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Win a gorgeous TUMI pet carrier — and dig two water wells in Haiti

About a week ago, I posted a rapturous review of the new pet carrier from TUMI, and then left you with a mystery. Under my rules, I cannot keep products worth more than $50, and the TUMI pet carrier, at $495, is well over that limit. I either have to return the carrier to TUMI, or give it away — but I told you that I was doing neither of those things, and that you would be excited by the third alternative I’d reveal on Nov. 27.

Here it is: TUMI has generously donated the pet carrier I reviewed as a prize for Passports with Purpose, the annual travel bloggers’ fundraiser. The value of the carrier is $495, and I will ship it to the winner wherever in the world s/he lives.

Photo by TUMI

Every year a group of travel bloggers gathers together tasty prizes from kind sponsors — trips, hotel stays, luggage, etc. — for a good cause. This year, Passports with Purpose is raising funds to help dig water wells for two rural communities in Haiti, still reeling from the effects of the massive 2010 earthquake that devastated the country’s infrastructure. For every $10 you donate, you get an entry in the raffle, which you can allocate to the prize you most desire (last year, I yearned for a carry-on, and allocated all ten of my entries to winning it, but I could have bid on up to ten different prizes). All of the money raised goes to Water.org, which is coordinating digging these two wells.

The goal this year is to raise $100,000, which sounds ambitious — but in past years, PwP has raised $90K to build two libraries in Zambia (2011), $60K to build a village in India for “untouchables” (2010), and $28K to build a school in rural Cambodia (2009). In past years, Dog Jaunt has offered a car safety package for traveling dogs, and a Kimpton Hotel getaway package. I am thrilled, this year, to offer TUMI’s gorgeous Alpha pet carrier as a PwP prize.

I hope that you’ll bid on it (and you totally should — you’ll love it!) — but even if you wouldn’t be able to use this prize, you should check out the full prize list. Many of us in the U.S. have been buffeted by natural disasters — regions of the country are still recovering from this year’s tornadoes, wildfires and, of course, Hurricane Sandy — but we’ve got the powerful help of FEMA. Providing Haitians with clean, drinkable water is crucial, and we can help, for just $10 at a time. Much as I yearn to, I can’t bid on the TUMI carrier — but I will certainly be bidding on other prizes, and I urge you to join me and to spread the word to your family and friends!

Here’s what you do: Look under “Travel Gear” for the Dog Jaunt-sponsored prize from TUMI in the list of prizes, and bid on it in increments of $10 (each $10 gives you another chance to win). Donations for prize entries will be accepted through 11:59pm (EST) on December 11, and then winners will be notified on December 18. Donations that come in after December 11 will help provide water to rural Haiti, but will not earn you additional chances to win prizes.

Product review: TUMI’s Alpha pet carrier (or, how the other half lives)

I first heard about TUMI’s new pet carrier a couple of months ago, and posted a wistful link to it on Dog Jaunt’s Facebook page — it was a TUMI product, so I suspected it was something special in the world of pet carriers, but it cost $495, so it was out of my price range. The Lord loves a tryer, though, as a waiter in Ireland once told me, so I wrote to TUMI and asked if they’d send me one of their carriers to review and (here I held my breath) give away — and that waiter had it right, because here I am in my living room, turning the carrier around in my hands. I have not been paid for this review, and I did not promise (and TUMI did not request) that it would be positive. TUMI’s pet carrier costs more than $50, so I cannot keep it — what I’ll be doing with it will be revealed here on November 27. Don’t miss that post!!

TUMI has long been a name to conjure with in the travel world — their luggage is exquisitely designed and made. It’s also costly and, at the time I sighed over it, weighty, so I never assembled an all-TUMI suitcase collection. I was thrilled to see that TUMI’s new pet carrier is from their lighter Alpha line (the carrier weighs a very workable 3.75 lbs. on my mailing scale, minus the detachable studded ID tag, accessory pouch, and collar).

Measuring the carrier is a little tricky, since it tapers slightly from top to bottom. The company’s measurements (21.5″ long, 7.25″ wide, 13.5″ tall) are wrong in all dimensions. Here’s what I have in front of me: At its top rim, the carrier is 20″ long and 7.25″ wide, and the rim is 12″ off the ground. However, the area that contains your dog is slightly smaller, since it measures about 17.5″ long at the carrier’s base, and it ends about an inch shy of the top rim. The bag has a substantial pair of pockets on one side, so overall it’s wider than 7.25 inches — I’d call it more like 9″ wide. The internal space is sufficient for 13 lb. Chloe — but although TUMI suggests that it will work for dogs up to 25 lbs., the included dog collar is clearly meant for a significantly smaller dog. I think this carrier would work best for dogs 10-12 lbs. or under.

I’ve left the privacy panel poking out a bit, so you can see how it’s structured — properly stowed, it tucks away completely into the carrier’s base. In this picture, the bag’s top is entirely zipped (I haven’t tucked the zipper end into its securing base). The mesh end panel is halfway unzipped, and until she lay down, Chloe had been poking her head out of it. The two dangling snap tabs secure the privacy panel in place when it’s pulled up. I like how the bag’s design prompts you to turn the outside pocket towards your body, keeping your credit card and phone, etc. more secure (the pocket under my elbow is the luggage slot).

