27 SepFlying with your dog? Here are some quick tips!

We may be in the middle of a pandemic, but people still have to fly, and many need to take their four-legged friends with them. If you are prepared and your dog is comfortable, flying can actually be, well, almost like a walk in the park!

Of course, not every airline will allow you to take your dog in the cabin of the plane – and this is even more restricted than usual due to COVID-19 – so you’ll need to do your research well in advance of your vacation date. Here is a short guide to flying with a dog.

Buying your dog a plane ticket

United Airlines is one of the only American airlines that usually allows pet parents to buy their dogs seats on planes. However, with fewer people traveling due to the pandemic, the airline recently announced changes which include a “relaxed seating policy, reduced food and beverage service and suspension of checked pets.”

It is best to ring up an airline with available flights and speak to them directly about bringing your pet with you.

Your pet may need to go in the cargo hold which can be a stressful experience. To maximize their comfort, try to keep your pet as cool as possible by flying early morning or late evening. Be sure to choose an airline approved pet carrier  and fill it with a comfy bed or blanket to minimize vibrations. Make sure to acclimate your dog to the carrier prior to the trip. 

If you are permitted to take your pet into the passenger section of the plane, make sure his or her crate or carrier can fit under the seat. You can usually find size requirements near the check-in counter or on  the airline’s website in the pet policies section.

Is your dog an emotional support animal (ESA)?

Earlier this year, the U.S. The Department of Transportation proposed changes regarding emotional support animals flying with their owners on passenger planes. If the new rules get approved, only service animals will be allowed to fly with their owners on the plane. Other emotional support animals, whether dog, cat, pig or hamster, would be banned from the main cabin and would need to fly in the cargo hold. Of course, you’ll need to ensure your animal is fit and healthy and allowed to travel, which we’ll go into next.

This is not official yet so if you have an emotional support animal, be sure to call up the airline in advance and find out your options. You will need a letter from a doctor or psychotherapist stating that your dog is in an emotional support animal. There’s a good resource on airline policies regarding traveling with emotional support animals here.

Check the fine print – not all dog breeds can travel, unfortunately 

If you plan to travel internationally, there will likely be paperwork that needs to be filed. Check with the airline and the country’s travel board to find out the requirements well ahead of time. This is a good time to double-check your pooch isn’t an unfortunate ‘banned breed’ who isn’t allowed to travel at all by plane or isn’t allowed into certain countries. 

If your dog is one of the following breeds, make sure to do your research as they may not be allowed to fly as easily as other breeds:

• Affenpinscher
• American Staffordshire Terrier
• Boston Terrier
• Boxer (all breeds)
• Brussels Griffon
• Bulldog (all breeds)
• Cane Corso
• Chow Chow
• Dogue De Bordeaux
• English Toy Spaniel
• Japanese Chin
• Lhasa Apso
• Mastiff (all breeds)
• Pekingese
• Pit Bull
• Presa Canario
• Pug (all breeds)
• Shar Pei
• Shih Tzu
• Staffordshire Bull Terrier
• Tibetan Spaniel

Give your dog a test trip

Your dog may not like to travel, so it’s worth getting him acclimated to the idea by taking him on a short road trip or putting him in a dog carrier for a few hours at a time. This will help get him used to the notion and make him feel safer and more comfortable when the time has come for you two to head off on your adventure. 

The more prepped your pooch is, the less likely you are to have to deal with an antsy, miserable or anxious dog. The Merck Veterinary Manual states that diphenhydramine may relieve symptoms of mild-to-moderate anxiety in pets associated with travel, but you must chat to your vet before giving your dog benadryl or any other medication to calm his anxiety. 

It’s also advised to do at least one, preferably two or three ‘test trips’ pre-trip. A bus trip or a train trip can be good ways to practice for flying.

Make the carrier or dog crate seem like home

How do you get your dog to like being in a cramped, tight carrier or dog crate? Start by feeding your dog in the carrier when you're somewhere comfortable, like at home. Put treats in the carrier when your dog isn't looking, so he or she can discover them in the carrier. The idea is to help your dog have good associations with being in the carrier. 

Have your dog checked, vaccinated and microchipped by a vet pre-travel

Before you take a flight with your canine friend, you should go take him to the vet and tell your vet where you will be bringing your dog. That way, you can make sure he is up to date on his shots so he is less likely to catch something while traveling. Make sure he is vaccinated and microchipped. Although every country has different rules, the majority require your pooch to be implanted with a 15 digit microchip.

Some countries require more vaccinations than just rabies. The Italy, The UK, France, Spain, and Germany require pets to be vaccinated for distemper. Some countries also require your dog be microchipped. 

You should also ask your vet for a veterinary health certificate and pet passport, and talk to them about any possible health concerns of your dog so that these can be addressed before you travel. 

Train your dog to use a weewee pad

Whether your dog has been in the cabin with you or in the hold, there is a good chance he or she will need to go immediately once you land. If you cannot carry your dog to an appropriate spot as soon as you're on the ground, then put down a weewee pad and let your dog go there. Practicing having your dog go on cue, and/or on a weewee pad in advance, can help make this easier for your dog. You can also use a weewee pad in the bathroom of the cabin if you need to give your dog a potty break midflight.

Featured image: Can Do Canines (CC By 2.0)