Breaking my leg in Spain last year has changed my life. Traumatized and still recovering 9 months later, I need to spend quality time with my closest family, all of them on the other coast near Boston. Not the kind of trip where I’m there for a week staying with one of them, feeling in the way and ill at ease. It’s time for an extended trip, with my own place to sleep. I’ll be able to cook for myself, see family and explore the area at my own pace. A month in Boston!
The last time I was away from home for this long, I took Chewy and drove to Montana. The drive was harrowing with a dog who hates the car. Nevertheless, I want to take him with me again. Driving is not an option, so I booked non-stop flights for the two of us from San Francisco to Boston and back. I’ll be in an aisle seat and he’ll be underneath in a soft carrier.
Seven years ago, I brought Chewy home from the shelter. He was 3 and not crate trained. The first week I bought a soft carrier. I didn’t want to leave him at home alone, but he sure didn’t want to go into the box. My unfortunate technique was to force him in and zip it up quickly. On one of our first outings, I took him to the church, where I had a meeting to attend. I set down the crate and left the room. In less than 5 minutes, he had managed to get out of it and was running around the building. Flying with Chewy is going to take training.
A friend gave me a new soft crate, the exact size the airline allows. There’s plenty of room for Chewy to stand and turn around. But how to coax him inside? I tried throwing treats in, but he would only go after them when I was far enough away that he could grab the treat and get out before I could lock him inside.
So I called a trainer. One session was all I needed. Her biggest contribution was bringing a bag of treats that are irresistible to Chewy. He will do anything for those treats. For many days, I practiced throwing in the treat, and praising him for going after it, with the door to the crate remaining open.
Chewy has learned to go into the crate on demand and wait for the tasty bits. He can be zipped up for 5 or 10 minutes before he begins to growl or whine. Actually, he’ll stay as long as the treats keep coming, but that won’t work for a 5-hour plane ride with no chance to go potty.
There will be drugs. I haven’t experimented yet, but the vet advised sedating him when I first put him in the crate for the ride to the airport. If his sleepiness wears off before we get to Boston, I can give him another dose. Poor guy. I hope he’ll find it a reasonable trade, in order to spend the month with me and my extended family. It will mean a lot to me to have a bark alarm at night in my rental house, and to enjoy my daily Chewy walks and cuddles.
myleashonlife 