Dog Training Nation

In Dogs We Trust

You are here: Home / Archives for how to take a dog on a plane

What You’ll Need To Fly With A Small Dog In-Cabin

by

Flying With a Small Dog In-Cabin

Flying With a Small Dog In-Cabin
esben468635/Adobe Stock

When traveling, it’s nice to bring your small dog along for the adventure. But before flying with a small dog in-cabin, there’s a bit of planning that should be done at least two months prior to your flight. If you plan to fly with a small dog, such as a puppy, follow these tips before boarding the plane.

Airline-Approved Pet Carrier

Two to three months before purchasing flight tickets, you should check each airline’s pet policies. Ensure your dog meets size and weight restrictions to fly, then purchase an airline-approved small dog carrier that you can bring with you on the plane.

A dog should be able to lie down, stand up and rest comfortably inside a small dog carrier. If the pet carrier is too small, you will be turned away during check-in, so double-check beforehand.

In the past, I’ve had excellent results with Sherpa and SleepyPod pet carriers, and both are airline-approved. Just to be safe, contact the airline directly and ask if these brands or the carrier brand of your choice meets the airline’s pet carrier restrictions.

Dog Training Skills

For a safe and stress-free flight, it’s important to teach your dog a few valuable skills. Even small dogs flying inside the cabin should learn a few dog training skills before a flight. It’s not very pleasant traveling with a barking dog on a plane filled with strangers. Check out these tips on teaching a dog to enjoy flying.

Health Certificate

Depending on where you’re traveling, your dog may need a health certificate from a veterinarian. You should get your dog’s health certificate either 30 days or 5 days before a flight, depending on an individual airline’s restrictions. A health certificate verifies your dog is in good health and is up-to-date on vaccinations before traveling. Bring the original health certificate that is signed by your veterinarian to the airport.

Items to Bring

You should always have the following on hand and in easy access when traveling with your dog, especially inside the cabin:

Your dog should wear a collar with up-to-date ID tags, and have an updated microchip. Several canine pheromone brands sell pheromone-scented towelettes, which are lightweight and super easy to transport. Grab a few and tuck into your purse or bag. Pheromones will keep your dog calm during a bumpy flight, so lightly wipe inside your dog’s carrier.

What You Should Not Do

Flying with a small dogs in-cabin is becoming increasingly popular. So much so airlines are complaining about inappropriate pet owner and dog behavior. Here are a few reminders, so please plan ahead.

No Fake Service Dogs: Please don’t register your dog as a service dog unless he or she has been specifically trained. Airplanes are packed with fake service dogs lately, and it’s causing quite a commotion due to passenger complaints. If you fly with your dog (non-service dog), follow polices and procedures for all pets and not service dogs.

Never Walk Your Dog Through the Airport: Keep your dog inside his or her carrier. Walking your leashed dog through an airport is asking for trouble. Airports are packed with people moving really fast, and small dogs can easily become injured by suitcase wheels and shoes. I recently witnessed a small dog bite a child while walking past her in a super busy airport.

Keep Your Dog Inside the Carrier During the Flight: Per airline restrictions require dogs to be inside their carriers at all times. If your dog becomes sick, pick up the pet carrier and bring it inside the bathroom. From there, you can remove your dog to clean up any mess.

Plan ahead, teach your dog valuable skills and safe travels!

Flying With A Large Dog? We’ll Help You Prepare

by

Tips for Flying With a Large Dog

Flying With A Large Dog
chalabala/Adobe Stock

Many decades ago, we were living in a foreign country for several years. When it came time to move back to the U.S., we knew we wanted to bring our dogs back with us. One was a Rottweiler and the other was a German Shepherd Dog.

While it was challenging importing dogs into the U.S., knowing my dogs were traveling as checked baggage freaked me out even more. For the most part, airline travel is safe for dogs, but there are a few precautions every pet owner should follow before flying with a large dog.

Consider the Weather

Airlines have strict pet restrictions now due to previous accidents or deaths from traveling pets, unfortunately. One such restriction is weather. Many airlines won’t fly dogs over or under certain temperatures since they will be kept in the storage area of the plane.

While a plane’s storage area is pressurized, tarmacs are extremely hot during the summer and frigid during the winter. Depending on your destination and current location, choose a cooler time to fly with a large dog. As an example, fly to the southern states during winter and northern states during early spring or fall. Before scheduling a flight with your dog, check for pet weather restrictions by contacting the airline directly.

Wait, Your Dog’s Nose!

Many airlines won’t transport brachycephalic dogs because they react to extreme temperatures and pressure changes very quickly. Dogs with short muzzles and pushed-in noses have narrower nostrils and very large plates, which makes breathing during hot or cold temperatures more difficult.

Pugs, Boxers, Shih Tzus, Bulldogs, Pekingese, Boston Terriers and French Bulldogs are a few brachycephalic dog breeds. Before scheduling a flight, make sure your chosen airline will transport your dog as checked baggage. Be honest about your dog’s breed and anatomy because you and your brachycephalic dog will be turned away during check-in.

Purchase an Airline-Approved Pet Carrier

Make sure you have an airline-approved pet carrier for your dog. Because your large dog is flying as checked baggage, you’ll need a sturdy, plastic carrier with bolted sides.

