Transport Dog Crates – Travel by Airplane

When you have to move your dog in order to travel or relocate to a new destination, the last thing most of us want is to stuff him into a box and leave him in the cargo area during the entire flight.

Unfortunately, if you have no other choice but to use the airlines for your travel needs, dogs have to be placed in transport dog crates for the flight, and most have to travel in the cargo compartment.

If you have no choice but to travel with your dog by plane, you should make sure your dog or puppy is as comfortable as he possibly can be. Here are some tips to help you prepare your dog for the flight:

1. Dog owners who are traveling with their dogs must invest in USDA approved transport dog crates, or a kennel that is specifically designed for travel. Preferably transport dog crates should be custom fit to the size of your dog. Be sure that the transport crate unit is stable and provides enough room for your dog or puppy to stand up in, as well as offers the ability for him to turn around if he needs to.

2. Accustom your dog to the crate well prior to your expected date of travel. Never wait until the day of your flight to put your dog inside the kennel, as dogs do readily adapt to things that are out of the ordinary. It is therefore a good idea to ensure that your dog is comfortable with the crate so that he will be a little more at ease when you put him on the plane. Your dog should gradually become used to transport dog crates if you have him sleep inside the travel crate each night for a minimum of three nights before your travel date.

3. For flights longer than 10 to 12 hours, be sure to provide your dog with sustenance during the flight – a good way of ensuring this is to tape a small bag of your dog’s food to the outside of the crate, along with written feeding instructions for the person who will be responsible for your dog during the flight.

4. Loss of baggage, and in particular, baggage being directed to incorrect destinations, is becoming fairly commonplace for travelers. To avoid the small chance that your dog could miss his destination, write the destination of your flight on the top portion of the transport dog crate in large, bold, letters. Be sure to also include your full name and address, as well as a phone number where you can be contacted, attached in a prominent place to the crate. 

5. It is best not to feed your dog within six hours of the flight. This will help reduce the chances of him having an accident and using the bathroom inside of the kennel, or vomiting his food if he becomes distressed at the commencement of the flight.

6. In case your dog or puppy does happen to have a mess while flying, prepare the crate with a light layer of paper and bedding so that the urine and stools can be absorbed as best possible.

7. To avoid your dog from becoming dehydrated during the flight, place two bowls inside the kennel, one filled with a small amount of water, and the other filled with ice. The ice bowl will melt away bit by bit and provide plenty of fluids hours later.

8. Last but not least, if you have a very small dog like a chihuahua or a toy poodle, see if you can arrange to have a small pet carrier or crate to put your dog in that can fit underneath your seat. Do not wait until the last minute to talk with the airlines about this arrangement. Find out if boarding the flight with your small dog under your seat is possible as early as you can. You’ll still need to arrange transport dog crates for these small dogs who are permitted to travel in the passenger compartment with you, but it will be a much more pleasant experience for your dog to be close to you throughout the flight.