Tuesday, November 14, 2017

Dog Magazine Reviews

I've been looking at dog magazines to sort of discover what kind of information is out there. I've gotten a couple and here's my opinion.

"Dogster" I just scanned this one, but it looks like fun. The website is great!


"The Bark"  A little off the wall information on mindfulness, but mostly reality based. Some medical stuff, some training stuff, and a few bits on rescue as well as breeders. I really liked the recipes and DIY information. Supported with a significant website, as well.


"Modern Dog" Should be called, 'Pricey Dog' as there is nothing cheap listed or recommended. Dog jewelry, custom dog dishes, custom dog furniture, designer dog jackets, imported interactive dog toys... Yeah. Well above my pay grade. They did suggest a free app that I downloaded for pet first aid. Other than that, I just didn't want to spend the money, and I do plan on spoiling my puppy. I just also want to eat and heat the house.


Oddly enough, Modern Dog was $5.95 and The Bark was $6.99. Both are published quarterly. 

Friday, November 3, 2017

Flying With a Puppy

I'm expecting to fly with my puppy before he is 16 weeks old. The official limit is 8 weeks of age at a minimum, so that's not a problem. I've been reading up on what to do. The one thing I can tell is that folks who are writing some of the lists of things to do have never actually done it. They don't include  important facts.

You can't just 'call ahead' to the airline. You will have to pay about $125 per flight to fly with your dog. And some airlines charge per leg of the trip. Changing planes? Another $125.

There are limits to the number of pets per flight. If you book too late, your pet can't fly with you. Since there are different limits for first class, you might have to pay to upgrade if Fido MUST travel with you.

The seats are smaller than they used to be and they can vary from plane to plane within an airline. A pet carrier that fits under a Southwest seat might not fit under some Delta seats and be just fine under other Delta seats.

Your pet counts as one of your carry-on bags. You can't have luggage, a briefcase/purse, and your pet. To be honest, you don't want to lug three bags.

Because it may take additional time to settle your pet, you may want to board with the 'families with small children' group. It's OK.

Let the people sitting beside/in front of/behind you know you have a pet. They may not care, they may request a different seat.

Pet relief areas are now a requirement in airports due to service animal regulations. Don't expect much. You might find it in a disgusting condition, or not be able to find it at all. Look for a picture of a small dog on a leash. They used to require you to leave the secure area, but new legislation mandates pet relief areas on the secure side, too.

Addendum! I shopped long and hard for an automotive/air carrier for my dog. I selected a Sleepypod Air. It can fold down to smaller than the Sleepypod Atom if needed. I also liked what I saw on the crash test video. The Air shifted and deformed less than the Atom,  though both the Atom and the Air passed the crash test.