Paw-sitively Fabulous: Mom & Pup Fashion for the Fourth

Hello and Happy Fourth of July Weekend!!

Holly and I are so excited to be travelling back to Colorado this year to visit my family for the Fourth, especially since my mom's birthday is the Fifth! We had a great Fourth of July with friends last year, but Holly was not a big fan about being in close proximity to the fireworks, so we have learned our lesson and will instead be sticking to a low-key evening barbecuing with family far far away from any big scary noises!

I'm also really excited about the outfits I have picked out for Holly & myself this year. Usually I keep my Fourth of July look low key with denim shorts and my American Flag scarf, but as soon as I saw these pants from the Gap I knew I had to indulge. The pattern is definitely patriotic but not so over the top that I can't wear them with a chambray shirt to work post Fourth festivities.

For Holly, I have an "Uncle Sam" costume from last year that she does look quite dashing in, but I can never really help but shop around for new wardrobe options for her when the opportunity presents itself :). And she's happy wearing whatever as long as people tell her she looks cute and I let her dig while wearing it (really mostly the second one)!

This year, I'm loving the Ralph Lauren Flag Hooded Dog Fleece, though I am a little worried that it could get warm in the July heat. For an evening outdoor BBQ in Colorado, though, the little bit of extra warmth might be just right!!

I'm also completely head over heels for this Miss USA dog dress, but it seems to be sold out everywhere in Holly's size!! If someone happens to stumble across it in their internet dog outfit searching (this is a thing people besides me do, right?) leave a link in the comments! I will be eternally grateful :)

Of course, the thing we're MOST excited to wear this holiday are our matching sparkle Fourth of July bows from Jumping and Jellybean. I know I have talked up this shop before, but Molly seriously makes the most adorable things, and I can't help but keep adding to my growing Jumping and Jellybean collection!

Holly senses there may be another matching outfit in the works.

PS--I'm also seriously obsessing over her latest coffee cozy, which is not only a seriously cute compliment to my upgraded walking wardrobe, but also benefits a great rescue organization!! Sparkle, puppy love, and proceeds to charity? Trust me, it's already in my cart :)

Have a fun & safe Fourth of July!

Until Next Time, Darlings!

Super Holly, Fly in the Sky!

I have posted before a bit about my must haves when travelling with Holly, but air travel with a pet is still the thing I am asked about the most, so I figured I'd do another post expanding on our tips and tricks, since Holly and I are about to take our 9th (!!!) plane journey together.

Because of the risk factors associated with cargo travel, Holly only travels in cabin  with me under the seat in front of me, so all tips and tricks below are in regards to having an in-flight puppy accompany you on your journey!

Most of the questions I get about plane travel are in regards to Holly's size. At 20lbs, Holly pushes the limit for the maximum pup weight required for in cabin travel for most airlines, and many international airlines require that weight combination include your pet's carrier (domestic rules tend to be a bit less strict). Most airlines have a $75-$100 fee for each way you travel with a pet. We only fly Southwest Airlines because they do not have an in cabin weight limit for pets, just the requirement that they fit comfortably within an airline approved carrier, which brings us to...

The beloved Sleepypod Air! I know I have talked about our love for our Sleepypod before, but it is truly the perfect solution for those with a medium sized travel companion. Holly is long and fairly tall, so it was important to me that we find a carrier that she fit comfortably in for our fairly long flights back and forth to Colorado. When it is expanded, the Sleepypod Air measures in at a comfy 22 inches, giving Little Holly plenty of legroom to stretch out and sleep. I also like the feature that allows the carrier to collapse to an under-seat friendly 19 inches for takeoff and landing, but I have never had an issue with Southwest even with the carrier left at its full size.

The Sleepypod really earned its name--Holly knocks out as soon as she climbs in!

The thing I was most nervous about the first time we flew was the security screening. Now I have learned how to speed up the process and almost match my pre-Holly screening efficiency! Some airports require that those travelling with pets use a designated line (the same line families or those travelling with approved medications are in), but most allow animals in any line within the security checkpoint. You must remove your pet from their carrier and hold them while going through the metal detector and having your hands checked by the TSA (Holly has also had a couple of quick pat-downs, but usually she just gets a pat hello!). The carrier is then scanned with the rest of the luggage in the X Ray machine. The most difficult part for us is the post screening portion, where I have to perform a unique form of acrobatics involving simultaneously depositing her back into her Sleepypod, putting my own shoes back on, and grabbing my laptop quickly enough to satisfy the disgruntled travelers waiting for the line to move along behind me. Traveling with a pet is certainly an adventure!