TUMI’s carrier is made of black ballistic twill, with leather trim on the handles. The entire top is a sturdy mesh ventilation panel, with a zipper down the middle; one end, and half of the other end, is also a mesh panel. I approve of bags that allow you to look down at your dog (since she’ll be at your feet when you’re traveling), and reach in to pat her. The end of the bag that is entirely mesh is also a zipped entrance, and has a privacy panel which either snaps into place or tucks away — and you will swoon when you see this — into a slot along the base of the carrier. The zipper on the top panel can be secured, so your pup cannot scrape it open.

The area inside is lightly padded with a (removable, washable) quilted liner that stretches up both sides and halfway up the half-mesh end. I like the coverage, since it allows your pet to be comfortable even if the bag is tilted on its side — but how comfortable is that thin quilting, really? Be sure to supplement what’s provided with a bit of fleece fabric, or a soft towel. [That said, when I invited Chloe to exit the bag, before I packed it back up, she declined, and stayed happily inside the carrier, nose and front paws poking out the side entrance, until I gave up and walked away.]

Other nice features include a pocket on one side that zips open at the bottom to slip over your luggage handle — with a bonus interior pocket, so you can stow your boarding pass on that side even while it’s being used as a luggage slot — and a pair of pockets on the other side that are big enough to hold not only a fair amount of dog gear (leash, poop bags, a collapsible bowl, and treats would certainly fit) but also a fair amount of people gear (the included cell phone and credit card slots help keep things organized).

The company’s attention to detail includes the carrier’s bottom, which is supported not just by feet at each corner (substantial ones, bless ’em) but by an additional foot in the middle of the base, preventing the bag from sagging onto the ground under your pet’s weight. Goofy bonus features include a heavily studded, bone-shaped ID tag and a little zipped pouch that comes clipped onto a tiny lanyard in the side storage pocket — both charming, but I’d lose the ID tag (too heavy, too spiky) and the accessory pouch, using the little lanyard for my keys instead.

Speaking of lanyards, there’s a big one sewn at the top of the carrier, with a clip on the end to attach to your dog’s collar, and while I like the fact that it’s sewn so it needn’t dangle into your pet’s compartment, I wish it were altogether detachable. The carrier arrives with a black leather collar clipped onto the lanyard — very attractive, but way too small for Chloe.

I’ve mentioned a couple of things that are less than perfect (the thickness of the padded liner, the permanence of the sewn-in lanyard), and here are a couple more: While the carrier’s shoulder straps are comfortable (they’re sewn leather, and narrow, but nicely padded), I wish they were just an inch or so longer (they’re workable, and will clear a winter coat, but I found myself tugging the outer one back up more than I’d like); and I wish there was a way to unzip the mesh end panel part way, and secure it in that position. Chloe liked sticking her head out the end, but there’s nothing stopping the zippers from continuing to unzip.

I believe the TUMI carrier would work well as an in-cabin airplane carrier. Its height measurement (12″) doesn’t tell the whole story: Since the carrier’s sides are not reinforced with any kind of structural rod, the bag will, on demand, squish down substantially — at least 4″ — with the happy effect of making the internal compartment wider. You could turn this carrier on its side, but I don’t think there would be any reason to.

Even if you’re not planning to fly with your pet, this is an appealing carrier — it looks like an around-town tote (the side pockets let you leave your own purse at home), and the zipped top allows you to completely enclose your pet (for use on public transit) or, partly unzipped, let just her head poke out the top. If you choose to leave the zipper entirely undone, the sewn-in lanyard, a substantial object with a good-quality clip, comes into its own. The bag will work fine as a car carrier, too, since you can unzip the bottom of the side pocket and pass your car’s seatbelt through the luggage slot.

In short, this is a sweetheart of a pet carrier. According to my rules, since it costs $495 I either have to give it away or return it to TUMI. I’m not quite doing either of those things, but when you find out what the plan is, you’ll be excited. Check back on November 27!

Chloe’s Clicks: This week’s best dog travel links

It’s a short but tasty Chloe’s Clicks this time — appropriate as we head into Thanksgiving (here at Dog Jaunt world HQ, Thanksgiving is a week-long event). We start with food, and specifically a post from Dog Gone Seattle about Sully’s Snowgoose Saloon, in the Phinney Ridge neighborhood of Seattle. We’ve been to Norm’s, a dog-friendly pub in the Fremont neighborhood, but we haven’t yet been to Sully’s — and that clearly has to change.

And then we turn to walking, which is also important during this week of good things. Pamela Webster, the blogger behind Something Wagging This Way Comes, wrote a review of Kevin Runulfson’s book about walking the Appalachian Trail with his new (really, brand-new) rescue pup that not only gives you a feel for the book but also prompts you to ask yourself a few important questions about how you and your dog would fare on a similar trip. A Dog Jaunt reader posted a comment (on a post about dog-friendly parks/gardens in Paris) that included a link to another helpful list of dog-friendly parks in and around Paris, and Easy Hiker described a walk along the Thames that Chloe would love as much as we would.

The last couple of links in this week’s collection depart from the food, and walking it off, theme: The Family Matters Blog, from the Armed Forces Press Service, hosted a guest post advising service men/women and their families how to find pet-friendly resources at their duty station; and in a Let’s Go Flying post, a pilot of a small plane (a Cessna 172) described taking Sophie, her Australian Shepherd, on her first flight, and the things she and her boyfriend did before and during the flight to make sure that Sophie was comfortable.

Happy Thanksgiving to you all — travel safely, and keep your pup away from chocolate and grapes and cooked turkey carcasses!

