BY ANNE GEGGIS
Gannett News Service

The conception of Taz, a prize and pricey silky terrier, began with a prelude few human romances can outdo.

His Shelburne, Vt., mom., Natalie, was on her way to Washington, D.C., to be bred with another prize silky terrier when the airline accidentally sent her to the wrong airport - National (now Reagan), instead of Dulles. To make amends, the airline summoned a limousine to ferry the canine to meet her love match.

''They took her to the house, right to the door,'' laughs LeeAnn Podruch of Shelburne, owner of Natalie and Taz. ''We got two puppies out of the whole thing.''

Tips on traveling with your pets • Prepare the animal for its confinement. The critter should be put in the crate two weeks before the trip. Experts say animals' reaction to trial ''imprisonment'' might indicate whether he or she needs to be prescribed tranquilizers by a vet to ease the stress of the journey. • Feed your pet up to four hours prior to the flight, but no less than two hours. If the animal is to be fed during the trip, display feeding instructions and attach the (packaged) food to the outside of the kennel. Include two empty dishes in the kennel. • Mark the crate with strips of wide tape on the sides and top so you can watch it being loaded on to the plane from afar. Also, federal regulation requires the kennel to be marked with a label, ''Live Animal,'' at least an inch high with arrows showing which end is up. • Inform the airline 48 hours before your flight to ensure there is room for your pet. • Bring a health certificate from your veterinarian to present to the airline if required.

Since then, jet-set Taz has flown enough to have his own set of frequent- flier miles, says Podruch, a regular participant in dog shows around the nation. Last May, for example, Taz - short for Tasmanian Devil - won in his class at the national competition in New Mexico. It has made his foster mother an expert on traveling with four-legged friends.

''O'Hare (airport in Chicago) is terrible,'' she says. ''There is not a lot of grass when you have to take them to go potty.''

Nobody tracks pets on the road or in the skies, but pet travel has certainly become more visible since Buddy, President Clinton's chocolate labrador, started jet-setting around the nation. For those without the benefit of Air Force One, though, crating a beloved canine or kitty for a flight or an extended car trip can be an anxiety-producing experience.

Grace Cothalis of Fairfax, Vt., had her fingers crossed when she put Buster, her elk hound, on a plane to Arizona for a month-long sightseeing tour.

''It's a little bit scary.'' Cothalis says of putting the 60-pound apple of her eye in the cargo section of the plane. She and her husband drove to New York City last year to get a direct flight - a practice recommended by experiences pet-traveling owners.

''If I could have, I would have bought him a seat on the plane,'' she says.

Dogs are allowed on the QE2 transatlantic ship (which has its own kennel), although Amtrak only allows animals helping people with disabilities on its trains. For less glitzy transport, you can buy a car seatbelt designed for dogs. Some vacation attractions like the whale watches along the Maine coast have built facilities for four-legged travel companions.

The American Hotels and Motels Association found in its 1996 survey of 10,000 member hotels and motels that those allowing cats and dogs - and sometimes Vietnamese pot-bellied pigs - had increased by nearly 1 percent to 44.5 percent since 1994.

The lodges suggest people with pets call ahead. While the Howard Johnson's in one Vermont city allows pets, one nearby does not. The American Association of Automobiles has a directory of places that do accept pets. Dr. Steve Metz, a Shelburne veterinarian, says he thinks the number of people traveling with pets is increasing, in part because of his observation of out-of-town visitors who ''often stop in at the (pet) hospitals and ask if we can keep their pet for part of the day.''

For some pets, however, home is where the heart is.

''Dogs tend to do better in the car - they seem to enjoy having that close contact with their owners,'' says Dr. Barbara Burroughs, director of Brown Animal Hospital in Burlington, Vt. ''Cats on the other hand, tend to get really freaked out about traveling in the car.

To train a cat to become more accustomed to journeys veterinarians uniformly recommend starting a cat on the road during kittenhood.

Carl Johnson of Burlington unwittingly followed that advice by taking his 12-week-old kitten Rex for a Christmas trip to Long Valley, N.J., at the urging of his 13-year-old son.

''Jacob was afraid if he left Rex with his friend, the kitty would bond with his friend instead of him,'' Johnson says.

The cat was allowed to roam as he pleased throughout the car during the seven-hour trip. ''He did fine - except the times I'd be driving and there'd be this kitten crawling up my arm,'' he says.

''A lot of people believe firmly in putting animals in crates when they travel,'' says Metz. ''I like the company of my dog sitting there beside me in the seat. I realize this is taking a bit of a chance.''

Pet owners should fly with confidence, airline spokespeople say. Northwest Airlines has a ''Priority Pets,'' program; American Airlines has six pages of suggestions for better flying with pets.

Katherine Drewes, a spokeswoman for Delta Airlines has a typical response: ''We realize pets are not only cherished companions but also valuable. Delta has a very in-depth list of policies and procedures to best ensure that a pet arrives safely.''

Podruch says she's glad Taz can fit in a carry-on case so he's not out of sight.

''The funny part is when people give me these looks, like 'You have a dog?''' she says. ''I've said 'Yeah, for $50, he doesn't even get a drink or peanuts.''

• Travel Front Page •