I once took a flight from New York to San Francisco and sat next to a woman who'd brought a Yorkshire terrier on board with her. The dog had impeccable manners. Not a whimper, not a sigh for the entire flight. It slept most of the way, snug in a Sherpa pet carrier that fit easily under the seat in front of its owner.

It was a far cry from the cruel dog transport I remember when we moved from New York to San Jose, Calif. The vet drugged our spaniel so he could tolerate the long flight, stuck in a cage in the cargo hold. The poor dog was dehydrated for days--thirsty enough to lick his water bowl after he'd emptied it.

The Yorkie's owner, to my surprise, was bringing her dog along on a business trip. She could have gotten a neighbor to dog sit, she told me, but the dog seemed distraught when she was gone for longer than a day, and she found she didn't dread long business trips when she had her pet with her. The hardest part, the woman said, was finding a hotel that allowed dogs; second hardest was working out her schedule so she could come back to her hotel midday to walk and play with the dog.

Pampered pooches
Finding a pet-friendly hotel is much easier now, 10-plus years after that encounter, even though other aspects of dog-toting have gotten harder. Today there are strict rules about the size and shape of carriers and kennels. Fees are usually about $100 each way for dogs, even if they are stowed at your feet, and you have to take your pet out of its carrier at the security checkpoint to go through the metal detector.

Despite the cost and multiple annoyances, nearly 20 percent of dog owners traveling for more than two consecutive days take their canines with them on airline trips, according to the 2007/2008 APPMA National Pet Owners Survey, released by the American Pet Product Manufacturers Association.

How dog-friendly are these pet-friendly hotels? Very. Upscale brands offer dog sitters and dog walkers, and doggie meals you order from room service. Some individual properties, such as the Hotel Indigo in Atlanta, offer a canine happy hour; the dogs get free biscuits and water, and their owners get to sip cocktails on a gorgeous patio. Several chains offer cushy dog beds, doggie robes and check-in gift packages with toys and bones. All Loews Hotels give pet guests an ID tag, bowl and treat at check-in, and their owners get a brochure with information on nearby dog-walking routes, area pet services (vets, pet shops, groomers), and--for the ultimate in thoughtfulness--a pooper scooper. The fee for this largesse is just $25 per stay.

Individual Loews hotels have their own fun-loving dog programs as well. At the Loews Vanderbilt in Nashville, Tenn., the Hound of Music package includes a limo ride to a recording studio for a class with--I kid you not--a voice coach before the recording engineer saves Fido's howls and barks on a CD (You can opt for a professional musician or a karaoke machine to provide the background). After the performance, the pooches are treated to a grooming session and doggie massage back at the hotel.

In San Diego at the Loews Coronado, you can give your dog surfing lessons; the package includes board shorts (for smaller dogs) or a surfer bandana (for larger dogs), plus lessons at the Coronado Surfing Academy at Coronado's Dog Beach. After that comes a surf 'n' turf doggie supper (beef tenderloin and salmon).

The Outward Hound package at the Loews Denver Hotel features a two-hour on-and-off leash guided hike with a personal trainer, freshly baked healthy dog treats, limo pickup and drop-off, and a personalized web photo gallery documenting the dog's adventure. The package also includes luxury accommodations, your choice of collapsible pet travel dishes, an H20 Frisbee or a travel food bag and water carrier, a map of pet-friendly destinations, continental breakfast for two, valet parking and complimentary transportation within a six-mile radius. The hotel also offers Doggie Day Care, group playtimes, supervised swim time and Reiki sessions for your pet.

Some airlines, too, are making it easy for road warriors who bring their dogs with them. If you're flying on jetBlue, you'll earn two TrueBlue points each way for traveling with your pet.