Dog Jaunt's new pet travel book is now out! Buy it, or learn more about it here. And please review it on Amazon!

The A-to-Zs of traveling with a small dog

A Twitter friend pointed me to this A-Z list from Wendy Perrin (on her terrific blog Perrin Post), and I immediately decided to swipe the idea. Here are the A-to-Zs of traveling with a small dog:

A is for airplane reservation: Even your small dog, traveling in-cabin with you, needs a reservation. Nearly every U.S. and international airline sets an upper limit on the number of in-cabin pets per flight, and you want your pet to be one of them. (Beware: A couple of U.S. airlines (Southwest, U.S. Air) no longer keep a log of in-cabin pets for each flight, so your pet will be allowed on board on a first-come-first-served basis. Tell the reservation agent you’re traveling with an in-cabin pet — and keep your fingers crossed that five other travelers with pets won’t beat you to the ticket counter.)

B is for toy balls made of felt or rubber mesh for quiet fun: Some felt balls are felted loosely enough that your dog can gnaw bits off them, but the balls from Purrfectplay.com are sturdy. I’m also a fan of the Hol-ee Roller balls, which, like a felted ball, are a hoot but won’t make a racket in a hotel room (or damage a hotel room’s walls).

C is for carrier and crate: At very least, you’ll want a good in-cabin carrier for your small dog. You may also want an around-town tote, a backpack, or a collapsible carrier that you can stow in your purse or backpack until it’s needed for public transit trips, but start with a good in-cabin carrier. My favorite is the SturdiBag Flex-Height Carrier. My pick for crates is the MidWest Homes for Pets line of metal crates (Chloe travels with the iCrate-Single Door-1500 Series crate in the 24″L x 18″W x 19″H size, though at home she uses one size larger). We started with a soft crate, which weighed less, but she soon learned to claw it open. A crate will keep your pet safe in your hotel room when you have to leave her behind; the last thing you want is your dog damaging the hotel furnishings (or being allowed to escape by a housekeeper coming in to turn the bed down).

D is for day care: You may need to put your dog in the hands of a caregiver while you’re traveling, so bring a current copy of your dog’s shot record with you.

E is for exercise: Walking with your dog through new and interesting neighborhoods and landscapes is a reason in itself to travel, but exercise is also the secret weapon of a traveler with a dog. A dog who’s had a long walk, or a long Chuck-it session, is a dog that will sleep happily while you go out to the theater, or to dinner, or to see those ruins the town you’re visiting is known for.

F is for food trucks: The food truck phenomenon is spreading from one urban area to another. Cities like Portland are celebrated for the variety and excellence of their food trucks, but you can find them all over — and that’s a very good thing indeed for travelers strolling around town with their dog.

G is for Gulpy water bottle: It’s your job to keep your dog hydrated, so clip a water bottle made for dogs on your belt loop, or tuck it into your purse or backpack. My favorite is the Gulpy, because it’s light, cheap, and can be used with just one hand (unlike most dog water bottles). Because of how it’s constructed, you can share it with your pet — no need to carry separate water bottles.

H is for health certificate: You’ll certainly need one (and probably two) of these if you’re traveling abroad (see “U,” below), but they’re also officially required for interstate travel. You might choose not to get one if you’re just driving from one state to another — I do, frankly — but a few airlines require a health certificate for in-cabin pets (and all of them require one for a pet traveling as luggage or cargo).

I is for I.D. tag and implanted chip: Both are crucial. There are endless choices of I.D. tags (including tags incorporating USB flash drives, a dedicated domain name, and QR codes), but my favorite is the blanketID, which is not only sturdy and attractive but can be updated as your location changes. It also helps you quickly create a “lost pet” poster. An I.D. tag only works as long as your dog has a collar, however, so it’s important for your dog to be chipped as well (and if you’re traveling abroad, it’s required).

J is for just ask: My favorite dog travel story is not my own. Helen Asquine Fazio, who travels with Raja, her Shih Tzu, and blogs at Travels with My Dog, knocked my socks off with her report that she and Raja were allowed into the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel — they asked permission, and the guards said yes. As Helen says, never be afraid to ask.

K is for Kimpton hotels: It’s getting easier to find “pet-friendly” hotels (in the U.S. and Canada, a good place to start is Go Pet Friendly‘s site), but more often than not, there will be a significant pet fee, and tricky restrictions (e.g., only one pet, only pets under a certain weight, don’t leave your pet in the room if you leave). The Kimpton Hotel group is a shining exception: No pet fee, no weight limit, and no limit on the number of pets you can bring with you — and at every Kimpton hotel we’ve visited, the staff has come to pieces over Chloe. (They’re pricey, though: A budget-conscious alternative is Motel 6, the choice of many dog show professionals.)

L is for putting your dog’s leash on before opening your car door: Even if your dog has never left your side, this is one of the Ten Commandments of Road Trips (ooh, hey! another blog post idea!). Dogs have been spooked by sudden noises (including truck horns and train whistles) and have bolted — be safe, and snap on a leash before giving your dog access to the great outdoors.

