Airline Approved In Cabin Pet Carriers

[charlotte bednarsh]

Hi, I'm not sure if anyone saw my previous post but I'm hoping to get some feedback on airline approved in cabin pet carriers;  if all goes well, I'm hoping to pick up a standard size labradoodle puppy in November.  I will be flying from NYC to North Carolina to pick up the puppy who will be accompanying me in the plane cabin.  Sherpa carriers are airline approved in the small and medium size.  The medium can accomodate a puppy weighing up to 16lbs; as the puppy will be just over 8 weeks old, this should work.  Wonder if anybody had experience with this and any suggestions. 

[Nancy & Echo]

I got a Sherpa To Go Exclusive carrier, medium size to carry Echo around until she got all of her shots.  I got a mini ALD at 10.5 weeks of age and 4.7 pounds.  She fit into the carrier fine until she was about 8 pounds.  She's now 11.2  pounds (5.5 months old). I do not see her fitting into the carrier now. 

When I read the reviews on Amazon, some people complained they thought the sizing was way off for their dog (the carrier was much too small for the  dog weight claimed by Sherpa.)

Maybe others' experience will differ.

[charlotte bednarsh]

Thanks so much Nancy.  I am concerned the Sherpa medium will be too small;  I'm scheduled to get the puppy in early November (the dogs were bred two weeks ago, so keeping my fingers crossed); in any event, the puppy will be a large standard doodle, so it could be 13 lbs or so, and I don't think the Sherpa medium will do.   I know the large will be better, so I'm hoping the airline will approve the larger carrier.  I probably will be flying American, so I'm hoping they have the information as to whether they will approve the large carrier (its a soft carrier so it can be compressed).

[Nancy & Echo]

I think that's a very valid concern.  From what I could read, the carrier has to be big enough for the dog to turn around in the carrier.  At her present weight (11 pounds), only her body (less head and tail) would fit in.

When an acquaintance flew from NYC to CA, she declared her medium ALD was a therapy dog.  Please don't take this as advice that you should lie.

Some breeders let you have a 'nanny' that will fly in the airplane for you, but I don't know what they do about the size problem.