For the most part, Petmate Vari-Kennels are approved by most major airlines. These dog carriers contain the necessary food and water dishes, and has “live animal” stickers for the sides and top of your dog’s crate.

The dog carrier you choose should be spacious enough for your dog to stand up and lie down comfortably. Check out this article on choosing a crate for your dog, but always verify airline regulations first. Of course, you can add bedding inside the carrier too to make it a little more comfortable for your dog.

Teach Your Dog A Few Skills

Remember the first time you flew on a plane? It was stressful, right? It will be for your dog as well. About two months before your flight, teach your dog to love his crate and how to load up inside his crate quickly. For more skills, check out these dog training tips.

Bring Your Dog’s Health Certificate

Before a dog can board a plane, he must have a health certificate from a veterinarian. Depending on your chosen airline’s requirements, most health certificates must be completed 30 days to 5 days before a dog’s flight.

Health certificates verify a dog is in good health and is up-to-date on vaccinations during his examination. You’ll need the original copy during check-in and you’ll most likely need to tape it to the top of your dog’s carrier, depending on the airline.

Items You’ll Need

It’s important to bring:

  • Six-foot nylon leash (no retractable leashes)
  • Ziplock bag of dog food
  • Bottle of water
  • Duct tape
  • Health certificate
  • Poop bags

Attach a flat buckle collar with ID tags to your dog, but remember to remove them once he’s securely crated in his carrier. Ensure your dog is microchipped too.

Place “live animal” and arrow stickers on your dog’s carrier as instructed. Then, spray a calming pheromone on your dog’s bedding and provide a few toys from home. This will help keep your dog calm.

It’s best not to sedate your dog before a flight, as many dogs have had horrible reactions. Training your dog to love his crate and taking extra steps and precautions will ensure he has an uneventful flight.

Finally, when you arrive on the plane, ask a flight attendant to verify your dog has been boarded.

Sit back and relax. Safe travels to you both!

Before Flying With A Dog, Teach These Skills

by

Dog Training Tips for Flying With a Dog

Flying With A Dog
Sergey Lavrentev/Adobe Stock

For a safe and stress-free flight with your dog, it’s important to teach your dog a few valuable skills before boarding an airplane. All dogs should know these behaviors before taking off in a jet plane regardless if they’re riding in the cabin or as checked baggage (in belly of the plane).

As a reminder, resist purchasing fake service dog certificates and vests. These “special” permits are not fooling anyone. Plus, airlines are cracking down on fake services dogs, so follow pet airline travel restrictions and teach your dog to enjoy riding in an airplane. 🙂

Crate Training

First, teach your dog that her airline pet carrier is a wonderful place to be, so she happily walks into it on the day of your flight. You’ll also want to train your dog to comfortably rest in her carrier for an extended amount of time. Check out this article for crate training tips.

Introduce Movement

Once your dog enjoys relaxing in her crate, it’s time to introduce movement.

With your dog inside her pet carrier, take a stroll through your neighborhood and reward her for remaining quiet. Vary your walking pace too, as sometimes we’re rushed at airports. Then, slip a few yummy treats inside when she happily remains still.

If you’re traveling with larger dogs, place your large dog’s crate inside your car. Now, load your dog into his crate, close the door and toss a few treats inside. Drive around your neighborhood, on the highway and around curving roads. Start slowly, then add additional distance, so your dog gets used to movement in his crate.

RELATED: The Risks With Having a Dog Door

Simulate Airplane Sounds

As if being in an airport isn’t stressful enough, it’s very loud and the sound of jet engines is absolutely ear-piercing. All of this could be very distracting to your dog, so it’s recommended to positively introduce your dog to these weird sounds weeks before a flight.

For small dogs, bring your dog into your laundry room when clothes are drying. While inside the laundry room, play a few games of “touch.” (Of course, your dog should know how to play “touch” prior to this exercise.) Once she’s comfortable with the dryer noise, place her inside her pet carrier in the laundry room. Continue to practice for a few days.

Finally, set your dryer on low without any clothes inside and place your dog inside her carrier on top of the dryer. The bouncing and noise of a running dryer will feel like a plane ride. Reward generously throughout the entire process.

For large dogs, you can simulate the flying experience using this method too, but you might have a little trouble getting your dog into her carrier on top of the dryer. 🙂

Friendly Behavior

The last tip before flying with a dog is to teach your dog to be friendly. This means your dog isn’t barking at people, walks politely on leash, and can be easily picked up and carried.

Security areas are packed with noise and people. If you have a small dog, you’ll be walking through scanners together. Many bystanders might ask to pet your dog, so it’s vital your dog responds appropriately.

While large dogs don’t walk through main security gates, they will walk into the check-in area of an airport. This place is buzzing with people, rolling suitcases and, at times, hot tempers. From there, your dog will get inside her crate and be wheeled off by an airline employee. You’ll want to ensure your large dog is friendly at all times.

Safe Travels!

Dog Training Nation is a dog training blog for pet owners and dog lovers. We cover a range of topics from puppy socialization tips to dog aggression to dog health. It is our hope you share our content to make the world a better place for dogs.

Dog Training Nation

Quick Links

Dog Training
Dog Behavior
Dog Training Videos
Become a Dog Trainer
About
Contact Us