What's new
Van's Air Force

Don't miss anything! Register now for full access to the definitive RV support community.

Travel with dog

h&jeuropa

Well Known Member
How do you travel with your dog? Trying to figure out about finding dog friendly hotels, getting from FBO to hotel, how to have a sit down restaurant meal, etc. planning a couple of long trips this summer and really want to take him. He flies great, the potential problems are hotels, restaurants and attractions like museums, parks etc.

Thanks

Jim Butcher
 
Traveling with Merle

The Wife and I have taken Merle on vacation in the RV-9A a couple of times. Merle is a 17 lb Sheltie that sits in the baggage compartment, constrained with a leash just enough to keep him in the baggage compartment.

Merle_web1.jpg


We always make arrangements before hand to be sure the hotel or rental house is "pet friendly." Not everyone is but there are plenty of them that are.

As for restaurants that are dog friendly, they're few and far between, mostly because of archaic public health rules and sometimes just the decorum of the restaurant. I've been noticing dogs seem to be increasingly welcome where there's outdoor seating. Just the same, Merle stays home when we go out and eat.

As for museums, he has never expressed an interest, so we have never taken him. He does like parks, beaches, and boating and there are plenty of places that welcome dogs.
 
problem or not

Don,
After your flights with your Sheltie... have you noticed any hearing loss?
I read lots of conflicting anecdotal comments about RV's and dogs.
One claimed his dog went deaf on one flight. Others, do it all the time.... with no ill effects.
 
We carry folding dog baskets for bikes. They strap on bikes in 30 seconds...Hana is 16 pounds...about the limit.
http://www.amazon.com/Snoozer-Sporty-Basket-Zippered-Pockets/dp/B006GRB3YI/ref=sr_1_6?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1399309947&sr=1-6&keywords=dog+bike+basket
This is April flight to Ashland Oregon where we rented bikes.
2rorhck.jpg

Yes...look for outdoor seating restaurants. Here's an exception in Columbia Ca saloon. Belly up to the bar!
oarjw0.jpg

We camp...we have zipped them in the tent for a nap so we can have lunch.
jj7c7m.jpg
 
Our RVs are definitely loud enough to damage a dogs hearing, especially with repeat exposure. A deaf dog is at a great disadvantage, as they are much more dependent on hearing than we are. Get your pooch Mutt Muffs or equivalent.

I fly PilotsNPaws dogs, and always wonder what we are doing to their hearing. I rationalize that a dog with hearing loss in a good home is better than a dead dog.

Jim Berry
RV-10
 
Don,
After your flights with your Sheltie... have you noticed any hearing loss?
I read lots of conflicting anecdotal comments about RV's and dogs.
One claimed his dog went deaf on one flight. Others, do it all the time.... with no ill effects.

No, I have not seen any issues, but after the second or third flight we got Merle mutt muffs. I was really afraid Wife would be calling headset makers looking for an extra small set of ANR headsets...she spoils Merle.

I too have read a lot and I'm not sure what to make of his behavior. He has slept on some trips - which some folks attribute to stress. It might be but Merle sleeps at home in the afternoon and it isn't stress that causes that. Dogs sleep when they're tired and/or bored. On a trip to Okracoke he sat up alert the whole trip and looked out the window, which could indicate no stress.

He hears well, so at least some flying didn't destroy his hearing and he never showed anything that looked to me like stress, and I think I'd recognize it. I'm a biologist by training, I know Merle well, and I've worked with him through a lot of training - three levels of obedience, Canine Good Citizen, Therapy Dog certification and several months of agility training.

I've also flown 25 or 30 critters for Pilots n Paws and in my opinion cats seem to be bothered a lot more than dogs by the noise. That's simply an opinion - no data.
 
We take our German shepherd with us whenever possible and usually find hotels and other accommodation is not much of the problem. She brings us much joy, so not dining in the best restaurant is a small price to pay to have her with us.

One thing that I do worry about, is flying high up when we can use oxygen ourselves. She has not shown any problem or issues but we have not been higher than 13k with her.
 
Thanks for the additional data points. Ours wears a service dog ID tag and restaurants, hotels etc. never ask nor bat an eye. Bye and large... most employees love dogs anyway. Good conversation starters... those canines.
Tried Mutt Muffs... no way. She threw them out the window... at 180 mph.
 
Avoiding noise...

