Jump to content

My dogs flight time.....

LT4BIRD

By LT4BIRD
in General Mooney Talk

 Share

Recommended Posts

Becca Experienced

Becca

Posted
Posted

My husband and I just bought a Mooney 201.  I'd really like to bring my golden retreiver on some of our longer trips, flexibility we didn't used to have with rental planes.  Anyway, husband is a little skeptical about the feasibility of that plan and also keeping the plane interior in good condition (he won't even let the dog in his car most of the time).  Anyway, any lessons learned flying with the dog or strategies to convince husband it would be a good idea?



Thanks!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Mooney65E Rising Star

Mooney65E

Posted
Posted

We travel with two dogs, one big and one small.  They love to go with us no matter the mode of transport.  To keep the back seat area clean, I made a pattern of the back seat out of paper and transferred it to 'FAA approved fabric'.  We added some snap receivers behind the back seat and to the screws along the windows and just snap the fabric into place when the dogs travel.  We remove the cover for two-legged passengers and to wash.  --Kathy Hendricks

Link to comment
Share on other sites
kortopates Grand Master

kortopates

Posted
Posted

We travel with our dog, a yellow lab, almost everywhere. We use a cotton car seat cover, made for pets and commonly available at your pet store, to cover the back seat. He's a real shedder, so typically the seat cover gets double duty usage in the airplane and rental car. We use a towel to cover the flap as he jumps onto the wing and he makes his own way into the back seat as I hold the front seat forward to let him in or out. We use a car seat cover made for pets commonly available at pet stores. probably much like the one Kathy made; yet not tailor made to our seat. He wears Mutt Muffs as shown in the pict to help with the noise and doggie harness, (not shown), that with his leash loosely tied to the shoulder harness that we use to keep him in the back seat. Although he has never needed to be secured to the back seat.


Although I've had a few pax over the years tell me what they thought of my flying but getting sick in the back seat, Bailey has never been one of them. Our vet prescribed a mild sedative and something for his stomach to help with his maiden flight. But don't think he really needed and we only used it the first flight because it left him in drunken stupor for hours. He seems to enjoy travelling in our plane and does fine in the upper teens; although at age 11, we wonder how much longer he'll be able to tolerate that as a senior dog and keep a watch out for heart or respiratory disease. But he still doing great and loves the snow at the ski area we frequent at Mammoth as well as hiking up there in the summers. Frankly I think one of the great benefits of aircraft ownership is being able to take him with us as well as the freedom to explore beyond our borders with our Mooney.


Couldn't get the picture to attach, it can be seen here http://flightaware.com/photos/view/2345-1a7b225371576be660c8b4d2174de5c12a168d51%3bsize=full  

Link to comment
Share on other sites
jrwilson Mentor

jrwilson

Posted
Posted

Quote: Becca

My husband and I just bought a Mooney 201.  I'd really like to bring my golden retreiver on some of our longer trips, flexibility we didn't used to have with rental planes.  Anyway, husband is a little skeptical about the feasibility of that plan and also keeping the plane interior in good condition (he won't even let the dog in his car most of the time).  Anyway, any lessons learned flying with the dog or strategies to convince husband it would be a good idea?

Thanks!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Amelia Experienced

Amelia

Posted
Posted

We had a guide dog puppy one year, a yellow lab, who was a happy and laid-back passenger. He spent his flights asleep on our teenage daughter's lap. The next canine passenger was a big handsome German Wirehaired Pointer, a pilots-n-paws rescue dog. He hopped onto the wing, stepped into the airplane, settled onto the blanket-covered seat, then I buckled the seatbelt through his harness with just enough play so that he could sit up and look out the window, but was unable to move off the seat or stand up. The critter looked out the window with quietly intelligent gold eyes, watched the takeoff with interest, then settled down for a three-hour nap. On landing, he sat up, strained forward, to give my right-seater-husband a big wet appreciative slurp up the back of his neck. In lieu of applause, of course. The next one was a nice little Papillon who rode in a smallish crate. Never a yip or a bark out of any of the three. Wish all my human pax were as pleasant and easy-going.  Threading the seatbelt through the belly strap of the harness worked like a charm to keep the big dogs where they belonged comfortably, and the seatbelt through the carry handle of the crate also worked nicely. Never any trouble with anxiety, incontinence, or airsickness. Cats, now, that's a different story. Next cat that rides with me may go in a big plastic lawn-clippings bag. (:D)

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 3 weeks later...
BlueSkyTraveler Contributor

BlueSkyTraveler

Posted
Posted

Great to see so many Mooniacs fly with their canine companions, just another reason we are a special bunch.  We fly with our Gordon Setter (70 pounds) and he loves it. He is not crazy about moderate turbulence but neither are we. He goes nuts when we get to the airport and is not happy until he is in the plane (fear of being left behind).


  We are skydivers (around 3,000 jumps apiece) and have friends who jump with their (smaller) dogs in special harnesses and the dogs love it. I think it is a tribute to the trust our dogs put in us that they enjoy these activities.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
skyking Experienced

skyking

Posted
Posted

Add me to the flying pets group.


2 very large german shepards. One 80 lbs , one 100 lbs.


Both LOVE to go flying. The only problem is the slobber all over the back windows and nose prints. They love to look out the window. I put a big blanket down in the back to eliminate the shedding problem.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 4 weeks later...

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
 Share
Go to topic listing
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.