M is for good manners: Be an ambassador for pet travel, as my friends Rod & Amy Burkert say. Pick up your dog’s poop — it’s a hazard and a disease vector in any environment — and follow leash laws. In an airport and on the plane, keep your dog entirely in her carrier. Carry a sheet with you and throw it over your hotel bed. You know what I’m saying — be courteous, think of others.

N is for nail clippers: Bring your pet’s grooming supplies with you, because she will get dirty. On every trip we’ve been on, we’ve had to give Chloe a full bath at some point. Pack a drain cover, to prevent dog hair from clogging the hotel’s drain, and pack a supply of quick-drying camping towels.

O is for overhead compartment: Your in-cabin pet takes the place of your carry-on, leaving you with only a “small personal item” to carry on board — and your pet’s carrier will typically occupy the entire space under your seat, so you’ll have to put that small personal item in the overhead compartment. On a bumpy flight, your Kindle and snack might as well be in Timbuktu. My solution? I wear a travel vest, and stow the gear I’m likely to need in its pockets. My favorites are the Filson Travel Vest and the Scott-E-Vest travel vest.

P is for pee pad training (and pet relief areas): If I had it to do all over again, I’d have begun by training Chloe to use pee pads. It’s possible to add that skill to her repertoire, but so far, I haven’t. I’d like to, because although all U.S. airports are now required to have a pet relief area for service dogs (and other traveling animals), they’re typically located outside the airport, on the land side of security. One option is to schedule a layover long enough to let you and your dog exit the airport, find the pet relief area, accomplish your goals, and return through security. Sometimes, however, you don’t have that option. A dog comfortable with pee pads can be whisked into a family stall, and pee pads, too, can be spread on the bottom of an airplane restroom in case of dire need.

Q is for quarantine: Fewer places than you think require quarantine — the U.K., for example, no longer has a quarantine requirement. However, quarantine countries exist, and the rules can be daunting indeed. It is possible to do enough advance preparation that your pet’s quarantine time in Hawaii is reduced to just a few hours, but your pet will (coming from the U.S. or Canada) spend at least 30 days in quarantine when you visit Australia and New Zealand.

R is for recall: Make sure your traveling companion has a good recall (“Come!”). It could save her life. Other important commands are a solid “sit,” and if not a “heel,” at least a mannerly walk. Your pup should also not jump on others. Think, too, about how your dog reacts to other dogs and to children before you make travel plans.

S is for seat belt: In an accident, your pet will be flung around your car like a rag doll — a doll that weighs as much as a bowling ball. Keep her (and you) safe, either by containing her in a crate (for a small dog, a great choice is PetEgo’s Pet Tube and accompanying Comfort Pillow), or by securing her to the car with a harness (never her collar) and a seat belt. Whichever restraint you choose, secure her in the back seat — or if you choose to put her in the front passenger seat, be sure to turn off the air bag on her side of the car!

T is for temperature: It is unacceptably dangerous to leave your pet in the car either when it’s warm or when it’s cold. A car’s temperature will become life-threateningly hot in an appallingly short period of time, and in cold weather, a car acts like a refrigerator. Be aware of your pet’s temperature even when you’re both in the car: If she’s in the sun, and you’re not, you may not realize she’s suffering. Buy one of those window shades that parents use for toddlers, and use it to shield your pet.

U is for USDA website: How can you find out what’s needed to take your dog to another country? The USDA website stays current, and lists each country’s requirements (with links to the necessary documentation). Check out its main pet travel page for more helpful information and links.

V is for veterinarian — In an emergency, you may be too shaken up to think clearly. Prepare in advance by identifying an emergency vet at your destination. Why not go ahead and put the contact info into your phone? While you’re doing that, add the number for the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center to your phone too.

W is for wardrobe: I always pack some kind of clothing for Chloe. I pack a raincoat (she loathes getting wet) and a Chilly Buddy cooling jacket for hot weather (a dog with short hair — or no hair — will appreciate a fleece or down jacket for cold weather). I pack Paws booties for snowy weather, after learning the hard way that sidewalk salt is a hazard for dogs (if you’ll be hiking over a rocky or hot surface, bring sturdy boots for your pup). If a body of water is involved, I pack a lifejacket.

X is for X-ray machine: Here’s how you go through security at the airport with your in-cabin pet. Keeping your pet in her carrier on your shoulder, put your shoes and 3-1-1 bag and jacket and laptop in bins and send them through. Then put your pet’s carrier down on a solid (not moving) surface, extract your dog and hold her in your arms. Toss an excellent treat into the carrier, zip it at least partially closed, and send it through with a heavier bag behind it — either your personal item or your companion’s carry-on — so the carrier doesn’t get stuck in the x-ray machine. Walk through the metal detector with your pup in your arms. If her collar triggers the alarm, take it off and send it through separately in a bowl. On the other side, retrieve her collar and put it back on her. Carry her carrier to another solid surface, and tuck her back in (here’s where the treat you tossed in comes into play). Gather up the rest of your things and reassemble yourself.