Pet relief area at Milwaukee’s General Mitchell International Airport (MKE)

Milwaukee’s Mitchell Airport has a pet relief area (well, after a fashion, as you’ll see), but you would never know it from the airport’s website and signage. There was nothing in my usual sources about MKE’s pet relief area, and the airport’s information desk is just a collection of brochures and maps. I ended up picking up the white courtesy phone and throwing myself on the operator’s mercy. Here’s what I learned.

When you arrive at MKE, make your way to the baggage claim area. Orient yourself so you’re facing the airport roadway, exit the terminal, and turn right. If the weather is grim, and you want to walk inside the terminal as long as possible, the exit nearest the pet relief area is Door 5. The official pet relief area is a patch of lawn at the end of the terminal — you’ll see one end of it as you walk down the sidewalk, and when you reach the corner of the terminal, you’ll see the ubiquitous green pole holding poop bags and a small trash bag.

This is a panorama shot, so it's a bit misleading -- but I do love my panorama app. The green pole is to the right of the flagpole base.

And that’s all there is, folks. No fence, no bench, and certainly none of the extras your best pet relief areas have, like a source of water. The pet relief area is — as is so often the case — right next to the official smoking area, so if you’re smoke-sensitive, you may prefer to cross the airport roadway to this patch of grass you’ll find in front of the parking garage.

From where I took that panorama, this area was to my left, across the airport roadway

MKE has plenty of grassy spots, in fact, including some at the other end of the terminal, if you get turned around and head to the left instead of the right. Be sure to bring your own poop bags with you, or pick one up from the official area’s green pole, if you choose an alternative option.

This post is part of an ongoing series of reviews of airport pet relief areas we’ve visited. To see others, visit Dog Jaunt’s handy guide to airport pet relief areas.

Packing your dog’s gear for travel: An update, and a collaboration

I’ve written several posts about the dog gear we bring with us on trips, and how we pack it for car and airplane travel, but when Gigi Griffis (who writes The Ramble, and whose posts about her current trip across Europe with Luna, her Schnauzer-Yorkie mix, have frequently been featured in past Chloe’s Clicks) asked if I’d like to contribute to a collection of posts about packing for dog travel, I happily agreed. Things change over time, after all — new products come out, and new habits arise, and this is a fine opportunity to let you know about them. I’m looking forward to hearing Gigi’s packing tips, as well as those of Sonja and Stefan, the human team behind Montecristo Travels (Monte’s a remarkable dog, but the packing is surely done by his bipeds!). Links to their posts, which I haven’t yet read, are in the last paragraph.

This is Chloe’s idea of packing, not mine

Some things have not changed: This is still Chloe’s comprehensive packing list, and I always run an eye over it before I call myself ready to go. I add new things to it, as they arise, but I don’t take things off (we no longer really need Bitter Apple, for example, and after Chloe frightened herself by snagging a claw in her Poochie Bells, we no longer use them, but those items are still listed).

Packing for car travel in your own car

If we are leaving on a road trip in our own car, we pack Chloe’s gear in totes. Her 24″ long metal Midwest travel crate, and three crate pads, fit in an extra-large Land’s End tote bag, and the many-pocketed tote that sits on top of her home crate gets heaved in next to it (in addition to the usual stuff it contains, including her grooming supplies, a few choice toys, an extra leash and harness, and her Pawz booties, we add any jackets she might need, a stocked food kit and a couple of different bags of treats, for variety).

Chloe’s XL Land’s End tote, holding her metal travel crate, 2 crate pads, 2 bedsheets, and her crate cover. It all fits, despite how it looks in the picture — the tote handles come together comfortably.

Please note that the L.L. Bean tote we use for Chloe’s everyday organization was discontinued a couple of years ago — every so often, I search for good alternatives (they have to have a zipped top, and lots of capacious side pockets), and the one I like best right now is actually a diaper bag.

Chloe’s car-safety solution (these days, the Pet Tube from Pet Ego, with the optional Pet Ego “comfort pillow” and an extra, soft pad) is already in place, and she’ll be traveling in it, so no need to pack that. We do toss in her Pet Ego messenger bag, in case a stealth solution is needed. As you know, I keep the sneaking to a minimum, but on a road trip — especially a solo one — there are times when I must sneak. I will not leave Chloe in the car, under any circumstances, so when I stop at a convenience store for a bathroom break, for example, she comes in with me.

Packing for car travel in a rental car

Packing for this is the same as packing for air travel, which I’ll turn to next — with one difference. If I know that we’ll be driving a rental car at our destination, I pack Chloe’s Pet Tube (it zips into a pancake that’s 18″ in diameter, and about 3″ thick) and its comfort pillow in her Big Red Suitcase (both will fit if I eliminate one of her three big crate pads). When we arrive, I install the Pet Tube in the right rear seat of the rental car, add the extra, soft pad from her in-cabin carrier (the extra-small Plush Sleepeez pad from Pet Dreams fits well both in Chloe’s large SturdiBag carrier and on top of the Pet Ego comfort pillow), insert Chloe, and off we go.

If it’ll be a long road trip at our destination, I pull out Chloe’s many-pocketed tote and put that on the seat next to her — easily accessible from the front seats and from the driver’s side passenger door. The Big Red Suitcase goes in the trunk, to be dealt with when we stop for the night. It’s a messy scene in the car rental area while all of this is happening, since I have to open Chloe’s suitcase completely, on the ground, to access all the stuff I need, but it only takes a couple of minutes before everything is zipped back up again.

