The Labraventures of Carbón, Spanish (ex-) foster dog extraordinaire

Emily_Babbelhund

Emily_Babbelhund

Mama Red HOT Pepper
Location
Regensburg, Germany
I've been sweating bullets about all the documentation I'd have to provide to get Carbon on the plane to California. I'd lined up my doctor to write a letter (I already have one from my US doc but it's two years old now) and was planning on asking our SD trainer to write one as well. She had told me he didn't need to be fully certified to fly as long as he'd done the training to prepare him for flying.

I had reams of paperwork for Brogan and always needed to supply it at least two weeks before flying. With all the stories of service alligators and the like, I figured that in the nearly four years that I've not flown with a dog, things would have gotten much stricter.

Today I finally steeled my courage to write Medical Services at United Airlines, where my frequent flyer miles live. A response came back almost immediately. Once I book, they request that I send them the weight and breed of my dog. If we're booking a leg over over 8 hours, they want a declaration that he won't wee in the cabin.

That's. It. All that worry for nada.

California here we come. B)
 
Emily_Babbelhund

Emily_Babbelhund

Mama Red HOT Pepper
Location
Regensburg, Germany
snowbunny said:
I just can’t imagine for a second taking any of my dogs on an aircraft. To be honest, I spend all of my energy trying not to mess my own pants without worrying about where my dog is going to go! 😁
Click to expand...
I am worried about the whole 'elimination situation'. But more for me than Carbon!

Thanks to my foot, Carbon is only getting two potty walks a day. Right now that means about 11am and then again about 7pm. If I can adjust those a bit so they are closer to every 12 hours, he should be golden (no pun intended). Morning flight and then we'll have our stopover about the same time he'd have a potty walk anyway.

But the wild card is that we've not worked unsupervised down stays. We will do that, but I don't think Carbon is mature enough to be 100% trusted to stay put for as long as it will take for me to get to the loo in the airplane. Our SD trainer said he can come with me to the loo and then I can ask a flight attendant to hold his lead for the short time I'm 'inside'. Flight attendants are always trying to get their hands on dogs, so as long as I choose a time when they are not doing drink or meal service, that's fine. However, if we are many rows away from the loo, I can imagine Carbon greeting (and getting greeted by) every person along the way. Which could be very entertaining for all involved, but is not optimal behaviour for a working service dog.

So...as a back up plan I think maybe it's time for me to start training MY bladder to only have a wee every 12 hours too! :LOL:
 
Cath

Cath

MLF Sales Coordinator
When we go to France. Fred and Annie have a wee at 5 to 8 am, just before we go at 8. Although we stop a few times so they can have a wee on the way, Fred goes, but Annie won't. She will only go when we get there around 5/ 6pm.

Good idea Fiona, I am sure it would be possible if you explain Emily.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top