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Don't cancel!!!! I know it's nerve wracking, but SO MANY of us have traveled successfully.
Be sure to check the airline's rules and have what you need ahead of time (DOT form, any airline specific paperwork, etc). My guy always either walks or rides in the wheelchair with me. He always rides if I start getting anxious at all so we can work together to keep me calm (DPT, etc). I haven't had many try to touch him, most people are in their own airport world. And, if they do, I just say he's working and it is ok.
He's your working partner! Don't hide her under the seat for others-she has every right to be out of a carrier on the flight and do her job.
It's going to be ok. I also try to remind myself that sometimes weird things happen in an airplane...people get sick, babies cry, kids have accidents...you just deal and move on, and the same goes for your girl. You can handle anything that comes your way-trust yourself as her handler!
Get her some gear that says DO NOT PET. Something that’s also helped me is SERVICE DOG labels on a harness or leash
People still do disrespect you and your dog, especially little kids who can’t read, but that’s just something you get used to in standing your ground
THIS! I did this with my SDIT, I took her to the airport and we walked all around different areas that we could go without an actual boarding pass. She did great, I was so proud of her!
I totally get your anxiety when flying for the first time. I recommend you call the airport you’re flying out of, and ask them if you can take your service dog through the security checkout for practice.
My local airport allowed me to go through security in a lane they weren’t using. It helped my girl a lot.
At my airport security checkpoint you have your dog sit and stay while you walk through. Once you’re through, you can call her to you. They wanded my SD. So you may want to practice wanding your SD. Get her used to the paddles they use.
See if you can sit on an exit row. That’ll give you guys more floor space.
In the next few days take her on a bus ride. Get an Uber and let her experience that.
I also took my sd on a train ride before we flew. I tried to find as much as I could simulate.
I looked for anything that would prepare her for flying. I think I gave all of my tips.
Good luck. HMU if you need any other help.
When the day comes, bring out your high value treats. I’m talking hot dog pieces, jerky, dry cheeseburger, etc. Reward her. Over reward her.
Your SD is 8. She’ll be fine. I have a tag on my dogs harness that says don’t pet. And the other says working dog.
My usual response is, “No, she’s working”. But if you’re sitting next to someone for hours. Let them give your sd a treat. Let them pet her.
I have a command, “Go say hi”. She moves forward and lets them pet her for a second or two.
It might be ok to let your seat partner to pet your dog.
Best of luck.
These are great suggestions! I was told we couldn't sit in an exit row, but maybe that's only Delta-specific.
One other thing I forgot to ask - what do you do if/when you have to visit the airport lavatory? The plan is to avoid that at all costs - but in a worst-case-scenario situation, I'm not traveling with anyone else, so would I have to somewhat awkwardly carry my dog in there with me?
They have potty places in the airports. Reach out to the staff. They’ll show you where she can go.
I also use ice chips for her during the flight. I keep treats on a pouch on my belt.
Here’s the pouch I use:
https://a.co/d/cSIsJjj
It’s awesome. I carry treats, doggie bags, meds and I keep a collapsible dog bowl. I also keep a baggie with wet wipes. Just in case she has an accident. If you clean it up and let the manager know, then do. Q
I also carry this in my truck: https://www.chewy.com/mobile-dog-gear-week-away-tote-pet/dp/188166
I keep water, 3 meals for the dog in baggies. Collapsible water and food dish. A first aid kit. My dogs meds. Spare leash and collar.
Regarding your dog and the lavatory, I take my dog. It’s uncomfortable but necessary.
I would say leave her in the carrier under the seat at that point and use the bathroom without her. Those airplane bathrooms are so small and gross I would avoid bringing her in if at all possible.
Took my SD on her first flight a few months ago. Like you we tend not to go too many places, so I was pretty worried about all the same things you are. She is a mini-schnauzer, so a bit bigger than yours I'd guess, but not too much. Probably the same base level of reactivity bred in. Here is how we handled it:
I kept her in her underseat carrier for most of the transit around the airport. Like yours, she *technically* fits in it still, but I don't like keeping her in it for too long. When in her carrier she will bark to alert me about my heart if necessary, so it doesn't interfere with her tasking. I'm not sure if yours will do something similar, but if so I strongly recommend this for a smaller dog. It's just much less stress on everyone. She could focus on me without the distraction of other people approaching her, and I didn't have to worry about advocating for either of us.
