We have to go to California for 10 days at the end of August. My first choice would be to board him. But the couple that have done overnight boarding with him before live on rental property. It is being sold and they don't know if the buyers are going to keep it as a rental or doze the buildings and build condos. It may be problematic to find another boarder that will accept an intact male with only core vaccines (no bortadella or lepto).
So I am looking for comments and advice from anyone who has used a Sleepy Pod Air for a bigger dog like Skye. Or another soft carrier that meets Alaska's size requirements. And/or your experiences with putting your fur baby in checked baggage, particularly with Alaska Air.
Thanks.
Don't know why the links came up all funky like that ?????
Has he mostly outgrown it because it collapses on him when he’s in it? Mine still technically meets the specs for our soft carrier but it’s too hard to hold comfortably because it collapses and doesn’t really hold his weight, even though it should. He’s on the bigger side, too, and I think he would do well in something like the sleepypod even if it’s only slightly bigger because it’s better quality and more structured. He often sleeps in makeshift dens at home that are even smaller than a travel carrier. I haven’t flown with my dog yet and I don’t have a Sleepypod, so I can’t offer any travel advice, just my thoughts on a bigger Havanese.
It can't really collapse on him. He fills it up with his head sticking out the top!!! No way I could cram him in the pawperfectpets carrier for the flight from Seattle to San Francisco.
Haha, that’s funny! I clicked the links and I think my soft crate/bag was bigger to begin with, so the comparison to the size of the Sleepypod is a little easier.
Even a pound or a few inches can make a big difference when they’re right around 12-14lbs because it seems to be the size cutoff on a lot of things! I find mine is always right between xs/s on just about everything from harnesses to seats.
Does someone near you have a sleepypod you could borrow to try out?
I’m sure one of the many traveling members will reply, it’s travel season
In my experience, as long as your bag can be pushed down to go under the seat, you can get away with it being a bit taller than the 9.5" underseat requirement. Perry's bag is 11" tall -(Sorry! Something went wrong!) but it's flexible enough that you can push it down to fit under the seat (at least on every airline we've used) ... I just tell the airline when I'm booking that it's only 9.5" tall because I know it will fit.
We have to go to California for 10 days at the end of August. My first choice would be to board him. But the couple that have done overnight boarding with him before live on rental property. It is being sold and they don't know if the buyers are going to keep it as a rental or doze the buildings and build condos. It may be problematic to find another boarder that will accept an intact male with only core vaccines (no bortadella or lepto).
So I am looking for comments and advice from anyone who has used a Sleepy Pod Air for a bigger dog like Skye. Or another soft carrier that meets Alaska's size requirements. And/or your experiences with putting your fur baby in checked baggage, particularly with Alaska Air.
Thanks.
Don't know why the links came up all funky like that ?????
I use the Sleepypod Air for my 15lb guy several times a week. I use it in the car as a carrier as well as on planes. I just flew over the 4th of July weekend on American with no problems. I have been very happy with the carrier...
I don't have experience with Alaskan airlines, but I do know that flying with a dog in checked baggage in August in the US is pretty dicey. No airline will put them in checked if there's any chance that the temperature on the ground during take off or landing is above 80 (86?) degrees.
I looked at a few other carriers and decided to order the Sleepypod Air from Amazon. Good to see your experience with it Barbara. Amazon is pretty good about returns so we will try it out and see. I like that it can be extended out to 22" except for take off and landing. He often sleeps curled up but usually when just chillin' he is stretched out with his head resting on his front paws.
Also made a Vet appointment for the health certificate just in case he has to go in checked baggage. And going to look through Rover.com in the off chance I can find someone to board him.
My last dog was a Dalmatian and had to fly cargo, and it was nerve-wracking to plan our lives (moving for work, etc.) around what the temperature might be at any place we took off from or landed at... especially since some of the places we lived were warm/ hot all year round so it meant ensuring that we were traveling the right time of year for Europe and Northeast US AND were taking off (or landing on return) at night where we lived, etc.
