Originally Posted by
Carolellen607
I travel with my dog all the time in the cabin. Delta, unlike some other airlines does not have a weight restriction. NW comes to mind as a maximum of 15 pounds including the carrier. My dog is 15 to 16 pounds and fits in the Large Sherpa bag very nicely. I would second the post that recommended this bag. It is soft and fits well under the seat. I would get your dog used to the carrier before you actually fly. Also to minimize issues with the dog having to go, make sure the dog does not eat before the flight and limit liquids, and walk the dog one last time right before you enter security. My dog has been on flights for over 10 hours without a problem. I never sedate her, but she is used to flying. Check with your vet on the sedation since there are two schools of thought on the advisability of it. Good luck.
I totally agree about getting your dog used to being in the bag for long periods of time (if possible). I used to take my Cavalier to my office daily in the NYC subway from the time she was a puppy so by the time she was on her first flight she was totally used to it. In fact, she slept on that entire JFK-LAX flight without being sedated. IMHO, if you were to use a bag like this for the first time and step right on the plane the poor dog might freak out. I would never sedate my dog and many vets are opposed to doing this. I totally agree about not feeding the dog before the flight and limit the water intake. When in the air I usually give her a little water to stay hydrated. Her longest trip to date was JFK-SLC-SMF a few years ago and with all of the delays the trip was about 10 hours. I personally think that she is a more relaxed traveler than me.