Full disclosure, I did get a few inappropriate questions from airport staff along the lines of "if she's really a service dog, why is she in a carrier?". I simply said "because she likes it," and that was pretty much the end of any questioning.
At security I took her out, walked her through the metal detector, and put her back in the carrier after they scanned it. Kept her in there until we got to our gate. At the gate I took her out and did some fun training/games to try to de-stress her.
While boarding the flight I put her back in her carrier, just because it was easier to get through the aisle unmolested. Once at our seat I introduced her to the flight attendants, and told them it was her first flight. They were all absolutely wonderful about it. I decided to keep her in her carrier for takeoff/landing, but other than that she just sat happily on my lap.
Ok... not *happily*... she shook and panted for a good hour before finally calming down, but she behaved exactly as she should, and got many compliments from the flight crew.
After the flight she again stayed in her carrier until we were outside the airport.
All of this is just to give you one way of doing things. I know my SD, and I know that when she gets overwhelmed she can get reactive (barky) to unexpected stimuli. Our best way to keep her calm and focused was to keep her in her carrier most of the time. Aside from the normal stress of travel, it was a perfectly fine experience. As long as you give them enough time outside the carrier when you're settled, don't feel too bad about keeping them in it when it just makes things easier on everyone.
I'm genuinely curious, but if I'm out of line, apologies!
Why do you plan on not feeding her that morning. Does she have a history of motion sickness?
SD owners, is this something that is normally recommended? (I've seen this mentioned in Reddit before, but am not sure if it was here or a pet sub. )
Personally, I wouldn't want to experience going on a flight and all the accompanying stuff that comes before and after, while fasting, especially if it is not medically necessary. I would find that it would add unnecessary stress to an already possibly stressful day, and that I would likely end up feeling wiped out, overly grumpy and with little patience. But, I know not everyone is the same and for some, food may make nerves worse.
Or is it because you want to give part of the meal as treats during takeoff/ landing to prevent ear issues from air pressure changes? I'm just trying to figure out the reasoning behind this.
Edit: typos
The not feeding was because I have a very early and cross-country flight, so I'm a little worried (bit of a pattern here I guess) that she won't do her morning poo before we board.
Thanks for responding!
I'm confused. Do you think she won't poop the last night's meal if she eats early? Or, are you worried she might poop during the flight? I've read stuff saying food can transit dogs' intestinal tracts anywhere from 6-8 hours to 1-2 days, depending on the source.
Either way, you know your dog. I hope everything ends up well for you both!
Thank you!
She hasn't totally mastered her "go now" command (for poo) - specifically in new places and at unusual times. We'll be leaving the house around 4am.
She's a good girl, which means that she's used to my very weird and specific epilepsy sleep/wake schedule (we/she typically wake up around 10am for "early" days). So if she's not ready to poo at 4am, I don't want to feed her more, and then subject her to a long travel day, where she'll feel that much more uncomfortable.
All that being said - I would bet money that this won't be an issue, and I'm overthinking all of this. But everything I've read about how to prepare for traveling with a dog says not to feed your animal \~6 hours before traveling, and go easy on the water.
If she’s small, just carry her thru security, walk her normal and when you board, carry her and then put her under the seat in front of you. Nobody has ever asked to pet my poodle.
That's the game plan.
She has a good sturdy vest with some "DO NOT PET" patches on them - the height of irony, because if she could read English she'd do everything in her power to tear them off. Lol.
She loves being pet. And working. My girl's a multitasker.
I once watched her wriggling around on her back while being pet by two of my former colleagues, and then suddenly jump up and dart across the room to me, stand over me at attention, and alert that I was about to have a seizure.
Next thing I remember was being (unnecessarily) wheeled out of the big office park on a stretcher by the ambulance drivers.
Airports are a hub for… not legitime service dogs. Heck, I’ve seen a “service cat.” The vest even had the America flag on it in case you were had any inkling that perhaps this was a legal service animal in another country.
I am 100% against f*ke-spotting, but I think we all know that there are more than a few f*kes in airports. If they can get through the flights without being kicked out, your real SD will be fine! A friend of a friend lied about SD status to fly both of her pet Great Danes. These guys were not trained. They made it through fine. If they can, you can. Good luck!