As for the actual flight itself, I personally don't feel comfortable with the use of sedatives on Holly because many of them have not been FDA approved for high altitudes. Instead, I schedule my flights later in the morning so she can have a good long walk and meal before we leave, and try to give myself enough time arriving to the airport so I am not flustered and in a hurry, but not so long that she starts to get restless. The only times we had issues were when I was running to a flight that moved gates, and the time our flight was delayed 3 hours--that lead to a restless Holly AND a restless Mommy, though the Southwest attendants at the gate gave us permission to take Holly to the family restroom with a wee wee pad so we would not have to go back out through security to take care of business (pro tip for the future!).

All the travel worries are worth it when Holly gets to play in my parent's big yard!

Have you traveled with your pets? What tips and tricks do you recommend for a safe & happy flight?

Until Next Time, Darlings!

Have Dog, Will Travel

When I first made the decision to get a dog, I knew one of the most important things would be to have a pup who would be small enough to accompany me in the cabin on my frequent flights to Colorado. At 17lbs, Holly is about as big as a dog can be in order to fly (many airlines have a 20lb weight limit for dogs to ride in cabin). We typically fly Southwest Airlines, which has no weight limit for in cabin animals and fairly large under seat space, which gives Holly's long legs the extra room they need! Plus, they have a flat fee of $75 each way for an animal to come on board, which is one of the lower rates I came across in my research.

My biggest issue before our first flight was finding a travel bag that would comfortably fit her. Since Holly is more of a medium sized dog (17 inches long from her neck to the top of her tail and about 16 inches from her shoulder to the floor), most bags were too small, or were not designed to hold a dog over 10lbs. After extensive research and comparison shopping, I turned to the Wag.com Pampered Dog Boutique, which offers up high end products for the most spoiled pooch.

It was in their travel section that I discovered the Sleepypod Air, a bag that seems uniquely designed for my concerns. This sleek, airline approved carrier has a unique design that compresses from a roomy 22×10.5×10.5" to an under-seat-friendly 16×10×8" during takeoff and landing with a simple push of the ends. After you are in the air, you can pop the ends back down to provide your pup with the extra legroom they need. I have found that the window and center seats on Southwest flights have so much under seat room that I do not have to compress the bag, but for stricter airlines or those with less room this feature would be a Godsend.

The Sleepypod Air is significantly more expensive than most travel bags, coming in around $150, but after a year that has included 6 roundtrip flights, several MetroNorth Railroad Trips, and countless cab rides, I can confidently say it was worth shelling out the extra for!

Before flying, I would speak to your vet about your pet's needs and address what toys may be safe for them to have as a distraction in the carrier. Here are some essential toys Holly and I make sure to have when we travel:

1. Nylabone DuraChew Hollow Stick in Wolf: Even though Holly is a small dog, she is a BIG chewer. This toy was okayed by our trainer to be left with her during the day (because it's so big!), so I don't have to worry about her having it semi-unsupervised on the flight. It also has a hollow core so I can stuff it with Kong Stuffing or Peanut Butter to keep her distracted. The toy does have stick like nubs, so if you have an especially aggressive chewer I would clear unsupervised play with your vet or trainer, or ask them if the Nylabone Galileo is a better option to satisfy in flight chewing urges.

2. Castor & Pollux Good Buddy Dye Free Rope Toy: Dye free rope toys are another toy we cleared with Holly's vet for unsupervised play. I look for toys to go in her Sleepypod that will meet her specific needs (chewing, mainly), without making noise that could cause a disruption (no squeakers on the plane!!).

3. Kong Wubba Friend Dog Toy: Holly is not a big fan of traditional Kongs, but she loves the plush cuddly version at home and in her Sleepypod. I love it for long plane rides because it provides the cuddly comfort of a plush toy without the annoyance (or choking hazard) of a squeaker!

They weren't kidding around with the name "Sleepypod!"

Do you travel with your pooch? What essentials have you found to make the trip easier (and more fun)?

Until Next Time, Darlings!