American Whippet Club National

[JAX]

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I couldnt cope with the stress of making my dogs ok for flying and risk of losing them and baggage (w00t) Obviously you are used to it , I have enough trouble driving to places :lol:

Maybe one year I will come :huggles: It would be great to get aloaod of K9ers over wouldnt it

 

[seaspot_run]

JAX, it is stressful but it is a reality of life for being a success exhibiting here that you need to occasionally fly to important shows. Although the airlines are making this harder and harder for us to do.

My working theory is that my dogs lose a lot less condition in 9 hours on an airplane than they would if I had to spend 6 days driving them across the country. Usually, a good walk and a nice long drink of water, and they're basically back to what they were when I put them on that morning. There's only so much weight and muscle tone you can lose crated for 9 hours on an airplane, even if you spend the whole time panting and don't sleep. Most of mine are pretty good travelers and do sleep on the airplane, though.

It's harder on me than the dogs, because I have authority issues anyhow and having to go through four layers of officious security people starting with curbside when I am traveling by myself usually puts me in a very evil mood. o I still have not yet managed to solve the physics problem of how to unload my dogs and kennels and get them into the terminal without leaving my vehicle unattended--I think maybe the Einstein theory says that if I did it really really FAST :blink: , I could truly be both places (with my van AND with my dogs moving them inside) at once. But for now, it usually involves me standing on the curb NEXT to my van with my suitcases and crates around me, waving twenty dollar bills and shouting "PORTER! PORTER! PORTER? HEY, DUDE! SOME GUY? ANYONE?" until an employee with a cart comes over, enticed by the smell of some easy cash, and I bribe him to take the dogs inside and stand by them and attend them until I shove my van in satellite parking and take the shuttle bus back to the terminal (which is normally about half an hour of stomach-churning frustration--not to mention a tip of at least 40 dollars). :wacko:

But after my usual screaming match with the curbside security and traffic people, things get better in a hurry. This year, I have a companion to travel with which will make all the difference.

satiny, I do think I remember you now! Thanks for the photos. I'm glad you had a great time in Massachusetts.