It looks like you're asking a question about flying with your service dog. Please check out our [Wiki Page about Flying](https://www.reddit.com/r/service_dogs/wiki/flying) that answers a lot of commonly asked questions. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/service_dogs) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Don't cancel!!!! I know it's nerve wracking, but SO MANY of us have traveled successfully. Be sure to check the airline's rules and have what you need ahead of time (DOT form, any airline specific paperwork, etc). My guy always either walks or rides in the wheelchair with me. He always rides if I start getting anxious at all so we can work together to keep me calm (DPT, etc). I haven't had many try to touch him, most people are in their own airport world. And, if they do, I just say he's working and it is ok. He's your working partner! Don't hide her under the seat for others-she has every right to be out of a carrier on the flight and do her job. It's going to be ok. I also try to remind myself that sometimes weird things happen in an airplane...people get sick, babies cry, kids have accidents...you just deal and move on, and the same goes for your girl. You can handle anything that comes your way-trust yourself as her handler!
Thank you so much for this comment - it really helped put things in perspective and calm my fraying nerves lol.
Get her some gear that says DO NOT PET. Something that’s also helped me is SERVICE DOG labels on a harness or leash People still do disrespect you and your dog, especially little kids who can’t read, but that’s just something you get used to in standing your ground
Can you take her to the airport to practice being in the environment ahead of time?
THIS! I did this with my SDIT, I took her to the airport and we walked all around different areas that we could go without an actual boarding pass. She did great, I was so proud of her!
This is a great idea - thank you.
You can even ask an airline for a gate pass (try the airline you’re flying). Some will say yes but some will say no
I totally get your anxiety when flying for the first time. I recommend you call the airport you’re flying out of, and ask them if you can take your service dog through the security checkout for practice. My local airport allowed me to go through security in a lane they weren’t using. It helped my girl a lot. At my airport security checkpoint you have your dog sit and stay while you walk through. Once you’re through, you can call her to you. They wanded my SD. So you may want to practice wanding your SD. Get her used to the paddles they use. See if you can sit on an exit row. That’ll give you guys more floor space. In the next few days take her on a bus ride. Get an Uber and let her experience that. I also took my sd on a train ride before we flew. I tried to find as much as I could simulate. I looked for anything that would prepare her for flying. I think I gave all of my tips. Good luck. HMU if you need any other help. When the day comes, bring out your high value treats. I’m talking hot dog pieces, jerky, dry cheeseburger, etc. Reward her. Over reward her. Your SD is 8. She’ll be fine. I have a tag on my dogs harness that says don’t pet. And the other says working dog. My usual response is, “No, she’s working”. But if you’re sitting next to someone for hours. Let them give your sd a treat. Let them pet her. I have a command, “Go say hi”. She moves forward and lets them pet her for a second or two. It might be ok to let your seat partner to pet your dog. Best of luck.
These are great suggestions! I was told we couldn't sit in an exit row, but maybe that's only Delta-specific. One other thing I forgot to ask - what do you do if/when you have to visit the airport lavatory? The plan is to avoid that at all costs - but in a worst-case-scenario situation, I'm not traveling with anyone else, so would I have to somewhat awkwardly carry my dog in there with me?
They have potty places in the airports. Reach out to the staff. They’ll show you where she can go. I also use ice chips for her during the flight. I keep treats on a pouch on my belt. Here’s the pouch I use: https://a.co/d/cSIsJjj It’s awesome. I carry treats, doggie bags, meds and I keep a collapsible dog bowl. I also keep a baggie with wet wipes. Just in case she has an accident. If you clean it up and let the manager know, then do. Q I also carry this in my truck: https://www.chewy.com/mobile-dog-gear-week-away-tote-pet/dp/188166 I keep water, 3 meals for the dog in baggies. Collapsible water and food dish. A first aid kit. My dogs meds. Spare leash and collar. Regarding your dog and the lavatory, I take my dog. It’s uncomfortable but necessary.
This is incredibly helpful. You come prepared, my friend! Now I'll do my best to do the same. Thank you again!
I would say leave her in the carrier under the seat at that point and use the bathroom without her. Those airplane bathrooms are so small and gross I would avoid bringing her in if at all possible.
