To continue with our series on traveling with pets, in this article we will discuss plane travel with dogs. We will us discuss the circumstances someone may travel by plane with their dog, the risks that are involved, the restrictions that exist, and of course some tips for travel.
There are many reasons you may need to travel by air with your pet. It may be because someone is moving, and it is the most effective way to move your household, pets, and family. Or perhaps you will be gone on a long-term trip and would prefer to bring your pet with you rather than board them somewhere. Maybe you have a need to have your pet with you no matter where you go, for example a service animal or an ESA. Whatever the reason it is good to know the risks involved and the restrictions that apply.
Let’s discuss some risks:
-Like humans, dogs can get airsick, or motion sick. You can talk with your vet about motion sick medicine to help with this. Also try to distinguish whether this is form anxiety or actual motion sickness.
-Anxiety can be very challenging for some dogs and their owners. Try starting with simple home help or over the counter help for your dog and see how that goes (such as pheromone sprays, calming treats, and Thundershirts). Practice with car or bus travel. If your dog is traveling by cargo, put the crate in the back of the car and make sure to travel around town in this manner with them. If the anxiety is bad, talk to your vet about medication such as Trazadone or Alprazolam to help them.
-Make sure your pet is healthy enough to travel by air. Heart health and lung health should be in good condition. Some airlines require a health certificate from your vet to travel.
-Some breeds cannot travel due to breathing issues that can be typical for them. In general, it is snub nosed type dogs. You can easily find lists online through the different airlines or just through a quick google search.
There are more restrictions when it comes to air travel with your pets than other forms of travel. Only certain pets are allowed to be in the cabin with you:
- Pets under 20lbs and small enough to fit within a crate that fits under the seat in front of you
- Service animals and psychiatric service animals
- There are only 3 airlines I am aware of that still accepts Emotional Support Animals. Some have indicated, like Southwest, they may decide to continue to accept them but only under the charges and rules of regular pets.
Here are some tips for travel when your pet fly’s with you.
Cargo
- You will need a crate that is of appropriate size for your dog. Too big and they may not feel safe, too small and they are cramped and uncomfortable. Airlines require a dog can stand up comfortably and turn all the way around with ease inside a crate.
- The crate must have newspaper or puppy pads inside to catch any accidents, and it must have all the screws, ventilation on at least three sides, and a metal door. You must also install food and water dishes for the crate. Sometimes I will sneak something like my shirt inside the crate for familiar smells.
- Properly Label the crate
- Your name, phone number, and address
- LIVE ANIMAL stickers
- When you check your animal in, ask if they can text you when your animal is loaded to cargo.
- Let the attendants know you have a pet flying in cargo. Hopefully, this lets them know there are live animals in cargo, and they will make sure to check the air pressure control and temperature for the cargo.
- While cargo is not my favorite way for a pet to travel, it is sometimes a necessary option. It can help if you have already crate trained your pet.
In Cabin, In Crate, Under Seat- 
- This is the standard way for a cabin pet to travel.
- Crate train your pet ahead of time, as they are not allowed out of the crate during the flight.
- Bring snacks and water for your pet. There are some really great tools out there to store and give water to your pet while traveling.
- If your pet has anxiety, ask your vet to recommend some options, or to prescribe an anxiety medication for them: trazadone, or alprazolam.
- Consider calming treats for your pet, or pheromone sprays.
- Thunder shirts are also great.
- In Cabin Loose
- The only animals allowed to travel this way are service animals.
- Legitimate service animals have specific tasks they perform for their owners to fill a need.
- The ADA will have a list of needs they recognize to protect service dogs and handlers.
*Lying about a service dog is a serious crime and punishable by law.
- ESA’s (emotional support animals) are allowed by some airlines, but it is limited, and they are not required to accommodate them. ESA’s should follow same behavioral training as a service animal.
- Loose pets should be very well trained on impulse control, ignoring other pets, ignoring other humans, and staying calm in stressful situations. They will not pee unless told it is ok to now do so, and will ignore carts, luggage and anything else inside of an airport. Their sole attention is for their owner and the task for which they are working.
General Airport tips
- Do some impulse control training for your dog.
- Barking
- Marking
- Sniffing and eating things from the floor.
- Growling or lunging
- Train with exposure to uncomfortable situations
- Take them to dog parks and keep them on a leash.
- Take them to pet store and hardware stores where they allow dogs and keep them calm as they walk among all the people. Do not allow them to sniff and/or mark.
- Teach your dog to lay at your feet for a few hours at a time.
- Don’t feed your animal right before getting on a plane.
- Feed them early enough for them to have a bowel movement before check in time.
- Lower the amount of water while traveling (although make sure they get some). I tend to give them water in small doses and allow more free drink right before we are going to land (if in cabin), then we go to the bathroom with a potty pad, or to the pet relief area of the airport.
- Get a long walk in before heading to the airport. If there is a layover and you have a cabin pet, take a moment to –
- Walk them if they are allowed outside of their crate. Lots of walking in between flights.
- Go to the pet area and let them walk and play if you can. Find a secluded area and keep them on their leash while you play tug of war or practice fun active tricks like- Stand, Dance, Roll Over, Sit Pretty, Circle, and more…
- Bring a smart dog toy and let them play trying to find the treats.
- In flight having something on hand like a frozen peanut butter Kong will help keep them busy while flying.
- Most of the time, a dog in flight just sleeps!
Thanks for reading. Happy tails and Safe travels everyone!
