Air Travel With Your Dogs in Transport Dog Crates

Traveling by air with your dog can be tricky. The first essential piece of equipment you’ll need is a suitable dog crate, but before you look at transport dog crates, you should make sure there are no alternatives to transporting your dog by air. Sometimes it is the only option, and if that is your situation, you should try to make the trip as worry free for your dog as possible.

An alarming number of dogs and other pets become injured, lost, or even die on board an airplane when traveling. Compared to the number of successful animals transported from one location to another via the airlines, this number is low, however, it only takes one incident to change your life forever when your dog becomes seriously injured or dies because of a lack of preparation on your part.

Before buying your airline tickets or selecting your transport dog crate, you should call the airline and find out their current rules and regulations in relation to pet travel. The general rules relating to pet travel, governed by federal regulations, state that your dog should be no less than 8 weeks old and have been weaned for no less than 5 days before the date of travel.

Small dogs (under 15 pounds) may be able to fit inside small transport dog crates or small pet carriers that will fit under your seat, if you are travelling with your dog. But large dogs must travel in the cargo section of the plane, which has no heat and no air-conditioning. This can be very uncomfortable and scary for your dog.

Following are some further precautions to be taken when traveling by air with your dog:

- book a direct, non-stop flight wherever possible. Avoid plane transfers and stop-overs.

- find out about any delays in your flight schedule before you leave for the airport. You can confirm your flight the day before but it’s also a good idea to call the airport just before you are due to leave as well, to double check whether the flight is scheduled to take off on time.

- walk your dog before you leave for the airport. If you have an active dog, take him for a run and play in the park before you go.

- will your dog need food during the flight? Ask your vet well in advance. Generally pet owners are advised to ensure that their dog starts the flight with an empty stomach, but with long flights food may be required, and it will vary depending upon your dog’s usual feeding schedule, your dog’s usual food, and your dog’s size and age.

- make sure your dog will have a good supply of water during the flight in order to keep him properly hydrated.

- arrive early for your flight, so you’re not stressing out which in turn will stress your dog. It also gives you time to deal with any unexpected hiccup in the checkin process.

- if you are leaving from a destination that’s close to the airport, make sure your dog is given an opportunity to toilet just before you leave. If you are a distance from the airport, wait until you arrive at the airport before toileting your dog. Either way, it’s important that your dog has a toilet opportunity to avoid accidents in the transport dog crate during the trip.

- before boarding your dog, stay with him for as long as the airport staff will allow you to. And ask whether it is possible for you to personally deliver your dog to the gate.

- notify the flight staff once you board the plane that your dog is flying with you and that he is traveling in the cargo compartment (unless he’s with you in the passenger compartment, that is).

- when you land, disembark from the plane as promptly as you can, and go directly to the baggage claim area to claim your dog as soon as he is taken off the plane.