It's the biggest reason why my main criteria for my new dog was size (a few on my top 5 list of breeds fell off because they were on the high end, or over, of cabin travel size) . Knowing the variety of Havanese sizes as well, it was another reason why I was happy to get a rescue - not getting a puppy but getting a rescue under a year old (Perry was 8 months old when I picked him up from the rescue) meant a better idea of adult size and that he'd fit in his travel bag and in the cabin even if they were being strict on weight.
He sounds about the size our ours, we use the wheeled Sherpa, and fly often. It fits under the middle seat of Southwest, and he has lots of room. Our guy weighs 15 pounds and is 11 " at the shoulder. We really appreciate wheeling him around the airport!! Good luck.
Due the the heat issue checked baggage is off the table. I still have to call his Vet and cancel the appointment I made to get a health certificate.
The Sleepypod Air arrived today. Skye fits in it, but as you can see by "the look" he is not thrilled with it. It seems to have enough room for him so we will be considering this option over the next several days. Put him in it with lots of love and praise and see how he does. He is used to being crated so it shouldn't be a big problem. I looked at some of the other suggestions that are just a little over Alaska Airs size limits. Unfortunately I'm the guy that gets pulled over for doing 37 in a 35 zone, or comes back 61 minutes after paying for an hour's parking and finds a ticket on my windshield. :surprise: So I know that we would find the check-in clerk that pulls out a micrometer.
We did find a boarder who will take him in his un-neutered, core vaccinated state. Actually it's a couple I met during Skye's Puppy Classes. They have a 9 mo. old St. Bernard that Skye became good buddies with during class. Kado would lay down and Skye would crawl up and lay down on his front paws and legs. If we decide to board him with them I will take Skye over and make sure they still get along so well.
We did have another offer by some friends that have three Bichons. Skye likes to play with them, but I have seen the owner swat the dogs with his baseball cap and raise his hand to them when telling them to be quiet. So that is out of the question.
That look is awesome! Because Loki rides in the Sleepypod Air in the car every time we go out, he is used to it and it means to him “I get to go too”. He jumps right up on the seat and goes right in. I know he can turn around because he goes in head first but turns to face me while I zip him up. Maybe it would help to have Skye go on some car rides in the carrier to be used to being in it and to know he will be with you when he gets out. Also, I always walk Loki through the airport check in on leash. I have never had anyone ask to see him in the carrier. I get there early. Check bags. Take him outside again to do business. I walk him on leash to the gate. No one has ever said a word. If we have a bit of time I just keep walking him around. I think the less time in his carrier the better. He goes in the carrier just before boarding.
That look is awesome! Because Loki rides in the Sleepypod Air in the car every time we go out, he is used to it and it means to him "I get to go too". He jumps right up on the seat and goes right in. I know he can turn around because he goes in head first but turns to face me while I zip him up. Maybe it would help to have Skye go on some car rides in the carrier to be used to being in it and to know he will be with you when he gets out. Also, I always walk Loki through the airport check in on leash. I have never had anyone ask to see him in the carrier. I get there early. Check bags. Take him outside again to do business. I walk him on leash to the gate. No one has ever said a word. If we have a bit of time I just keep walking him around. I think the less time in his carrier the better. He goes in the carrier just before boarding.
Perry goes into his flying carrier much better than his car carrier - I assume because he associates the one with the car (bad) and the other with flying (not so bad).
I do usually take Perry through check in in his bag mostly because I'm usually flying with a ton of bags and it's just easier (plus he's afraid of a lot of things and that many people/ that much bustle would freak him out) That being said, I've never had anyone check to see how well he fits, with him being black and the mesh being dark they can barely see that he's in there until I point him out (every single time I tell them a have a pet in cabin reservation they're like "oh, where's the pet" even though the bag is slung over my shoulder
Once he's been to the pet relief area I usually walk him around the airport on his leash. We generally hang out in the star alliance lounge so I take him into the lounge in his bag then take him out of his bag once i find an out of the way place to be with him and so we hang out there until it's time to board the plane.
All our pups are so funny and quirky with their likes and dislikes. Loki is so attached to me he will put up with just about anything to be with me.
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