Y is for yelp: Dog parks can be a great place for dogs to socialize and get exercise, and they’re a great place, too, for a visitor to learn about local pet resources. Be careful, though. A phenomenon called “predatory drift,” typically triggered by a dog’s yelp, can turn even a mild-mannered dog momentarily into a serious hazard — and a small dog is particularly vulnerable in a sudden conflict. Seek out dog parks with small dog areas, and keep your attention focused on your dog while you’re there.

Z is for enZymatic cleaner: Until I had Chloe, I had never heard of enzymatic cleaner. Now, there’s always a bottle of it in the travel tote we use to keep her stuff organized on the road (or in the air). Also in there? Her grooming supplies, her food kit and water bottle, a supply of treats, her clothing, a lint roller, a roll of paper towels, an extra leash and harness, and her toys.

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

Look at me, timely posting Chloe’s Clicks two weeks in a row. Chalk it up in part to my having my hand firmly on the reins of this blog, and in MUCH LARGER PART to there being a wealth of good links to share with you this week. Here we go:

The Go Pet Friendly team leads off with a post that got me with its title alone: “Barking Along Kentucky’s Bourbon Trail.” What’s not to love about dogs and bourbon? Their pictures are always good, but the one of Ty on the wild turkey? Priceless. Other good destination posts include recommendations for a shop and several high-end doggy day care places in Vancouver, B.C., and a reminder that Chicago’s Green City Farmers Market is dog-friendly (and that the Lincoln Park Zoo’s nature boardwalk is too). Travel & Leisure posted a list of “America’s Best Dog-Friendly Hotels,” and my eye was caught by entry #3, Santa Fe’s Ten Thousand Waves inn (“eight ryokan-inspired houses with the ultimate dog-friendly bonus—a nice outdoor place to run around”). LuxuryPAW‘s Janine Franceschi cast a vote of her own for Sedona’s El Portal Hotel.

We turn to how-to posts — a practical one from StaffordCountySun.com about prepping for road trips with your dog (I particularly like the suggestion about putting together an emergency packet, with directions, medical information, and necessary supplies, in case you are incapacitated and emergency providers need to care for your pet); and a thought-provoking and important one from the Chino Valley Review about snake avoidance training for your dog. Here’s a nice post, too, from Montecristo Travels, with tips for taking good photos of your dog.

I’ll leave you with two links, one from Blanket ID‘s blog about Madsen Cycles’ bikes with sidecars big enough to chauffeur your big dog (entitled “No more Small Dog Envy”), and the last from the BBC, about the Café Neko, a new Viennese café with a strict no-dogs policy — because it is inhabited by five rescued cats. For once, I’ve got no bone to pick!

Photo Friday: The large Bergan Comfort Carrier on Southwest and American (MD-80) flights

Back in 2009, I reviewed the large-sized Bergan Comfort Carrier (it also comes in small), and concluded that it was well-designed but poorly made — it’s inexpensive, so it would be a reasonable choice for a trip or two, but not my pick for repeated use. At 19Lx10Wx13H, it also seemed perilously large for in-cabin use — but reader Kristin bought it for Tater, her Yorkie, and used it very successfully on Southwest (Boeing 737) and American (MD-80) flights between Long Island and Palm Springs earlier this year (okay, way, way earlier this year — I’m so sorry, Kristin!).

Tater in (well, mostly in) his large Bergan Comfort Carrier

Kristin kindly sent photos of the carrier in use, and here they are:

Large Bergan Comfort Carrier in a Southwest aisle seat space

Kristin prefers “the aisle seat because I can place my purse/bag in the overhead compartment and it is easy to get to. I can also have a good visual and [patting] access to Tater.” She tried a window seat too, and here’s the picture:

Large Bergan Comfort Carrier under a Southwest window seat

Kristin reports that “the window seat has the most room to fit a carrier and a carryon bag. Or you can use that extra space for leg room. ”

She had an aisle seat on her American flight (they were on an MD-80), and the carrier worked in that space too: “I like the aisle seat also on American because the aisle seat has its own space under the seat (the middle and window share the space under the seat, with no bar separation). In this seat, there is also enough room for one leg to stretch out!” She sent two pictures from this flight, from different angles:

Large Bergan Comfort Carrier under American MD-80 aisle seat (1 of 2)

Large Bergan Comfort Carrier under American MD-80 aisle seat (2 of 2)

Thank you so much, Kristin, for your pictures and for your report! I was nervous about how the carrier would work in-cabin, but your pictures show that on the right planes, it’s a very workable choice. (Kristin did say that that the carrier was a bit tippy: “The only complaint I have…is that it could tip over when placed on the ground and your dog moves around and changes positions. But all in all it was a good fit for the plane.”) Seeing these pictures will help other readers make a more informed choice, and having access to them might help them convince a concerned ticketing or gate agent that the carrier will fit nicely on board.

Readers’ pet travel tips: Road trips and plane flights

For Dog Jaunt’s last giveaway, I asked people to enter by leaving a comment with a pet travel tip. After years of getting (and posting) e-mails from you guys with your reports from the road, I knew that you have ideas I’ve never thought of — and sure enough, the giveaway entries were splendid. They’re there in the comments, but they’ll get lost, so I’m posting them here, where I can tag them, and where other readers can easily find them.

