Ashley, You hold your dog, take off his collar, put it in the basket, walk through, pick up his collar from the basket, put it on again. He will only be without his collar during the time it takes for you to walk through. I didn't have to take off my dog's collars, 'cause they have only plastic clips. No tags. You might want to get the tags off his collar if you worry about his bolting. Then you'd have a collar and leash on him. It'll be over very quickly.

Depending on where you sit on the plane, you might be able to take him out and hold him on your lap for a bit. If not, you will probably have some time to let him out between flights.

As for sedatives, maybe a very, very mild one or benedryl. I gave my first chi acepromezine during a thunder storm because he shook and panted beyond belief. Well, I tried it twice and then said no more. I forget the dosage, but I shaved some off the pill, I mean just shavings, and he was so loopy!! Then I had another dog, cockapoo, that I could give him 2 or 3 and no effect at all! Sedatives can be good, but talk it over with the vet.

Most of all, relax! You don't want to transfer any anxiety to your baby.

How exciting for you!

Yeah, Toby is really good so I'm not too worried about him bolting. I just don't really like it because the airport is gonna be crazy busy three days before christmas and accidents happen. Lol. Oh well. And I've been through security a trillion times, so I know procedure- just never with a dog. I know I'm crazy for worrying, I'm paranoid lol.


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I'm worried about this as well. This will be Jem's first flight with me. My flight is only about two hours but I still worry. I'm going to be at the airport very early before my flight because LAX gets very hectic around the holidays. I'm just going to make sure she goes to the bathroom before I leave the apartment in the morning. She comes to work with me and she generally sleeps the whole day and doesn't need to go to the bathroom unless she eats her lunch. I'm going to the vet tomorrow to get a sedative just in case though.

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I would be careful about giving a sedative. With the change in air pressure in the cabin, I wouldn't use any UNLESS the dog is really being disruptive. My two chi's just were really calm and slept right away. I was boarded first, as I am 'disabled' with an ankle brace; so they were under the seat from the beginning. I did NOT take them out at all during the flight. Directions were clear: do not remove pet from carrier. I guess if the stewardess' wanted to see them, I would have, but they didn't!

I wonder if there's anything that you can do to make your chi more comfortable besides a sedative. The pug that was on a flight I was on was howling like crazy during ascent and descent and I assume that his little ears were hurting.

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Oh, that's horrible! I hope Toby doesn't do that!! My heart will break!


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Mine didn't seem to mind a bit during ascent, and descent. Different dogs, different reactions?