Packing for air travel (checked bag)

Over the years I’ve offered a handful of suggestions for air travel packing, and more than one reader has added to the list. The trickiest part of the process is packing a travel crate for your pup. A crate is an excellent idea for travelers with dogs because many hotels require that your dog be crated while you’re absent; in addition, a crate gives your dog a familiar haven as you change environments, and keeps her from bolting out of the room when house cleaning (and the house cleaning cart and vacuum) enters.

If you (unlike me) have a pup that won’t shred a soft-sided crate, you’re lucky, because they’re compact and lighter than the metal crate I pack for Chloe. I recommend the Creature Leisure soft-sided crate; the medium size that works well for Chloe also fits in a large suitcase (which can itself be soft-sided, in this case).

If you prefer a hard-sided but plastic Vari-Kennel/Sky Kennel kind of crate, you can either leave it assembled and check it like a suitcase (you can pack light, bulky things in it — nothing too heavy, or your handle will pull off), or (and this was a reader’s suggestion), you can unscrew its sides and pack the top and bottom, nested together, in a suitcase.

We use a metal Midwest crate for Chloe, and the one she has at home is 30″ long. I initially thought I’d be packing it up each time we traveled, so I bought a 32″ suitcase to hold it. I chose a hard-sided suitcase, because the edges of the metal crate would wreak havoc on a soft-sided suitcase (which, in turn, wouldn’t protect the crate from airline baggage handling). Because I wanted the hard-sided suitcase to be as light as possible — you’ve seen Chloe’s packing list, and you know how long it is — I ended up buying the phenomenally expensive Samsonite Cosmolite 32″ Spinner suitcase, in red. I’ve never regretted it: It’s light, it’s sturdy, it’s easy to wheel around, and it’s impossible to miss coming off the baggage claim belt.

I did change my mind about the crate, however. We pack the next smaller size instead (24″ long), which keeps the weight down and leaves room around its edges for Chloe’s soft furnishings. Here’s what Chloe’s suitcase contains, on a typical trip:

Open side, from bottom to surface

  • Sham-wow towels/camping towels (filling in the indents between the channels for the suitcase’s handle)
  • Nylon-twill-over-foam crate pad, about 1.5″ thick
  • 24″ Midwest single-door crate
  • Two (one, if I’m packing Chloe’s Pet Tube) soft crate pads
  • Two bedsheets and a fitted crate cover, rolled up and inserted around the three outer edges of the crate

Zipped side

  • Chloe’s many-pocketed tote, the entire thing inserted into an extra-large Ziploc bag to corral the small bits and protect against liquid (shampoo, enzymatic cleaner, etc.) leakage
  • Chloe’s food kit
  • Pet Ego messenger bag
  • Pet Tube and comfort pillow (if car travel at the destination is planned)

Even fully loaded, the Big Red Suitcase has always squeaked in at just under 50 lbs. You could, conceivably, divide your pet’s gear between your suitcase and that of a companion, obviating the need for a separate pet suitcase, but I’ve never managed to be that efficient.

The more you travel, the more routine this packing job will become. Between trips, I leave most of this gear in the Big Red Suitcase, so that when the time to pack arrives, all I have to do is grab the tote that rests on her home crate (keeping her everyday gear organized), put it into the XL Ziploc bag, fill the food kit with the appropriate amount of food and treats, and place both — along with Chloe’s messenger bag and her Pet Tube — in the zipped side of the suitcase.

Please note that if your everyday, many-pocketed organizational tote is bursting at the seams, you can purchase a second, smaller tote with just the gear your pet needs for travel (rather than all of her toys, and both of the fanny packs you use for dog-walking, and all three of her water bottles, etc.). That makes packing even easier, because that fully-stocked travel tote can live in your pet’s suitcase between trips. In this post about our typical hotel room set-up, you’ll see Chloe’s pink-and-orange travel tote on top of her crate, not her cream-and-green home tote.

Packing for air travel (in-cabin)

Although some airlines may allow you to board with a carry-on as well as your pet’s carrier, most don’t. What if your pet’s suitcase doesn’t end up at your destination at the same time you do? You’ll see, in Dog Jaunt’s packing list, a section listing the gear I carry into the cabin with me, either in my “small personal item” (in my case, a robustly-sized purse), in the pocket of Chloe’s in-cabin carrier, or tucked into one of the many pockets in my travel vest. I strongly recommend a many-pocketed vest for travelers with dogs, since your small personal item has to go in the overhead bin, and on bumpy flights you may never be allowed to access it.

The links in this post will lead you to other Dog Jaunt posts about packing, but here are two fresh, new links. Gigi Griffis is simultaneously posting about packing for dog travel on her blog, The Ramble, and I’m looking forward to reading about her process, especially now that she and Luna have been traveling for so long around Europe. Montecristo, living life eight inches off the ground, is simultaneously posting about packing for dog travel on Montecristo Travels — he and his bipeds always have good (and often delightfully swanky) ideas, and I’m looking forward to hearing them. [A valuable addition to the collection arrived after we published these links: Akila, part of The Road Unleashed team, sent her dog travel packing recommendations from Europe, where she and Patrick are traveling with pups Abby and Chewy.] I’d love, too, to hear your packing tips! Please leave them in a comment, so we can all benefit!

RUNNUR personal pack giveaway winner

Twenty-one of you entered to win this RUNNUR cross-body pack, and you gladdened my heart, because all of you carry as much gear as I do when I walk Chloe — and many of you carry even more (including wonderful Janina, who includes a first aid kit and a mini survival book when she goes running or hiking with her Dachshund). Your ideas, as always, are great, and I encourage you all to read through the comments on the giveaway post to see what your colleagues are trying out.