I love them all, but I was particularly intrigued by the two that encouraged people to use sound to calm their dogs. I’ve been thinking about Through a Dog’s Ear music since I first heard about it at a BlogPaws conference a couple of years ago, but couldn’t figure out how to deliver the music to Chloe on a plane.

Road trip tips

“We bring a favorite toy, his blanket, and freeze dried raw food with us. I also stash food in the car which has come in handy a couple of times to lure stray dogs.” (April)

A multi-part tip from Catie:

“Clean up: [W]et wipes are a necessity. They can clean anything. Don’t forget dog poop bags, either. It’s important to clean up after our dogs.

Water: After trying several other options, we bought a shallow cat-sized stainless steel dish for Cosmo’s water. Not only does it easily fit in my purse, it holds just the right amount of water for a small dog on the go. We give Cosmo bottled water when we travel. The smaller water dish cuts down on wasting that blasted expensive stuff.

Plastic food storage bowls: By this, I am talking about anything from Tupperware to Gladware. The bowls usually seal well enough to keep out water and/or moisture as well as insects. So not only does it protect the dog food from being ruined, it saves in packing space. Unless we are going to be gone a month, there is no way Cosmo needs an entire bag of dog food.

Masking tape or pet hair roller: This makes for quick removal of dog hair from car seats, clothes, or hotel furniture. Even though we pay extra for Cosmo to stay there, I like to leave hotel rooms as clean as possible.”

A tip from Seattle Amy, listing the contents of her car kit: “I am rarely without the following things because I have needed them and didn’t have them. Extremely painful to not have these when when I needed them!!

1. Paper towels, plastic bags (big enough to put a dog bed in), wet wipes (think vomit all over the back seat of the car after an afternoon of sneaking goose poop behind my back).
2. Bonine — poor foster dog with a MAJOR case of car sickness. I felt SOOO bad for him.
3. Largish unopened bottle of water & small bowl (never know when you’ll get stuck in traffic)
4. Extra leash, extra collar, extra tag with my phone number (never know when I’ll lose a leash, dog will chew through it, break a collar, find a stray dog, etc) as well as a long line (one of my dogs will go off hunting for HOURS if given the chance).
5. Cable ties — for when crates crack, break, dogs are more powerful than expected and an emergency fix is needed.
6. Immodium AD — I have a dog that gets super excited which stimulates their bowels…and you can imagine what happens. 1/2 a pill for a dog between 10-20 pounds can make life WAY easier.
7. Benadryl — my dogs love to chase flies. Benadryl can help keep swelling/reaction down if they happen to catch something other than a fly.
8. Acepromozine — I have a prescription from my vet. If my dogs get hurt, bit, pull a muscle, etc., I will use this to keep them calm until I can get back home or to my vet.
9. Antibiotics — with terriers you never can tell when “discussions” go a bit too far. So I’ve got these at the ready if there is ever a wound that breaks skin.
10. Pain med/anti-inflamatory — for accidents, hurt, ripped toe nails, etc..
11. Muzzle — I have one that just lives in my car. I’ve used it for a stray that was hurt. I’ve used it to get a foster dog in the car that wasn’t having any of it and was super stressed. I err on the side of caution to ensure no bites (which can lead to the dog being put down depending on the situation).
12. Polar fleece blanket — for those days when I didn’t realize it would be as cold as it turned out to be, I need it to cover a crate, I need it for winter driving, etc.
13. Largish bottle of water — usually unopened
14. Blister band aids (for humans)
15. Anti-biotic/cleaner spray (2-4 oz)

This list might look like a lot, but it all condenses down into a very small foot print. All these fit in a very small bag that also includes treats (dehydrated variety that won’t spoil in the the car), toys, clickers, poop bags and a few tennis balls. I go through and swap out old medication about once every 2 years.”

Tips for airplane travel

“When Nutmeg and I travel, I always pack an empty water bottle in my bag so I can fill it at a water fountain after I get through security so she can have a little drink. She also gets a quiet stuffed toy that she loves to help calm her nerves.” (Avery)

“Because loud noises can happen in airports, or we can be seated above the airplane wheels, anything can cause a small dog to become nervous. I do not like to give drugs to her in order to calm her, so I’ve come up with a routine to combat nerves and make Kara has confident as possible when traveling. First, I try and make sure we are not seated near the airplane wheels. Second, I take out Kara’s travel bag a week before our the departure date. I situate the bag as a new piece of furniture, and every time she goes inside of it – she is treated. She becomes familiar with the bag, and sits it in for hours. I will then carry her out in the bag and treat her. When the departure day comes, Kara’s confidence is very high and she looks to her travel bag as a place of safety! I can tell the difference in her travel comfort when I do this with her.” (Kristina #1)

“We always bring a Kong for mid-flight boredom and pieces of carrot and cucumber for hydrating Button. We try to time the cucumber treats so that it’s near the end of the flight in case it makes his bladder too full.” (Kristina #2)

“Bloopers [is] still a 8-month old puppy with tons of energy so whenever we fly, I tire him out before we head out to airport. I either take him on a long run or to the dog park so by the time he’s in his carrier, he’s pooped! I also always carry an extra bowl for his food and water. (He still eats 3 times a day so I’m likely to be on the road when it’s his feeding time!)” (Kina)(Kelly #1 had similar advice: “It always helps our girls if we take them for a nice long walk before we travel.”)

