You sit back and rest your head to begin the six-hour flight to Los Angeles, and that's when it starts: the yapping. The person sitting next to you has a furry little companion who interprets "take off" to mean "bark off."
So, what do you do when you're stuck beside a yappy pup for the duration of your flight? Dog etiquette expert Charlotte Reed, the author of Miss Fido Manners: The Complete Book of Dog Etiquette, says the only way to approach this trying situation is with patience.
"The yapping dog is like that screaming kid," she says. "The analogy is completely the same. I think when you're flying it's a really uncomfortable situation for everybody. You really just have to try to be kind and tolerant. You're in a bad situation, and so are they."
Instead of making things worse by freaking out at the pet owner, Reed suggests offering help. "You can say, 'Hi, I'm not trying to be difficult. Is there anything that I can help you do to maybe get your pet to calm down?'"
Reed says it's also the pet owner's responsibility to prepare their furry best friend for the friendly skies. "Your pet has to be travel-ready," she explains. "You want to make sure you're traveling with a calm pet that can actually be used to staying in the bag and relaxing."
For airline-anxious animals, Reed suggests a product she uses with her own dog: Pet Comfort Zone, a solution you spray in a carrier bag that can soothe an uneasy pet. Other helpful tips? Acclimate your pet to the carrier bag long before travel day and place an article of clothing with your scent inside the carrier -- it will give your pooch a little extra comfort.
How would you deal with this situation? Leave your suggestion in the comments below!
Do you have a Petiquette dilemma you'd like to share? Email us at tips@peoplepets.com!
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