Photo by RUNNUR

The randomly-chosen winner is Janet, entrant #3, who says she’s “usually overloaded with stuff. I’m carrying my keys, wallet, phone, poop bags, a water bottle, a ball or other toy to play with if we’re going to the dog park, treats; and, of course, if we’re at the dog park I’m carrying the leash. Also, if I’m leaving the apartment complex, my husband makes me carry my 9mm.”

Congratulations, Janet and pup! I’m thinking the gusseted inner pocket will be the best choice for a bulky object like a handgun (and I’m also sincerely hoping it’s the joke I think it is!). Please e-mail me your shipping address, and I’ll get your new RUNNUR personal pack to you. Thank you again to everyone who posted a comment, and to RUNNUR for sending me the pack to review and give away.

Giveaway: RUNNUR’s cross-body pack, for dog walking (or not!)

Last Saturday, I posted a review of the RUNNUR cross-body pack, which is useful in a variety of contexts but which I considered as a dog-walking pack. It’s a nifty object, I decided — comfortable to wear and capacious.

At my request, RUNNUR sent me the medium-sized black pack with red stitching, which I think is the coolest of the available options. It costs $39, so under my rules I could keep it — and I was tempted to — but it’s such a great giveaway that I had to, um, give it away. My thanks to RUNNUR for their generosity in sharing their product with me, and in agreeing to let it be given away to a Dog Jaunt reader!

How To Enter

One lucky reader can win. If you would like a chance to win, leave a comment letting me know what you typically carry with you when you walk your dog (and you know by now that I’m crazy about gear, so if there’s a leash, harness/collar, hip pack, water bottle, dog jacket, etc. that you’re using and really like, please provide details) before 11:59 PM PST on Tuesday, November 6, 2012. Please fill in the e-mail field of the comment form (your e-mail address isn’t shared with anyone, and I will not send you e-mail unless you win).

Announcing the winner

I will choose a winner randomly and announce the results here, on Dog Jaunt’s Facebook page, and in Dog Jaunt’s Twitter feed on Wednesday, November 7, 2012.

Rules

Please, only one comment per person per giveaway post. Duplicate comments and anonymous comments will be discarded. Please make sure that the e-mail address in your comment form is valid (e-mail addresses are never public). Winners must claim their prize within three business days after the date of notification of such prize. A sweepstakes winner’s failure to respond to the prize notification and provide a shipping address within the specified three business days will be considered such sweepstakes winner’s forfeiture of the prize and an alternate winner may be selected from the pool of eligible entries. If an entrant is found to be ineligible, an alternate winner may also be selected from the pool of eligible entries. To enter, you must be a U.S. resident, age 18 or older. Employees, partners and vendors of Dog Jaunt and their immediate family members are not eligible to enter. Entries that appear to be generated by scripts and other automated technology will be disqualified. When applicable, the winner may be required to execute and return within five business days an Affidavit of Eligibility and a Liability and Publicity Release to be eligible for the prize or an alternate winner will be selected. All prizes will be awarded. No substitutions including for cash are permitted, except that Dog Jaunt reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater monetary value for any prize. Winners shall be responsible and liable for all federal, state and local taxes on the value of their prize.

P.S. If you like this giveaway, and want to share it with your friends, please use one (or more!) of the buttons below.

Product review: RUNNUR cross-body pack, for dog walking

I first heard about the RUNNUR pack in an e-mail message from Fido Friendly magazine, way back in May, and I wrote to the company asking for a sample to review. The product is not specifically meant for dog owners (it’s created, says the company, for “People on the Go: Bike, Skate, School, Work and Travel”), but as you’ll see, it’s an appealing option for dog walkers, laden as they are with poop bags, phone, water bottle, treats, etc. RUNNUR kindly sent me one, and now I’ve had a chance to try it.  I have not been paid for this review, and I did not promise (and RUNNUR did not request) that it would be positive. Although the pack costs less than $50, I will be giving it away to one lucky Dog Jaunt reader (total value: $39). I’ll provide the giveaway details in a separate post on Tuesday, October 30, 2012.

A medium-sized RUNNUR, right shoulder to left hip

The pack consists of a wide nylon twill band, covered with pockets and sewn into a loop that slips over your head. It can be worn over either shoulder — I chose to wear it over my right shoulder, since that positions the water bottle pocket handily in front, over my left hip. It ends in a large, sturdy grommet holding a carabiner, which someone walking without a pet might use to hold keys or a variety of useful clip-on items (umbrella! hat! collapsible seat!) — I look at it, though, and think of clipping Chloe’s leash to it while I buy a coffee, or pick up poop.

I’m getting ahead of myself, though. The company (per a letter to their customers) wants you to start with the water bottle pocket, which “creates an anchor for the strap: a 16 or 20 oz. bottle is the first thing that should go on strap.” Being a perverse person, I deliberately chose to start with Chloe’s other gear (roll of poop bags, my iPhone, her folding raincoat, a mini-flashlight, and a wad of treats), and the result was fine — but when I added the weight of Chloe’s full Gulpy water bottle, the pack did indeed settle more comfortably on my shoulder. (I dislike wearing objects that dangle from light, thin shoulder straps, as you may know from comments I’ve made in previous product reviews, but there’s nothing dangly about the RUNNUR pack.)