“I like to attach my iPod in a pocket I added to the outside of a mesh panel and play a combination of soothing music and recordings of me talking or reading just about anything. It seems to soothe her to hear my voice and there is enough ambient noise that no one else is aware of it.” (Twylla)

“I always put a collar on my dog that doesn’t have metal in it so she can wear it through the metal detector at the security checkpoints. Her regular collar is leather with a metal buckle and metal tags, but for air travel, I bought a cheap nylon collar from the dollar store and clipped off the metal D ring. The buckle is plastic. You can also use a piece of elastic (sized to fit your pet comfortably), a scrunchie, bandana, piece of twine, etc. I write her name, my cell phone number, airline, flight number, and time of departure just in case she gets loose and runs away. Sometimes I even use the luggage tag they have available at the check-in counters. In case your pet gets away, it can really expedite the return of your animal. The TSA agent or helpful passerby that catch your runaway pet will be able to figure out where it needs to go right away if the information can be found on your animal. I think we all know how fast and far a scared dog or cat can run in a short period of time! Better safe than sorry :)” (Iris)

“I second traveling with an empty water bottle, even if you are not traveling with a dog. You can fill it at a drinking fountain post security and always have water when you need it. I have a collapsible silicon bowl that clips to my dog’s carrier so giving him a drink is easy. I put a small towel in his carrier. It takes little room and adds some extra cushiness. You never know when your dog may get muddy and need a rinse and to be toweled dry.” (Joan)

“I always ask the flight attendants for ice to cool my dog down (he gets warm in the carrier) as well as hydrate him.” (Julie)

“iTunes has (at least) two tracks that can help desensitize dogs to airplane sounds before a trip: One is on an album called Calm Pet and the other on an album called Sounds for Hounds. The albums have other useful sounds as well.” (Chelsea)

All-purpose travel tips

“When Bella and I travel I always make sure to carry disposible baby wipes with me just in case she has an accident I can freshen her up. I also always put a piece of an old t-shirt of mine in her kennel with her…it has my scent on it and it seems to calm her.” (Bonnie)(two other entrants, Ju and Susan, had similar advice)

“When Dante and I travel, I make sure to pack his own little first aid kit. It includes a few extra day’s worth of his regular supplements but also pain meds, topical antibiotic and medicine for ear infections. I hate to be on the road and he start to come down with something and not be able to begin treatment until I come back home.” (Kelli)

“My dog has a condition called CM and he is taking his meds several times a day and also his supplements. It can be complicated since some has to be taken at least 1 hour before others. So I use human pill dispenser/reminder and fill it up for 7 days. One less thing to worry during travel.” (Catherine)

“I travel with my three tiny toy poodles often and never leave home without Bach’s Rescue Remedy. A tiny bit rubbed into the tips of the ears , on the nose or feet works wonders to calm them right down and we do not have to use any chemicals or meds to comfort them!” (Toni)

“We haven’t been to the beach with our dog yet, but someone suggested bringing Doggles so sand doesn’t get in his eyes.” (April)

“The hustle and bustle of subways and public transportation can be overwhelming to dogs, so I conditioned Chuy by always carrying around small treats with me. Everytime we got on the subway, treat. Every time the train geared up and the noise was loud, another treat. When he’s calm and laying down in his carrier on the train, I give him treats to reinforce his relaxed, good behavior. I’ve gotten many comments from fellow train riders that he’s a better behaved passenger than most PEOPLE.” (Kelly #2)

“Get your dog to drink lots of water on the day before and hours before travel. Offering peanut butter treats can speed this process. My dog often refuses to drink water during travel — I don’t know if its the stress or what. Having him adequately hydrated BEFORE leaving deters dehydration.” (Sarah Louise)

“We travel quite often with our pets, and Comfort Zone spray is a MUST have for our high strung little doxies. They do not like to be in public while crated and this spray (applied to crates 15 mins before putting pets in them) really helped.” (Kate)

The One Bag giveaway winner

Thank you to everyone who entered the giveaway I announced last Monday for a large all-black The One Bag pet carrier (value: $140)! This time, I asked entrants to leave a comment with their best pet travel tip — and the comments were so terrific that I’ll be publishing them in a separate post tomorrow. I’m bursting with pride — Dog Jaunt readers are such clever, thoughtful people.

Photo by One for Pets

But the giveaway, you ask — who won? The randomly-chosen winner is Susan, entrant #13, who travels with her pup Henry. Congratulations!! Please e-mail me your shipping address, Susan, and I’ll get your new carrier to you.

Thank you again, and three cheers for One For Pets, which kindly sent me a sample carrier to review and give away. Stay posted: I’ll be reviewing another intriguing carrier soon — this time, an around-town tote — and then giving it away to a Dog Jaunt reader.

