Question about bringing dogs

[crystal1111]

Ok so here's another question to add to my 20 questions. Do any of you have dogs? We have a golden retriver and im worried how she is going to do in the cold. We are leaving her with my sister until December then were going to fly her up once I feel out the weather Any advice on that?

[Timon6903]

Dogs are usually fine... You just don't leave them outside at -40 for longer than it takes to go to the bathroom. I have a schnauzer /terrier mix and she if fine through the winter. I have also seen people still going to the dog park at -30!! I have little booties for my dogs paws so she doesn't get frostbite and so the snow doesnt stick to her paw (they are really furry), if you feel your pet will be cold it is just a matter of finding a pet jacket which is easy here. As far as exercise that will kind of depend on you... As in will you suit up your dog and yourself and play outside during the winter or go to the dog park. There are tons of dogs in Fairbanks so I really wouldn't worry about it as long as you can help keep them active so they won't wreck your house.

[crystal1111]

Great thanks for the info!!

Quoting Timon6903:

Dogs are usually fine... You just don't leave them outside at -40 for longer than it takes to go to the bathroom. I have a schnauzer /terrier mix and she if fine through the winter. I have also seen people still going to the dog park at -30!! I have little booties for my dogs paws so she doesn't get frostbite and so the snow doesnt stick to her paw (they are really furry), if you feel your pet will be cold it is just a matter of finding a pet jacket which is easy here. As far as exercise that will kind of depend on you... As in will you suit up your dog and yourself and play outside during the winter or go to the dog park. There are tons of dogs in Fairbanks so I really wouldn't worry about it as long as you can help keep them active so they won't wreck your house.

[nookmom]

We moved here in January and we have a boston terrior.  It was hell bringing her hear even though we had it all set with the airlines.  My husband went to the airport the day before to make sure we had everything in order for the dog and they said everything was fine.  hen when we showed up the problems began.  Suddenly they did not want to allow the dog because of the cold and they did not want to be responsible if something happened to it.  It took 2 hours, my kids crying, a manager and me calling my mom asking if she could drive 2 hours to Charleston to get the dog before they finally agreed to allow him to fly.  Once we got into Alaska I could not figure out what the big deal was.  They claimed the dog would not be kept in a warm area, but when we landed in Fairbanks, the dog crate is in the very warm bagage area, where you claim oversized items.  There was no problem at all and it made me hate Delta even more.

Our dog doesn't handle the cold well, but that is because of his breed, they can not handle temperature change.  We take him out just long enough to potty then it is right back inside.  It is a dry cold and the snow is not wet and slushy, so it it not too bad for the dogs. 

[Timon6903]

Ugh I have a problem with Delta everytime I fly with them... However all the airlines do have a policy about not letting pets fly when it will be below a certain temperature either from where you depart or arrive. They say the cargo area isn't heated to a certain temp

Quoting nookmom:

We moved here in January and we have a boston terrior.  It was hell bringing her hear even though we had it all set with the airlines.  My husband went to the airport the day before to make sure we had everything in order for the dog and they said everything was fine.  hen when we showed up the problems began.  Suddenly they did not want to allow the dog because of the cold and they did not want to be responsible if something happened to it.  It took 2 hours, my kids crying, a manager and me calling my mom asking if she could drive 2 hours to Charleston to get the dog before they finally agreed to allow him to fly.  Once we got into Alaska I could not figure out what the big deal was.  They claimed the dog would not be kept in a warm area, but when we landed in Fairbanks, the dog crate is in the very warm bagage area, where you claim oversized items.  There was no problem at all and it made me hate Delta even more.

Our dog doesn't handle the cold well, but that is because of his breed, they can not handle temperature change.  We take him out just long enough to potty then it is right back inside.  It is a dry cold and the snow is not wet and slushy, so it it not too bad for the dogs. 

[Lola6]

I agree, I would not wait until Decemeber to fly your dog out.  The cargo hold just can't stay warm enough (whether they say it's heated for the animals or not, it's not worth the risk, IMO). 

[mambahowell]

Everyone up here has dogs! I know a couple different families who have golden retrievers and they have done fine with the weather, as far as I know. Now if you had a tiny chihuahua with no body fat, that might be a different story....

[northernexposed]

 I flew frontier airlines from MI to AK in June, could not have gone better! I have a french bulldog, he's small so I was able to get a small enough carrier for him to ride in the cabin with me, he cried on the first part of the flight so I actually held him on my lap! Staff never said a word. For the second part I just kept my foot in his carrier with him, unfortunatly we had 2 big dogs too that we ended up finding new homes for in MI :( But  as we're finding out dogs, big dogs are necessary to living up here in some areas because of the wild life. A week after we got here I picked out a house on Haystack Mountain, the next day we got another dog, who will be big enough to help protect us. While waiting to close on our house we are living with my husbands cousin, she has 5 dogs! In this house for the last 6 weeks we have had 4 adults, 4 kids, and 7 dogs, 4 are huge and 3 are puppies! yes life is a little insane, and a little bit loud!