There were plenty of pockets for gear. I put Chloe’s folding raincoat in the pocket concealed on the inside of the strap (her raincoat is hardly precious, but that pocket was the right size, and in the right location), her poop bags and treats in the camera/snacks pocket, and my phone in the eyeglasses pocket. That left me with three unused pockets, which turns out to be a fair amount of real estate. I clipped the mini-flashlight I use for locating poop in the dark on the carabiner, where it could also function as a hazard light (one of its settings makes the light flash); in combination with the pack’s sewn-on reflector strip, that would improve my dusk/night-time visibility.

Here’s what I liked: The product is attractive (I chose the black with red stitching, but it’s also available in black with black stitching, natural, ballerina pink, kelly green, grey, and plum) and solidly constructed. I hesitated wearing it all summer, but I think I’d have been fine — the inside is lined with a mesh that keeps the air circulating by holding the pack slightly away from your body. I dislike how hip packs drag at my waistband, and I dislike the look of a hip pack (no matter what I call it, it’s still a fanny pack, and it still looks silly). The RUNNUR has more urban chic than a fanny pack, and it does a nice job of tucking your gear in close to your body, keeping your arms free to move around with your dog’s leash. It is more comfortable to carry a large-sized Gulpy bottle in the RUNNUR than it is in a fanny pack, and it was very nice to have that extra water available (for me and for Chloe).

Negatives? It vexed me a bit to use only a handful of the pockets — a dog walker has a certain amount of gear, but not as much as the RUNNUR pack can hold. I think, though, that that’s just a quirk of my personality. The unused pockets add very little to the weight of the product, which is under a pound. Unlike the Tom Bihn Canine Citizen, another pack I’ve admired this year, the RUNNUR pack has no solution for a ChuckIt! ball or stick — but it’s also half the price of the Tom Bihn bag (and, indeed, it’s hardly fair to compare a general-use pack with one that’s designed specifically for dog walkers).

One last note: The RUNNUR pack comes in a variety of sizes. I’m 6’0″ tall, and an average build (I’d like to say slim, but that’d be pushing it). I chose the Medium size, and it fits very comfortably.

Amazon link: RUNNUR Personal Cargo Pack

Reader’s report: American Airlines under-seat space, Miami airport pet relief area (MIA), hotel policy tip

I’m not even going to tell you how long ago reader Natalie wrote to me with this excellent report. Let’s just say that earlier this year she and Stanley, her year-and-a-half-old Cockapoo, flew on American from Boston to Key West, with a layover and a plane change in Miami. She kindly shared detailed information about some key aspects of her trip (her first-ever with Stanley!), including her check-in experience with American; the under-seat spaces on the Boeing 757 and American Eagle AT7 planes they flew on; a pet relief area at Miami International Airport (MIA); and how she handled a pet policy change at her hotel.

Check-in with American Airlines

Natalie noted that Stanley is “on the larger size for in-cabin airline travel which caused a bit of anxiety for me but we encountered no problems whatsoever during our travel. I used the large Sturdi bag per your suggestion and it was perfect. He weighs about 17 lbs so with the bag the scale at the airport read 19.5 lbs.” Please note that Stanley and carrier were put on a scale — which doesn’t often happen. In this case, all was well, since American’s maximum weight for an in-cabin pet is 20 lbs. (total — pet plus carrier).

Stanley on the beach. “My biggest concern,” Natalie wrote, “is that Stanley is tall.”

“He has very long legs so the height of the carrier was concerning. Stanley is able to turn around in the carrier, but it is tight.”

“The American Airlines check-in agent in Boston did ask to see Stanley in the carrier in addition to weighing him but we had no problems. The check-in agent did complete a form for Stanley. In Key West the check-in agent didn’t even look at or weigh Stanley so no problems there either. In both Boston and Miami I did have to show the ticket showing I had paid for Stanley’s fee.”

Under-seat space on an American 757 and American Eagle AT7

As Natalie mentioned, she bought a large SturdiBag for Stanley. “We flew Boston to Key West with a layover in Miami. Stanley’s carrier fit fine under seat in both the Boeing 757 aircraft and the much smaller American Eagle AT7. The flight attendants allowed me to keep Stanley’s carrier on my lap during much of the flight. Actually I only had to put the carrier under the seat in front of me during one segment of our journey (which I do understand is against airline safety policy) — in the other flight segments he could remain on my lap even during take off and landing.”

Pet relief area at Miami International Airport (MIA) — Terminal E

According to MIA’s website, there are pet relief areas at three areas of the airport: “MIA has animal relief areas located at the arrival level at Concourses D, E and J.  The relief areas at Concourses E and J are whimsically themed ‘doggy parks.’ All of MIA relief areas are equipped with dual surfaces and waste disposal stations.” Natalie and Stanley “used the pet relief area outside of Terminal E. It was extremely convenient and easy to get to. I attached a few pictures in case you have not seen it.”

MIA Concourse E pet relief area — looking back towards the terminal

 

 

The Concourse E pet relief area is in the center of this Google Maps view; it appears that you reach it by exiting the terminal through the doors nearest baggage claim carousels 12 & 13 and crossing the airport roadway:

The arrow points to the Concourse E pet relief area

The arrow points to the Concourse E pet relief area

Hotel pet policy change

I don’t know which Hilton/Waldorf-Astoria hotel Natalie and Stanley stayed in — there are a couple in Key West, the Casa Marina and The Reach — but Natalie’s forethought helped her handle an unexpected change in her hotel’s pet policy:

Our hotel was of course pet friendly (Hilton/Waldorf Astoria). I thankfully printed out a copy of their policy and fee at the time of booking (time stamped screen shots) because they had recently changed their policy since I booked. Since I had the print out indicating the policy at the time of booking they honored the fee that existed at the time of booking. It was a big difference — $125 per pet per stay versus $80 per day (which would have been $800!!). I recommend printing the fee/policy page to others to avoid this type of situation!