Giveaway: The One Bag pet carrier ($140 value)

Last Tuesday, I posted a review of The One Bag, a pet carrier that can be lengthened by unzipping gussets at both ends — and collapses into a neat rectangular packet when you’re not traveling.

Photo by One for Pets

One for Pets sent me their large-sized carrier, which is roughly 19″L x 11.5″W x 11.5″H pre-expansion (and can gain 4 more inches in length). It’s all black, which I prefer because it minimizes the perceived size of a carrier. The large-sized carrier is iffy as an in-cabin option (as, indeed, the One for Pets folks told me), but you may be able to carry it off. It would be a terrific carrier for use on the bus or other public transit, and could do well as a pet’s day lounge if your workplace is pet-friendly. It can be secured with a seatbelt, so it would work as a car carrier too.

Because the price of the carrier is $140, I’m obliged by my own rules to give it away. Thanks so much to One for Pets for sending me The One Bag to inspect, and for agreeing that I can give it away to one of you!

How To Enter

One lucky reader can win. If you would like a chance to win, leave a comment with a dog travel tip of your own (if you’ve been following the blog for any period of time, you’ll know that I post a lot of reader’s reports, and I’d like to hear more of your ideas) before 11:59 PM PST on Monday, May 14, 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, May 16, 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.


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

Time for another mighty Chloe’s Clicks — mighty overdue, in fact, which wouldn’t normally be a big problem except that the first link is a lovely collection of suggestions from Have Dog Blog Will Travel for…dog-friendly spring breaks. However, there is absolutely nothing stopping you and your dog from taking another vacation in the San Francisco Bay area, Southern California, Colorado, Utah, or Wisconsin. The Go Pet Friendly Winnebago has left Austin — and while it rolled along the Natchez Trace Parkway, Rod and Amy and the boys also hosted a great post from the Roxy the Traveling Dog team about visiting Sedona with a dog.

Other destination posts you should check out include a delightful one from A Brooklyn Dog’s Life about taking your dog with you to the DeKalb Market, in the Fort Greene neighborhood; a slightly vexed (but ultimately happy) one from NorthJersey.com about finding an inviting dog-friendly hotel on the Jersey shore; and an informative one from the Seattle P-I about dog-friendly places to eat on the Eastside (that is, in the communities of Kirkland, Bellevue, Issaquah, Bothell, and Woodinville).

I also got an e-mail from the proprietor of Canine Camp Getaway of NY, letting me know about the annual events she runs: “We do one Getaway event per year, held this year from June 24-28 in Lake George, NY, and our dog guests split pretty evenly between large dogs and small dogs. But what makes our Getaways special is that this isn’t just a vacation where dogs are allowed, it’s a vacation where dogs are celebrated — and, indeed, welcomed everywhere from the swimming pool to the bar at Yappy Hour to the dining room. We offer a host of dog activities (swimming, hiking, agility, lure coursing, Frisbee, flyball, canine freestyle dancing, scent detection), classes (Canine CPR, Therapy Dog and Canine Good Citizen preparation and testing, ‘Barks & Crafts’), games and seminars by top veterinarians, trainers and dog nutrition professionals. It’s not only a lot of fun for the dogs, it’s also a great way for the humans to have fun meeting like minded dog lovers.” Intriguing, right? I’ve provided the link so you can check it out, if you like.

If you simply can’t bring your dog with you, there’s another site that wants to help you: Dog Vacay (announced in a splash of publicity a couple of weeks ago) now has a competitor in a company called Rover.com, and here’s an article from the New York Post that talks about the two services.

We move on to a clutch of articles about places becoming more pet-friendly, including Long Beach and its restaurant patios (following L.A. County’s similar move, earlier this year) and Chicago (fingers crossed). As I said on Dog Jaunt‘s Facebook page, I really like the the matter-of-fact approach of a proprietor of a popular Chicagoland dog-friendly spot: “Common courtesy rules, he said. ‘From time to time, if there’s a dog that’s aggressive, they couldn’t stay. It rarely, if ever, happens.'” An article from Michigan’s Standard-Examiner reports on the success a local mall (Partridge Creek) is having with its dog-friendly policy, and, more generally, about dog-friendly workplaces and stores.

You can help your dog become a good traveler, says Travels with My Dog‘s Helen Fazio — she and Raja are inveterate travelers, so you know her tips are going to be good. Also good: A post from Montecristo Travels about being prepared for emergencies while you’re on the road.

Not good? Yet another article from Christopher Elliott about pet travel, this time in National Geographic, and just as much of a mess as the one he wrote for Frommer’s last fall. For starters, there is absolutely no evidence whatever that a “long-haired Norwegian forest cat in seat 12A” would have any effect whatever on an allergic traveler “in 17D,” and it is deeply irresponsible to suggest that there is. And the throwaway line about how other passengers deserve a “bite-free trip,” implying that bites are also commonplace? That’s bad reporting, designed — yet again — to stir up controversy (and page views), without contributing intelligently to the discussion.

