keep the "baby-step" format |
| to get out of the house and have some fun with | | | | going until you are 100% sure that your pet is |
| your pet!!! | | | | comfortable in the plane. Practice taxiing. |
| Think of it as an opportunity to spend more quality | | | | Then, finally, you can take off. As you can see, this |
| time with your hairy (or scaly or slimy) friend. In | | | | is not an impulsive "Oooh it's Saturday, let's go flying |
| addition to dogs I will also include all other "pet" | | | | for the first time today" type of deal. You MUST |
| animals that could comfortably fit in a small plane - | | | | consider the pet's well-being, or you might end up |
| cats, ferrets, guinea pigs, pot bellied pigs, ant farms, | | | | paying a doggie psychotherapist a lot of money |
| bullfrogs, you name it! | | | | somewhere down the road. This is avoidable. Take |
| That said, a good plan when considering bringing your | | | | your time. Plus, anyone who is a dog psychotherapist |
| buddy along for his first flight is to keep in mind how | | | | needs to be seriously questioned as to their sanity |
| your pet reacts to riding in the car. If he is "gung-ho" | | | | anyway. |
| about it, there's a pretty good chance that he'll enjoy | | | | Things to bring with you on that first fateful flight: |
| the plane as well. | | | | 1. Yourself |
| If the instant he rounds the corner and sees the car | | | | 2. Helper |
| he barfs, this probably isn't going to be an enjoyable | | | | 3. Pet |
| time for either one of you and perhaps you should | | | | 4. Safety harness for pet to sit in back seat if pet is |
| reconsider. | | | | large enough |
| However, if you are stuck between a rock and a | | | | 5. Food & water for everybody |
| hard place and your projectile-vomiting pet absolutely | | | | 6. Hearing protection |
| HAS to fly with you there is a product out there | | | | 7. A sense of humor |
| that works beautifully called Sic Sacs. Intended for | | | | 8. Windex to clean nose prints off the window |
| humans, the developers probably wouldn't mind if you | | | | Take advantage of summertime and spend some |
| used them for a different species. (Assistant in | | | | quality time with your pet - it may take a little bit of |
| full-body rubber suit to sit in back seat with pet and | | | | getting used to for both of you, but in the long run it |
| hold bag is highly recommended if you choose this | | | | will be well worth the effort, and it will ensure that |
| option). | | | | you can spend more time together and less time |
| An important consideration when flying with an animal | | | | feeling guilty for neglecting them at home whole you |
| is hearing protection. You have it, so why shouldn't | | | | go out and have all the fun! |
| they? Their hearing is even more sensitive than | | | | So, there you were...not thinking about bringing your |
| yours. | | | | pet with you in the plane. You were worried that he |
| Mutt Muffs! What, you say? A company called Safe | | | | might chew through his crate while you were out |
| and Sound Pets makes aviation headsets for dogs, | | | | flying, but now you have a wonderful opportunity to |
| which they call Mutt Muffs. The research and | | | | spend more time with him. Carpe diem! |
| development behind this product is extensive and it is | | | | Looking for more information on private planes and |
| definitely worth looking into if you plan on taking your | | | | dogs? Have you ever heard about the rescue group |
| pooch on flights with you. They even engineered | | | | of volunteer pilots who fly animals in need to |
| them to fit a dog's head with special straps! | | | | wherever their new home is going to be? They are |
| There's no reason why your pet should have to | | | | looking for volunteers, so if you're interested in |
| suffer from noise when there is a product out there | | | | donating your time and flying expertise to help |
| that you can train him to wear that will protect his | | | | animals you can check it out. The internet is a great |
| hearing. With all different sizes (yes, there's one that | | | | place to start your research. The organization is called |
| will fit a cat) there's no excuse not to give this a try! | | | | Flying Paws, and after having taught your own animal |
| How to fly with your pet: You can start out slowly | | | | to ride happily with you it should be a piece of cake! |
| by just taking the pet to the airport with you. That's | | | | |