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If I were allergic it would bother me - but I might have to go back up to NY one week after I'm there for thanksgiving, and I hate to make the 11 hour drive FOUR TIMES (my car will hate it too). Thinking of flying up with the dog, but I've never done that...airlines wouldn't allow it if it were that bad, would they? Hm
We take our little Maltese with us. No one even knows she's there! In fact the last time we flew she got rather vocal after we had landed and I just unzipped the top of her Sherpa so she could stick her head out while we deplaned.....the Flight Attendents said "boy, we never even knew we had a dog on board". We pick the exit row in the middle of the plane so we have extra leg room, take small treats of cooked chicken (it helps with the pressure in their ears) to feed her every now and then. We also taught her to drink from a sports bottle so she gets sips of water during the flight. I just unzip the Sherpa and stick the bottle in there, she doesn't ever come OUT of it during flight.
A passenger requested to be moved when I flew with my cat, but luckily somebody else volunteered to switch seats with him! I don't think he was allergic, but merely a cat hater. I think you'll be fine as long as your dog's well-behaved... or you'll find a nice person to switch places, like I did. Oh, and make sure to check what type of plane you're flying on, since they don't all allow/fit animal carriers on board. I had to "check" my cat on another flight once, which was really stressful for both of us.
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My husband is allergic to cats and he is miserable if he has to sit near a cat on a plane. I imagine it would be the same with people who are allergic to dogs.
We don't hate people who take their pets on planes (because most of them are innocently doing what's allowed), but we totally disagree with the policy of letting pets fly in the passenger cabin. It's not always easy to change seats, and sometimes you're unaware that a pet is nearby but can't figure out why you're suddenly feeling out of sorts.
There are size restrictions on dogs in the passenger cabin. There was a story on the news here last night about a dog who had been in the cargo area in her crate and ended up with a broken neck due to the crate being ROLLED. Personally, I would not fly with my dog.
My husband is allergic to cats and he is miserable if he has to sit near a cat on a plane. I imagine it would be the same with people who are allergic to dogs.
We don't hate people who take their pets on planes (because most of them are innocently doing what's allowed), but we totally disagree with the policy of letting pets fly in the passenger cabin. It's not always easy to change seats, and sometimes you're unaware that a pet is nearby but can't figure out why you're suddenly feeling out of sorts.
I'm horribly allergic to perfume, and have been stuck next to passengers wearing it... sure, it's annoying, but we can't make people rub it off first! Just sayin'...
We take our little Maltese with us. No one even knows she's there! In fact the last time we flew she got rather vocal after we had landed and I just unzipped the top of her Sherpa so she could stick her head out while we deplaned.....the Flight Attendents said "boy, we never even knew we had a dog on board". We pick the exit row in the middle of the plane so we have extra leg room, take small treats of cooked chicken (it helps with the pressure in their ears) to feed her every now and then. We also taught her to drink from a sports bottle so she gets sips of water during the flight. I just unzip the Sherpa and stick the bottle in there, she doesn't ever come OUT of it during flight.
O.Nana
Those who insist on traveling with a pet need to know that they are never to be seated in emergency exit rows and for obvious reasons. Humans trying to exit the plane in an emergency would possibly be waiting seconds while the exit row passenger paused to grab a pet or pet in carrier from under the seat. SECONDS MEANS LIVES in a situation where there is smoke and fire on a plane. I will admit that the airlines should be more vigilant about this. Pet owners need to be vigilant as well and point out to gate agents, flight attendants, ticket counter agents, etc., that they do not want to be in an exit row with a pet.
I am allergic to cats and I once saw a passenger had a cat on the plane near where I was sitting. But it didn't bother me one bit. The only way I get symptoms is if I breathe in lots of dander for 20+ minutes, or petted the cat and touched my face, or rubbed my face in a cat, none of which happened.
As long as the pet is small and in a cage or some other enclosed carrier, under the seat, and preferably covered over with a blanket or something if the cage is a wire one. And the pet should not be noisy, like a yapper that wont stop barking. That way most people won't even know it's there and dander is not going to fly all over the cabin.
But, shih tzu's are supposed to be a hypoallergenic breed, as are many other small dogs. So I don't think you need to worry.
Guess this takes care of me flying with my Lab mix. :-(
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I think you'll be fine as long as your dog's well-behaved... or you'll find a nice person to switch places, like I did. Oh, and make sure to check what type of plane you're flying on, since they don't all allow/fit animal carriers on board. I had to "check" my cat on another flight once, which was really stressful for both of us.
Pets Not Allowed in Exit Rows!