I can’t end with that. Instead, I’m going to leave you with a couple of great posts (and tons of great pictures) from The Road Unleashed: The first is about entering Croatia with dogs, and pet-friendly Istria, and the other is about pet-friendly Zagreb. Good wishes to the gang as they head into Turkey!

 

America’s “best cities for public transit:” Pet policies for Miami, Milwaukee and Cleveland

This post was inspired by the results of a recent Walk Score survey, published in The Atlantic, listing the 25 “best cities for public transit” in the U.S. At the top of the list is New York, and Raleigh, NC is at the bottom. I’ve been researching the pet policies of major public transit systems since Dog Jaunt’s earliest days, and I’ve been happily surprised by the results. Most public transit systems do allow pets on board, though it has to be added that small pets in containers are the rule — there are some U.S. cities (like Seattle) that allow large, leashed dogs on board, but they are the exception.

Of the top 15 cities listed in the article, 12 are already covered in Dog Jaunt’s handy guide to public transit pet policies. The three that are missing are Miami, Milwaukee and Cleveland, so I did some research, and here’s what I’ve learned:

Miami and environs is served by Miami-Dade Transit (MDT) and its Metrobus, Metrorail (rapid transit), Metromover (downtown), and STS (flexible paratransit) systems. While there is an “Animal” page for each system, they’re not currently working. The customer service rep I spoke to told me that small pets, fully enclosed in a carrier, are allowed on all forms of public transit. [8/1/16 More details about Miami-area public transit here.]

The Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) operates a fleet of buses in Milwaukee and Milwaukee County. Small pets in carriers are allowed on board: “Non-service animals or comfort animals are allowed on the bus if it is in an enclosed carrier that fits on the passengers lap.” [8/1/16 Please note that this is a change, since this post was first written.]

The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA, but more commonly RTA) operates trains and buses in Cleveland and surrounding communities. The customer service rep I spoke to told me that pets 35 lbs. or under may travel on all forms of RTA transit as long as they are fully contained in a carrier and are in their owner’s company at all times. There is no fee for your pet.

Milwaukee is one of the rare larger U.S. cities — Austin is another — that does not allow pets to travel on public transit. For me, that would instantly drop it down, or even off, a list of “best cities for public transit.” Pet owners who cannot afford a car, or who prefer to reduce congestion and pollution by choosing not to own a car, should have the option of taking at least their small pets to the vet, work, or day care by public transit.

Product review: The One Bag, extendable and collapsible

Yet again, I have you guys to thank for this one: What did I think of The One Bag, asked a reader [Maureen] whose name is now lost in the mists of Facebook? I scrabbled around on Google, found the bag, and thought that I’d really like to see it in person. I was intrigued because, like the Kobi Pet Carrier I reviewed in March, the carrier expands in length on demand. Unlike the Kobi carrier, it can be collapsed into a tidy rectangular packet for storage. The folks at One for Pets kindly agreed to send me one to poke and prod, and it arrived last week. I have not been paid for this review, and I did not promise (and One for Pets did not request) that it would be positive. The One Bag carrier costs more than $50, so I will be giving it away to one lucky Dog Jaunt reader (total value: $140). I’ll provide the giveaway details in a separate post on Monday, May 7, 2012.

Photo by One for Pets

The One Bag comes in two sizes. The small size is 16″L x 9″W x 9″H pre-expansion (and can gain 5.5 more inches in length); the large size is 19″L x 11.5″W x 11.5″ H pre-expansion (and can gain 4 more inches in length). Please note that these measurements were taken from the company’s website; I found that the large size had slightly different measurements in person (see below). I asked for a sample of the large size, given that Chloe stands about 12″ tall at her shoulders. I asked for it in black, because I like to minimize the perceived size of a bag that pushes (and in fact exceeds) the maximums of many U.S. and international airlines. The rep at One for Pets cautioned me that the large size “is not designed to fit under the airline seat although it may fit under some. The small size definitely fits under most airlines’ seats.” She’s right, of course, but I asked for the large size anyway, since most of the inquiries I get are from people who own a larger small dog like Chloe.

The carrier arrives in its storage bag, collapsed into a rectangle 19″ long, 12″ wide, and 3″ deep.

The One Bag, collapsed, in its storage bag

Assembled, the large size measures 20″ long at its base, and 14.5″ long at its top (the ends are therefore angled, as you can see in the first picture above). At its base, the carrier is 11.5″ wide, narrowing to about 9.5″ wide at its top. At each end, the carrier is indeed 11.5″ tall. Between the ends, however, it’s more like 10″ tall (but see below). Each end can be unzipped so that gussets provide more length. Each adds about 2.25″ of extra room. (The padded insert that stiffens the bottom of the carrier has two short wings, normally folded under and secured with Velcro tabs, that can be extended to fill the new spaces.)

The One Bag is made of ballistic nylon and comes in olive, navy and black (the site also shows a brick color, but that’s apparently not currently offered). It has generous mesh ventilation panels on four of the five possible sides; the fifth side is occupied by a luggage handle panel, created when two parallel zippers are unzipped. Behind them is a very clever seat belt solution, allowing the bag to be secured with the lap portion of a car’s three-point belt.

