I'm a dog lover, but...

It annoys me to no end when I see travelers who have the dog on the leash walking through the crowded terminal, or sitting in the middle of the crowded boarding area playing with their dog and/or cat. IMHO, airports are crowded, unfamiliar places, and animals may behave unpredictably in new environments. There are a lot of people who aren't animal lovers, or have allergies, so I think that passengers who are flying with their pet should make every effort to be inconspicuous and avoid bringing their pet into contact with other passengers. You love your dog, but your dog may not be loved by everyone who is nearby.

If your dog needs to stretch his/her legs and it isn't feasible to leave the terminal, then find a quiet stretch of hallway or empty gate and walk around there. People who are walking to their gates have enough to focus on (watching gate numbers, carrying luggage, etc.) without having to worry about getting tripped by a dog on a leash.

When you get to your gate, it's ok to take the dog out of his/her kennel provided you do it in a quiet corner away from other passengers. To sit down in the middle of a crowded seating area, take out your dog and assume that's it's OK with others who are sitting nearby is inconsiderate. It's a hassle to pick up your suitcase and change seats, but you may be forcing people to do that if they're allergic or uncomfortable around dogs.

I hope I don't sound like a animal hater--I'm the furthest thing from that!--but I've just seen too many inconsiderate people traveling with pets. (And, for the record, I practice what I preach when I travel with my pets. In fact, the ideal trip is one where almost no one--except for security screeners, ticket agents and a few observant individuals--even realize I'm traveling with an animal.)