Buddy is going national! *Updated 3/9
Over New Year's we received the exciting news that Buddy had qualified for the 2014 AKC Rally National Championship! It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us, so we are going. The event is in...
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Update: a couple of weeks of limited activity, and a visit to a chiropractor, and Buddy is back at 100%. We have been polishing up our skills, practicing loading up in our Sherpa bag, and planning out the little details for our trip.
Also, a local TV station has picked up the press release about our trip, and will have Buddy and I on during the morning show this coming Thursday, to talk about our journey, and to demo some of the Rally exercises in the studio.
After doing extensive research on carrying a large-ish small dog in cabin, I determined that I ran a risk of Buddy and his carrier not fitting under the seats in the tiny regional planes that fly in and out of Bakersfield, and at the other end, in and out of Harrisburg. So, we changed our itinerary. In doing so I lost my seat in First class, because on the larger planes there is not any room under your seat...it's all taken up by electronics. So we are back in Economy. I'll drive down to LAX, fly non-stop to Baltimore, then drive the 90 minutes to Harrisburg. On the way back I'll drive back to Baltimore, fly to Denver, connect back to LAX, and DH will pick us up. This plan keeps us on larger (757 and A320) aircraft that I have found under-seat measurements that will work for us.
Here is Buddy in our preferred carrier, the Large Sherpa on Wheels. Preferred because it is one inch longer than the other bag, which makes a big difference in his comfort. Also because it has wheels and Buddy weighs nearly 26 pounds. The disadvantage is that it is technically one inch above the airline requirements. It does "squish" some, and should work just fine.
This is a Large Sturdi Bag. It is one inch shorter than the other bag, but also an inch taller at the top. But, because of it's springy design, it flexes down a lot easier. Buddy can go in and turn around in this bag, but not as easily as the other one. It will work in a pinch, if we get a persnickety Flight Attendant, or if my seat has any electronics under it that compromises the available space for his bag, and the other won't fit. I am going to bring it, with my "carryon" items stowed inside in a duffel bag. If I need to put him in the smaller bag, I can quickly pull out the duffel and switch it to the other bag, making it my "carry-on". United is one of the few airlines that does not count your pet carrier as your carry-on bag.
One more photo, just because I have my Photobucket account open. This was Buddy last week out at the ranch, working sheep. A friend had arrived early for her lesson, and snapped this photo of Buddy on the Outrun, where he is sent out in a "loop" to gather up the sheep and bring them toward the handler.
Also, a local TV station has picked up the press release about our trip, and will have Buddy and I on during the morning show this coming Thursday, to talk about our journey, and to demo some of the Rally exercises in the studio.
After doing extensive research on carrying a large-ish small dog in cabin, I determined that I ran a risk of Buddy and his carrier not fitting under the seats in the tiny regional planes that fly in and out of Bakersfield, and at the other end, in and out of Harrisburg. So, we changed our itinerary. In doing so I lost my seat in First class, because on the larger planes there is not any room under your seat...it's all taken up by electronics. So we are back in Economy. I'll drive down to LAX, fly non-stop to Baltimore, then drive the 90 minutes to Harrisburg. On the way back I'll drive back to Baltimore, fly to Denver, connect back to LAX, and DH will pick us up. This plan keeps us on larger (757 and A320) aircraft that I have found under-seat measurements that will work for us.
Here is Buddy in our preferred carrier, the Large Sherpa on Wheels. Preferred because it is one inch longer than the other bag, which makes a big difference in his comfort. Also because it has wheels and Buddy weighs nearly 26 pounds. The disadvantage is that it is technically one inch above the airline requirements. It does "squish" some, and should work just fine.
This is a Large Sturdi Bag. It is one inch shorter than the other bag, but also an inch taller at the top. But, because of it's springy design, it flexes down a lot easier. Buddy can go in and turn around in this bag, but not as easily as the other one. It will work in a pinch, if we get a persnickety Flight Attendant, or if my seat has any electronics under it that compromises the available space for his bag, and the other won't fit. I am going to bring it, with my "carryon" items stowed inside in a duffel bag. If I need to put him in the smaller bag, I can quickly pull out the duffel and switch it to the other bag, making it my "carry-on". United is one of the few airlines that does not count your pet carrier as your carry-on bag.
One more photo, just because I have my Photobucket account open. This was Buddy last week out at the ranch, working sheep. A friend had arrived early for her lesson, and snapped this photo of Buddy on the Outrun, where he is sent out in a "loop" to gather up the sheep and bring them toward the handler.
