A large number of dogs fly every year. If they could talk; a majority of them would beg their owners never to force them to rehash the experience.
Whether on a business trip or vacation, most dog owners never leave without their pet. Albeit costly, taking your dog on a plane is an experience that is worthwhile.
Unless your dog is so small that is can be tucked and crated under your seat, where you have much more control, he or she will fly in the cargo hold.
This is a traumatic experience for some dogs. Some get stressed to the extent that they don't survive it. Others have such a negative affiliation, and in many cases, this causes severe behavioral issues, if not just abandonment issues.
Airline Booking
Book Your Flight Tickets During Daytime
Cargo holds are not warmed or cooled while the plane is on the ground. To avoid heat exhaustion or hypothermia; during summer try to fly at in the morning, or at night.
Keep in mind, most thunderstorms happen at noon hereby causes a delay for a few hours. During winter, try to book your flight amid daylight hours.
Take a Non-Stop Flight
When possible, book a direct flight. In an attempt to make connecting flights can cause dogs misplacement, or put on the wrong plane, or left sitting in the baggage area.
Arrive Early
Ensure that you get to the airport early, yet not very early that your dog may get stressed. Carriers only allow up to 2 hours before the flight. Self-service check-in is not allowed, so you'll need to check-in your dog at the counter.
Inform the Flight Crew
The pilots are generally educated if there is an animal in the cargo hold. Notwithstanding, they have lots to think of.
Request that a flight attendant remind the pilot to monitor the air pressure guages and temperature for the cargo hold.
Airport Departure
Arrive at the airport with time to save. Your dog does not have to sense further stress than they are already experiencing.
Airport Destination
Get your dog before you get your baggage. Inquire as to whether there is an assigned zone where they are allowed to relieve themselves. Give your dog a little drink because they are beyond doubt dehydrated.
Try not to let them overdo it though, remember their stomach is empty. Give them a unique treatment. They are hungry, and they earned it! The relief and security your dog will detect simply seeing you, will help them from feeling left out.
Final Destination
Try not to check-in at your hotel when you reach your destination; rather, take your dog for a long walk first. Your dog will be more comfortable when he can observe his environment and understands that similar principles apply to the new place as well.
This will likewise keep things in check and when you arrive at your hotel, your dog will feel comfortable. Recall that, they need to repeat this unpleasant experience on the return trip home.
IATA Regulations
The regulations regarding pet travel can fluctuate from airline to airline so it is best that you make inquiries or make your research beforehand. Here are some regulations that are worth noting:
- Just a single pet is allowed per traveler.
- Traveling pets should be no less than eight weeks old and they should be completely weaned before they are allowed for air travel.
- Dog owners will have to show a health certificate of their dog that dates within 10 days before the flight. So bear in mind to check with your veterinarian before traveling at all.
- A maximum of 2 pets per cabin are permitted on every individual flight, so it is best to make your request early.
- Make sure that the crate that you will use for your dog would fit under the seats that are designated in front you. Also, ensure that the base surface of the crate is waterproof.
- Some airlines in the United States may require documentation proof that your dog is comfortable with cold atmospheres during colder seasons.
- Some airlines have specific standards with regards to dog breeds that are short-nosed. A good case would be pugs, so it is best that you include these to your request.
- With regards to your dog's travel case, ensure that it is wide enough so that your dog is empowered to turn around and relax.
- These travel crates must be made of plastic and endorsed by APHIS or IATA. There are a few brands of travel crate that meets the general standards of most airlines so you might need to inquire about on that.
- Drinking and feeding bowls must be available inside the travel crate and must be refillable outside of the crate with ease.
Airline Approved Crates
Ordinarily, airlines approved dog crates are made with heavy plastics.
These crates must have sufficient ventilation, and they should have the capacity to securely lock. They must also have enough space for food and water provision. Airline approved dog crates can easily be found at so many online retailers, at sensible costs.
Most airlines won't allow your dog to travel in their cargo holds during summer. This is due to the fact that temperatures can reach a hazardous level, and the airlines would prefer not to risk any damage coming to your dog. Remember this before you make arrangements to buy a dog crate to enable your dog to go on a plane.
The Petmate Brand
One noteworthy organization whose inventory is almost endorsed for airline flights and, that is obviously Petmate. The Petmate brands for the better part, are prepared to go.
