Dogs are often regarded as ”a man’s best friend”. However, there is little reality to this when you either face problems flying with dogs or can’t do so altogether. Taking your family dog to your vacations or trips can make your life a lot more convenient, especially if you have a small puppy. The size of your dog matters a lot for making your trip trouble-free. However, there are many tips and tricks you can use to make your flying adventures enjoyable with your pet dog. Here are a few:
1.Size does matter
Unfortunately, this goes without saying. The larger your dog is, the difficult it will be for you to travel. If you are flying on an air plane, the airline will have tight regulations on pet-carriers since the space will usually be inadequate. If you have a small puppy, you will find it extremely convenient. However, if you have a fully-grown dog, you may find it challenging to fit your dog comfortably in the pet carrier space. Usually, a dog weighing more than 15 pounds will be difficult to travel with.
Many dogs cannot sit still for long periods and thus may feel uneasy about sitting for too long, especially if the duration of your flight is considerably high. Does your dog experiences high stress levels when left alone for too long? If yes, then this might be an important factor to consider when boarding the plane with him.
More importantly, your dog must also fulfill many conditions to be able to fly with you. Firstly, it must be properly trained, and must not make too much noise. The latter is particularly important during small aircrafts and thus could lead to a lot of angry or disturbed passengers. If you feel your dog is not suitable to be aboard the plane, take the easier option by having him stay at a dogsitter or doggy resort. These places provide excellent care for dogs, and you can collect them after coming back from your trip.
3.Check your airline’s regulations in advance
If you are keen on flying with your dog, always ask your airline’s requirements regarding its pet regulations during the time of booking flights. In doing so, you will get to know the minimum size and weight allowed for pets to travel. Usually, the regulations state that a pet must not be more than 19 inches in length and 10 inches in height.
Knowing these size limits beforehand can be important for making the necessary preparations for your pet dog and for booking a space for him that is large enough. Otherwise, you may take him with you only to be forced to pay considerably higher or fit him in a space that is too small, thus making him extremely uncomfortable.
4.Carry extra cash
Bringing any hand carry item aboard the plane that is higher than the limits requires you to pay extra fees according to every additional kilogram or another weight. Unfortunately, this can also apply to your pet dog either because he weighs too much or is too large in size. If this occurs, you very well be required to fees as high as $100. Due to this reason, it is important that you keep a budget for such fees or check if there is enough room to bring your pet dog with you aboard the plane or stay at a dog sitter or with your grandparents for a week or two.
5. Prepare your dog before boarding the plane
If your dog meets all the conditions for flying on an airplane, it is useful to take your dog for a long walk before going entering the plane. A good long walk will be important for keeping your physically active and also relaxed. In this way, they will not feel uncomfortable staying seated on the plane, especially if the flight is many hours long. More importantly, it will be a good way to make your dog fall asleep a lot quicker and leave him with less energy to bark or make a lot of noises.
Furthermore, you should make sure you don’t give him anything to drink for at least 2 hours prior to the flight and only give him a small meal. This will reduce the chances for any mistakes during flight and make your dog feel comfortable throughout the flight. As harsh as this may be, dogs are perfectly capable of staying normal for multiple hours without food or drink. However, this will naturally depend on the duration of your flight.
Lastly, make preparations for keeping your dog relaxed and comfortable during the flight. Keep in mind of how cold the temperature can get, in which case you need to make sure your dog is enveloped in a cosy blanket. You should also pack a small toy to keep him entertained should he get bored. Some other things you need to pack include paper towels, water and food dishes, poop bags, dog leash, stain remover, comb, flea control equipment, and spare medicine that might come in handy.
6. Ensure you dog is ID tagged
It is equally important for you to make additional safety preparations should you dog become lost or stolen. You should microchip your dog and also have him wear a buckle collar along with tags including the owner’s name and contact information. This will be important as a backup strategy should you dog become misplaced and have someone else contact you to report your dog’s whereabouts.
7. Request ice cubes for your dog
Having ice cubes will be beneficial for keeping your dog not only hydrated during the flight, but also engaged. Instead of giving your dog no water for several hours, make sure that it receives enough so that he does not look like he is fighting for survival after a long flight. Simply request the flight attendant so that your dog will have something to drink