Excellent advice, which I’ll be following myself from now on. Thank you so much, Natalie, for the advice, the pictures, and for sharing the important details of how your first trip with Stanley went. I was thrilled to hear that “Overall, our first flying experience went very smoothly and everyone we encountered with American Airlines was friendly” — and even more thrilled to hear that Natalie was already planning an autumn trip to Italy, with Stanley.

How to fly with an in-cabin dog: Fido Friendly blog post (4/30/10)

I wrote this post for the wonderful Fido Friendly blog, back in April 2010. I’ve linked to it from a Dog Jaunt post on the same topic, but the link is now fatally broken, and I can’t find the original Fido Friendly post on line. I’m posting it again here, because it’s still good stuff.

Travelers with dogs small enough to fit under an airplane seat don’t have to wave good-bye as their pet’s crate is rolled away, or worry about conditions in the plane’s cargo area on the tarmac or during flight. When we were deciding to add a dog to our life, we deliberately chose a breed small enough to fly at our feet. We travel often, and I didn’t want to leave our dog behind or add fear for her safety to the usual stress of plane travel. Happily, all of the major U.S. airlines, and many international airlines, allow passengers to travel with an in-cabin dog. Here are ten things you need to know to make flying with your small dog straightforward and comfortable.

1. Assess your dog’s size

Our dog Chloe is as large as a small dog can be and still fit comfortably under a plane seat. She weighs 13 lbs., and stands about 12 inches tall at the shoulder (which is where you measure a dog for height). She is fairly light-boned, however. A sturdier dog her size could weigh up to 15 lbs. If your dog weighs more than 15 lbs., you will likely find that she cannot stand or turn around in her carrier. That kind of freedom of movement is necessary for your dog’s comfort, and is required by the airlines.

Please note that very young puppies are not permitted to travel by plane: Nearly all U.S. airlines, and most international airlines, require that your dog be at least 8 weeks old.

2. Choose a good pet carrier

A good carrier will be the correct size for your dog, fit under a plane seat, and have features that make your pet’s flying experience as comfortable as possible.

The official size maximums for pet carriers vary by airline, but typically describe a carrier between 16 and 19 inches long, about 10 inches tall, and about 12 inches wide (carriers on international flights can generally be a bit larger). The most popular pet carrier is a medium-sized Sherpa bag, but I prefer a large-sized SturdiProducts bag or the Sleepypod Air carrier.

Some carriers are structured to allow them to flex in height and length. You may, therefore, be able to use a slightly larger carrier than is officially allowed, as long as it will compress to fit in a plane’s under-seat space. Once you are airborne and you pull your dog’s carrier out into your legroom area, a larger carrier will give your pet a bit more room to move around. There is a risk, however, that an airline agent will object to your non-complying carrier.

A carrier must be made of water-repellant material (in case of accidents), it must have padding under your pet, and it must have at least two large ventilation panels. I also look for a carrier that allows me to see down into it when it is at my feet, and that has a zipper that allows me to reach into the carrier and hand Chloe treats and ice cubes.

3. Accustom your dog to being in the carrier

If your dog only sees her carrier when she’s being taken to the vet, she’s not likely to regard it as a cozy den. Spend some time in the weeks before your first flight taking your dog in her carrier on short trips to loved destinations (an off-leash dog park, for example). Leave it out so she can curl up in it if she chooses (improve the chances that she’ll choose to by tossing treats and her favorite toys inside).

4. Reserve a space on the plane

Nearly all airlines limit the number of pets that can travel in-cabin on a given flight. When you make your own reservation, tell the reservation agent that you are traveling with an in-cabin dog to reserve one of the available spots. If you make your reservation on-line, call and add your dog to your reservation over the phone. As of early 2010, only Continental allows you to make reservations on-line for your pet. On most planes, a middle seat offers the most under-seat space, but ask the reservation agent if the plane you’ll be traveling on has a bulky electronics box in that space.

If possible, choose a non-stop flight to your destination, to reduce your travel time. If you must change planes, schedule a long layover between flights (at least an hour and a half) to give you time to visit a pet relief area with your dog.

It is very expensive to travel with an in-cabin pet (typically about $100 each way), and you may be tempted to smuggle your pet onboard. Resist the temptation. An increasing number of airlines are adding a special tag to pet carriers upon check-in, and airline representatives will look for that tag. You must remove your pet from her carrier to go through security, so it won’t be a secret that she’s with you. Finally, another passenger may have a severe allergy to pet dander. The location of in-cabin pets must be known to the airline so they can seat allergy sufferers in another part of the cabin.

5. Two weeks before you depart

Make an appointment with your veterinarian to get a health certificate for your dog (officially called a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection), saying that your dog is fit to travel and is up to date on her vaccinations. Not every state requires a health certificate, nor does every airline, but enough do that it is safest to get one. Schedule your appointment within 10 days of travel, and keep in mind that a health certificate is only good for 30 days after your vet signs it. Both ends of your journey need to be covered by the certificate, so if your trip lasts longer than 30 days, you’ll need to get another one in the state you’re visiting.

Also ask your veterinarian to print out your dog’s shot record. Many hotels like to see it, and if you need to board your dog at a day kennel while you’re traveling, the kennel will require it.