Obviously, that does not help your decision procedure as Petmate offers a large number of dog that can be chosen from those approved by the airline. The most popular of these, however, is that of the traditional ones. These are similar ones that are also specifically used by different airline organizations for transporting animals.
Lamentably for most individual, these traditional crates while long-lasting and durable, admirably they do not have that uniqueness among them.
Therefore despite everything you have a large number of choices from which you can look over. For instance, you have the Petmate Vari Kennel which is colorful and stylish.
These are finished with a black door and a black colored carrying handle, however, whatever is left of it is made out of a high commercial polyethylene plastic copolymer which is non-permeable so it will be easy to clean off and won't attract odors.
Actually, the entire Petmate Sky Kennel series is made out of only designer airline endorsed dog crates. There are so many great sizes and color choices in this series that you get the opportunity to choose from.
The most important thing, however, is that regardless of which model you pick, you have the "Live Animal" and the water bowl on the crate.
Picking the Right Dog Crate Size
Moreover, you need to ensure that the kennel is really the right size for your dog.
In order to decide the actual size for your dog, the time has come to take out the tape measurer. Your start point should be from the top of your dog's shoulder to the ground. Add four inches to this measurement (height) and, that will be the height needed in your crate.
Next measurement will be from the same point on the shoulders to your dog's rear paws and by and by you will need to add around four inches to this estimation for the length of the crate.
Lastly for the width, measure from shoulder to shoulder. As a matter of fact, the width is not almost as imperative as the length and height of the kennel.
Preparation Before Flight
Recommendations to prepare your dog for their flight are:
Acclimate Your Dog to Their Crate
If your dog isn't crate trained, make sure you purchase a crate in order to allow them to get familiar with it.
This should be done several weeks before the trip. Put small treats and toys inside, allow them to sleep in it and feed them in it.
They should relate the crate with good things. Make sure the door to the crate is open.
Motion
The moment your dog is comfortable with being in the crate, make sure you close the crate door while they are in it. If the crate is small, lift it up with the dog inside and move it around.
If it is too big to lift, slide it around gently. Reassure your dog that all is well. Repeat this often! This will diminish part of the stress of what they will experience at the airport.
You can also take your dogs for rides in the car while they are crated. Begin with short car rides then increase gradually th time frame.
Noise
Try to make a tape of severe weather and airplane engine sounds. This is important so as to make your dog partially adapt to some unfamiliar noises.
Start playing them slowly and softly, as your dog adjusts, increase the volume until your dog no longer focuses on it.
Airplane and airport noises can be extremely disturning and deafening to many dogs.
Sedation
If you observe that your dog is so scared of noise or suffer from motion illness, speak to your veterinarian about a sedative.
All that is required is to take the edge off not to knock them out completely. A motion sickness medication is enough to solve both problems for some dogs.
Identification
Now is the time to microchip your dog if you have not done so yet. Also make sure you have updated ID tags on your dog, with phone numbers and emergency contact address (with address and phone number of your destination not excluded).
Put a similar data in a non-detachable, waterproof form on their crate. Keep in mind to evacuate the vacation location on your return trip home. Your phone number and address is just what you need.
Immunization
Be certain your dog is updated on all their required immunizations. Convey those papers with you in your hand luggage. Thusly you will have their health certificate in case the airline requires it.
Leash
Put your dog's leash in your hand luggage. Should there be a cause for delay or your dog escapes from the crate, you will be happy you have it handy.
Withhold Food & Water
Food ought to be withheld for 6 hours preceding your flight. Water ought to be withheld for 2 hours.
Ensure the empty water bottle is attached to the crate, should there be any delay. If your dog needs to be hydrated, you may need to inform the airline staff.
Nature's Call
Before crating your dog, give them more time to relieve him or her self. Try not to rush them!
When you arrive at your final destination, you may find your dog soiled in the crate, be sensitive to what they have recently experienced. Consider how frequently you utilized a restroom amid this flight.
Distractions
Place some of your dog's favorite toys and blanket in the crate. Placing an item of yours (such as a T-shirt) could give your dog a sense of security needed. Your scent on your t-shirt will do the trick.
Conclusion
If possible make arrangements for dogs to remain home. Traveling on a plane is an unpleasant event for a dog.
Either board them in a legitimate boarding facility, where they can make new friends (some even have pet-cams where you can watch on a PC, what your dog is doing throughout the day). Or rather, find a reliable pet sitter.
Your dog will be delighted in his or her own home during your trip schedule and you will have the additional advantage of having somebody watch your home for you.
