This is the story of how I traveled with Cooper - our AllDogBoots shoe guru - to visit my parents in South Florida while we were living in Louisiana. Having never flown with a dog before, I learned several valuable lessons during our trip that I’m excited to share with our customers.
They were very literal with the 8" seat clearance - the bag was extremely low. I called Southwest and they informed me that any dog must be able to turn around and stand inside their carrier. I was disappointed and thought Cooper would not be able to make the trip.
After thinking about it for a few days, I realized Cooper is under 10 pounds. How do other people travel with small dogs? I turned to Twitter and quickly learned the airline carrier was misleading. Cooper could travel - I just needed the right bag. I bought a Sherpa carrier and, with lots of treats and a little tough love, he learned to accept it (not love it).
No food. No water. A good potty walk, but not enough that he would need water. I packed his blanket and a chew bone in the carrier. As recommended by my veterinarian, we gave Cooper a mild sedative about 15 minutes before arriving at the airport.
I was very nervous checking in. I put Cooper between my legs and said, "I need to check in my puppy." (He’s not a puppy, but it made him sound smaller.) They didn’t even look at the bag. I paid the fee, got the tag, and we headed to security.
I knew I had to remove Cooper from the carrier. I was already overwhelmed with security, and adding a dog made it even more stressful. I pulled him out, quickly put a lead on him just in case, and walked through. At the other side, airport staff held the carrier open so I could easily put him back in. Huge relief.
If you know Southwest, you know the boarding process. I paid extra for early boarding and chose a middle seat near the front since I was told it has the most under-seat space. Row 5, middle seat - perfect.
Following advice from another small dog traveler, I kept a photo of Cooper handy. When my seatmates asked what was in the carrier, I showed them his picture and they immediately relaxed. He scratched a little, barked a little, and probably slept a little. Mostly, he just stared at me. He wasn’t thrilled, but he handled it.
Cooper settling into his Sherpa carrier.
We made it! I met my father at the gate, grabbed our luggage, and Cooper got a well-deserved potty break.
Quick Travel Tip: Airports can be slippery and stressful for small dogs. Many customers use lightweight dog shoes like Meshies to give their dogs better traction and comfort when walking through terminals.
Choose non-stop flights whenever possible. Travel during cooler times of day. Make sure your dog is fully comfortable in their carrier before the trip. Your dog should be microchipped and have proper identification. The more identification, the better.
If you have the budget, private charters allow your pet to stay with you comfortably regardless of size and remove many airline restrictions. Traveling with your dog takes planning, but it can absolutely be done safely - and even be a great experience.