There is a pocket on one of the ends — not huge, but big enough for a roll of poop bags, a minimal leash, and your pet’s travel papers, folded into quarters. Access to the bag is via either end (both of which have zippered doors). The top, too has a zippered opening, but it would be a tight fit for a pet. It wins points from me, though, for being see-through mesh and for the zipper, which allows you to reach in easily and pat your pet.

The shoulder strap has a comfortable pad. It clips at either end with a sturdy nylon buckle, so you won’t be using it as an emergency leash (unlike the Kobi carrier’s strap). There is a tether sewn inside, at the top of one of the long sides. This carrier is all about zippers (there are three on each end, three on the sides, and one on the top), so it’s a very good thing that the zippers are good-quality and function smoothly.

Chloe in the large One Bag, not yet extended at either end

As you can see, Chloe is very comfortable in the large-sized One Bag. What you can’t see is that she chose to remain it it for, literally, hours after I took her picture. She was interested but not alarmed by the activity involved in extending the ends while she was inside the carrier; even the ripping Velcro sound of the base extensions being unfolded didn’t seem to upset her. She was content even before the extensions were deployed, but willingly stretched out to fill the full space when it became available to her. I would have no problem carrying her in this bag, since although the bag is 10″ tall at the height of the support “beams” that run along the long sides of the carrier’s top, the top panel itself will easily lift up another 1″ to 1.5″ as your pet pushes against it.

Will it work as an in-cabin carrier? The small size would work like a dream, no question. The large size is iffy. Its height would work, I think, in most situations. Because the ends are the same height and width, turning the bag on its side doesn’t solve any problems (and in fact, the rectangular padded base would not work on a trapezoidal side). The ends are tall, and stiffened, but the middle part of the top panel is significantly shorter. It, too, is stiffened (with the support “beams” I mentioned in the last paragraph), but those bars are only 10″ off the ground — and without too much effort, you can press them down to about 8″ off the ground. The panel suspended between them is unsupported, so would mold itself readily around an under-seat electronics box.

You cannot, however, shorten the padded base of the carrier (compare the SturdiBag, where you can access the stiffener and saw off an inch if you like), so you’re stuck with the basic 20″ length. That’s a long bag, comparable to the extra-large SturdiBag, which sticks out significantly into your legroom area. On balance, I’d choose to use the large One Bag carrier as a car travel bag, or a bag that I’d take on the bus or other public transit, and then use at work as my pet’s day lounge. If you own a pet that is 9″ at the shoulders or less, you should give serious thought to buying the small One Bag for an in-cabin carrier.

This is a good, quality carrier — a lot of thought has gone into its design, and the construction is impressive. When I started writing this blog, I jeered at collapsible carriers (what need? was essentially my attitude), but I’m not jeering any more. The One Bag returns easily to its storage bag, and that’s a very nice feature indeed.

Pet relief areas at Mineta San José International Airport (SJC)

I haven’t flown into or out of San José since we got Chloe (which is a terrible shame, because, like Oakland’s airport, it’s a huggable alternative to the beast that is SFO), so I was happy to get an e-mail from an SJC marketing rep telling me about the airport’s pet relief areas. Here’s what I’ve learned from her messages and photos, and from Google Maps — keep in mind that I haven’t visited them yet myself, so this is not a review, but the pictures are good, and the directions will be helpful:

There are two pet relief areas, one each outside Terminals A and B. Southwest and Alaska arrive at Terminal B; all other airlines, and international flights, arrive at Terminal A.

To find the Terminal A pet relief area, locate the ticketing desks and walk out the front door that accesses them. Turn left and walk all the way down the sidewalk — past a huge set of stairs, past a graveled smoking area, past the bus stop — and when the sidewalk ends you’ll see this:

SJC's Terminal A pet relief area

Here’s a Google Maps link to orient you, if you need it, but it’s really as straightforward as it sounds. As you can see, it’s not fenced. It’s essentially a planting strip equipped with a pole bearing poop bags and a trash can.

To find the Terminal B pet relief area, walk out the front door of the terminal and turn left. Look for a long blue awning. Right where it begins, you’ll find the pet relief area. (Again, here’s a Google Maps link. Spin the dial around in the upper left corner of the window, and you’ll see where the pet relief area is in relation to the main terminal building.)

SJC's Terminal B pet relief area, with blue awning

Terminal B pet relief area, from its entrance

Now that’s more like it: It’s fenced, there’s a bench and a source of water — and of course there are poop bags and a trash can. If your pet isn’t responsive to artificial turf, there’s plenty of nearby grass. No doubt the SJC folks would prefer that I didn’t mention alternatives, but the fact is that some dogs don’t like turf. Be sure to clean up after your pup with the bags, and trash can, the airport has provided.

It is quite do-able to walk to this pet relief area from Terminal A — there is a sidewalk the whole way, and your dog (and you!) might like the leg-stretch. When you exit Terminal A’s ticketing area, just turn to the right instead.

My thanks to the team at SJC for being so proactive about letting the dog travel community know about their facilities! I’ve added this post to Dog Jaunt’s handy guide to airport pet relief areas.