Katie is in the back seat with a padded dog bed and blanket on her lap, our dogs relax, fold their ears down and will go under the blanket two out of the three hours on a long flight leg. I "feel" they take care of the noise as needed with what is provided. In ten years with one dog we have only about 40 total dog flight hours to say no hearing loss...
Does she look uncomfortable? Shoot, I logged her with PIC time as safety pilot "Dad, traffic 4:00 High!" :)
ac7m78.jpg
 
Last edited:
He hears well, so at least some flying didn't destroy his hearing and he never showed anything that looked to me like stress, and I think I'd recognize it. .

I hope you are correct, but the fact that you have not noticed anything doesn't mean it isn't happening. We had a lab that did 15-20 mile runs with me near traffic, on mountain trails, etc. The day we moved to a new house he was banging into walls and was panicked. The vet found that he was totally blind, and probably had been for 2 years. Looking back, there were small clues that we had completely missed. He had gradually learned to adapt, but it was frightening to think of some of the situations that I had unknowingly put him in.

FlightLogic - a tip that I picked up from someone in an earlier VAF post, is to start the engine with the Mutt Muffs off. When he learns how much quieter it is with the muffs on, he may be more tolerant of them. It has worked well with both of our dogs.

Jim Berry
RV-10
 
Mutt Muffs

Dogs are pack animals, and more than anything they want to be with the pack (you). On one early flight our dog pawed off the Mutt Muffs before we had even boarded. I immediately put him in the hangar and left him behind. Now, he not only leaves them on; when he sees me pull the plane out, he stares at where the Muffs are stored, to make sure they aren't forgotten!
 
"he stares at where the Muffs are stored, to make sure they aren't forgotten!"

This is adorable. I thought I'd die laughing. I've thought about trying the Pilots n Paws thing. Have to ask----how does one handle the potty thing---especially when you don't know the dog?:D
 
donaziza;877279 I've thought about trying the Pilots n Paws thing. Have to ask----how does one handle the potty thing---especially when you don't know the dog?:D[/QUOTE said:
Most of the rescue organizations know not to feed the dog the day of flight; you can also specify this when making arrangements with them. I require all dogs be crated; I don't want an unknown dog loose in the cabin and freaking out. I always put an old beach towel in the crate, and most dogs snuggle in and sleep. Dogs, even pups, do not want to soil their bedding. Some of the pups will pee, but that is the worst I have had. PnP flights are some of the most rewarding I have done. Give it a try.

Jim Berry
RV-10
 
Some of the pups will pee, but that is the worst I have had. PnP flights are some of the most rewarding I have done. Give it a try.

This is dead on accurate, I carried 5 pups and they all slept the entire time...now when we landed, they were quick to pee but they made it out of the plane before that was necessary

I think we spoiled the pups though, I flew high fast and smooth, we handed them off to a 152 who couldn't even fit the crate in the back, and said he cruised the tree tops when he flew and used pilotage as his form of navigation

y7HZZUm.jpg
 
I recently watched National Lampoon's "Vacation" movie, for the Nth time. When I saw this thread, I immediately got the mental image of someone tying poor Fido to the tail tiedown ring.

Yes, I probably have some sort of mental illness, but the image still made me laugh.

(No, I don't hate dogs.)
 
Mutt Muffs

We flew 7 hours TT this weekend camping and decided to try the muffs. Hana is a Min Pin, size small.
Thanks to the tip, Katie waited till engine run-up to put them on for the first time. She did not fight them at all. Surprised us as she does not even like a collar. Several times the muffs did slipped back, off her ears. We tried adjustment, but not much grip area on her head. The photo shows them slipping...
Though the hard plastic cups look cool like our human headset, it seems to me a foam lined head band with some form fitting stretch fabric around and over the odd shape of each dogs head would fit better...product idea anyone?
Hana was happy...and Katie like her new DC's too.
2wdvd48.jpg
 
Last edited:
Our wiener dog just did PHX to PDX with us. Mutt Muffs don't stay on so I waited till it was loud and put cotton balls in her ears. Then folded a strip of sound insulating foam over top like a headband. Secured with an elastic strap and velcro. This worked and she went to sleep most legs. High altitude seems to make dogs drowsy. Not sure what it does to their cognitive skills. I still can't get her to comprehend the GPS. If it doesn't smell, not worth paying attention to it seems.
 
Back
Top