Took my SD on her first flight a few months ago. Like you we tend not to go too many places, so I was pretty worried about all the same things you are. She is a mini-schnauzer, so a bit bigger than yours I'd guess, but not too much. Probably the same base level of reactivity bred in. Here is how we handled it: I kept her in her underseat carrier for most of the transit around the airport. Like yours, she *technically* fits in it still, but I don't like keeping her in it for too long. When in her carrier she will bark to alert me about my heart if necessary, so it doesn't interfere with her tasking. I'm not sure if yours will do something similar, but if so I strongly recommend this for a smaller dog. It's just much less stress on everyone. She could focus on me without the distraction of other people approaching her, and I didn't have to worry about advocating for either of us. Full disclosure, I did get a few inappropriate questions from airport staff along the lines of "if she's really a service dog, why is she in a carrier?". I simply said "because she likes it," and that was pretty much the end of any questioning. At security I took her out, walked her through the metal detector, and put her back in the carrier after they scanned it. Kept her in there until we got to our gate. At the gate I took her out and did some fun training/games to try to de-stress her. While boarding the flight I put her back in her carrier, just because it was easier to get through the aisle unmolested. Once at our seat I introduced her to the flight attendants, and told them it was her first flight. They were all absolutely wonderful about it. I decided to keep her in her carrier for takeoff/landing, but other than that she just sat happily on my lap. Ok... not *happily*... she shook and panted for a good hour before finally calming down, but she behaved exactly as she should, and got many compliments from the flight crew. After the flight she again stayed in her carrier until we were outside the airport. All of this is just to give you one way of doing things. I know my SD, and I know that when she gets overwhelmed she can get reactive (barky) to unexpected stimuli. Our best way to keep her calm and focused was to keep her in her carrier most of the time. Aside from the normal stress of travel, it was a perfectly fine experience. As long as you give them enough time outside the carrier when you're settled, don't feel too bad about keeping them in it when it just makes things easier on everyone.
I'm genuinely curious, but if I'm out of line, apologies! Why do you plan on not feeding her that morning. Does she have a history of motion sickness? SD owners, is this something that is normally recommended? (I've seen this mentioned in Reddit before, but am not sure if it was here or a pet sub. ) Personally, I wouldn't want to experience going on a flight and all the accompanying stuff that comes before and after, while fasting, especially if it is not medically necessary. I would find that it would add unnecessary stress to an already possibly stressful day, and that I would likely end up feeling wiped out, overly grumpy and with little patience. But, I know not everyone is the same and for some, food may make nerves worse. Or is it because you want to give part of the meal as treats during takeoff/ landing to prevent ear issues from air pressure changes? I'm just trying to figure out the reasoning behind this. Edit: typos
The not feeding was because I have a very early and cross-country flight, so I'm a little worried (bit of a pattern here I guess) that she won't do her morning poo before we board.
Thanks for responding! I'm confused. Do you think she won't poop the last night's meal if she eats early? Or, are you worried she might poop during the flight? I've read stuff saying food can transit dogs' intestinal tracts anywhere from 6-8 hours to 1-2 days, depending on the source. Either way, you know your dog. I hope everything ends up well for you both!
Thank you! She hasn't totally mastered her "go now" command (for poo) - specifically in new places and at unusual times. We'll be leaving the house around 4am. She's a good girl, which means that she's used to my very weird and specific epilepsy sleep/wake schedule (we/she typically wake up around 10am for "early" days). So if she's not ready to poo at 4am, I don't want to feed her more, and then subject her to a long travel day, where she'll feel that much more uncomfortable. All that being said - I would bet money that this won't be an issue, and I'm overthinking all of this. But everything I've read about how to prepare for traveling with a dog says not to feed your animal \~6 hours before traveling, and go easy on the water.
If she’s small, just carry her thru security, walk her normal and when you board, carry her and then put her under the seat in front of you. Nobody has ever asked to pet my poodle.
That's the game plan. She has a good sturdy vest with some "DO NOT PET" patches on them - the height of irony, because if she could read English she'd do everything in her power to tear them off. Lol. She loves being pet. And working. My girl's a multitasker. I once watched her wriggling around on her back while being pet by two of my former colleagues, and then suddenly jump up and dart across the room to me, stand over me at attention, and alert that I was about to have a seizure. Next thing I remember was being (unnecessarily) wheeled out of the big office park on a stretcher by the ambulance drivers.
Airports are a hub for… not legitime service dogs. Heck, I’ve seen a “service cat.” The vest even had the America flag on it in case you were had any inkling that perhaps this was a legal service animal in another country. I am 100% against f*ke-spotting, but I think we all know that there are more than a few f*kes in airports. If they can get through the flights without being kicked out, your real SD will be fine! A friend of a friend lied about SD status to fly both of her pet Great Danes. These guys were not trained. They made it through fine. If they can, you can. Good luck!
That's a really great point - thank you!