If you are traveling internationally with your dog, you will want to research the pet importation rules of the country you are visiting at least two months before you depart, if not more, since the kinds, and timing, of required vaccinations vary by country. A good place to start is the website for the embassy of the country you are visiting.

6. Departure day

If your flight is in the morning or the early afternoon, do not feed your dog her morning meal. Pick up her water two hours before you leave for the airport. Just before you leave, take her for a long walk, keeping in mind that you will not be offering her water at the end of it.

Line the inside of your dog’s carrier with a DryFur pad of the appropriate size (they’re pricey, but they wick moisture away from your dog and don’t bunch up under her as she shifts around). Tuck a small towel or a tee-shirt in the carrier for extra padding and comfort. Put your dog’s leash and harness and a roll of poop bags in the carrier’s pocket.

Your pet’s carrier takes the place of your carry-on bag, so the only other object you will be allowed to bring into the cabin is your purse (or other small personal item). Since your pet’s carrier occupies all of the under-seat space, your purse will need to be stowed in the overhead compartment. In case your luggage goes astray, or you find yourself stranded at an airport, be sure to pack in your purse enough kibble for a meal or two, a packet of treats, a chew toy, a collapsible bowl, and a water bottle. Don’t forget to pack your dog’s health certificate and shot record!

If we are driving to the airport, I sometimes let Chloe ride in her car seat (why not give her another half-hour of relative freedom?). If we are taking a taxi, or are in a rush, I will put her in her carrier at home. Toss a really good treat into your dog’s carrier to remind her that it’s a pleasant place to be. Leave her collar on — you’ll be there to make sure it doesn’t get hooked on anything, and you want her to have identification if she gets away from you.

7. At the airport

Your dog must be fully enclosed in her carrier the entire time that you are in the airport and on the plane. If your carrier has large ventilation panels, she will be able to see what’s going on — and there is no rule against reaching your hand in to her carrier to pat her.

You will need to check in with a ticketing agent since you are traveling with a dog. Some airlines allow you to pre-pay your pet’s fare, but most will take your payment now. Most will also issue you a tag for your pet’s carrier.

Next it’s time to go through security. I recommend taking off your shoes and jacket first, and putting them and any other special items you have (3-1-1 bag, computer) into bins before dealing with your dog. Make sure you have a really good treat in hand. Place your carrier on the belt in front of something heavy (your purse, or a bin), so its weight will push the empty carrier through the machine. Unzip the opening, reach in and scoop your pet into your arms. Do not give her the treat yet.

The carrier will go on through the x-ray machine. You’ll walk through the metal detector holding your dog in your arms. Even with her collar on, Chloe has only set off the detector twice (when that happened, we sent her collar through separately in a plastic bowl). After you get the all-clear, put your dog back into her carrier right away, showing her the treat and tossing it in ahead of her. Then collect the rest of your belongings.

8. On the plane

As with any carry-on, your dog’s carrier will need to fit completely under the seat in front of you. Since the under-seat space is generally wider than it is deep, it works best to stow the carrier left-to-right.

During the flight, you can move your dog’s carrier out and under your feet. On some airlines, and assuming it doesn’t inconvenience your seatmates, you can lift the carrier onto your lap. You cannot, however, take your dog out of her carrier or even allow her head to stick out.

You are allowed to put your hand in the carrier, and during the course of the flight, I will pat Chloe, give her a couple of treats, and two or three ice cubes. I want her to have enough water not to be dehydrated, but not so much that she has to pee.

What if you’ve miscalculated, or it’s a very long flight, and she does need to pee en route? Pack a couple of scented pee pads in your carry-on, and take them, and your dog, to the bathroom when it seems less in demand. Be sure to clean up thoroughly afterwards!

9. During layovers

With luck and planning, though, your dog should be able to travel comfortably until you reach your destination. If you have a layover, look online for the location of that airport’s “pet relief area” (all U.S. airports are now required to have a place where service dogs and pets can relieve themselves). It generally takes about an hour to exit the airport, locate the pet relief area, achieve your dog’s goals, and return through security to your departure gate.

If, despite your best efforts, your layover time has been whittled away to nothing, you can use the pee pad technique in an airport bathroom (you’ll have the most room in a handicapped stall). Be sure that no one else is waiting for the stall, and be sure to clean up thoroughly.

10. The nervous traveler

What can you do to make traveling easier for an anxious dog? Exercise is important: Make sure that your dog gets a walk just before you leave for the airport, and make it a long one. Include in her carrier her favorite toy, and a tee-shirt that you’ve worn, so your scent is close at hand. Consider wiping the inside of the carrier with Comfort Zone with DAP, a synthetic pheromone produced by nursing dogs (the TSA-friendly wipes are available on-line, and I’ve recently tried a D.A.P.-infused collar on Chloe, with some success). Some owners swear by spritz of calming lavender spray, or you could tuck a lavender sachet under the carrier’s padding (so your dog isn’t tempted to chew it). Others swear by Rescue Remedy Pet, a distillation of floral essences. A drop or two on your pet’s tongue, nose or paw may have a calming effect.

Turn to sedatives as a last resort, and only with your veterinarian’s approval and prescription. In some cases, they may be necessary and appropriate, but sedatives in general are not recommended even for pets traveling in-cabin, since they tend to affect your dog’s balance and impair her breathing.

Have fun!

There’s a lot to keep in mind the first time you and your small dog take to the skies, but I promise that these steps become second-nature in time. And the effort is worth it — you and your dog will be happy to be together, and your dog will love the new smells of your destination!