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flying with a dog {or 2}

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traveling with a dog

 Ok, so it’s no secret around here these girls pretty much rock my world.

traveling with a dogSo for me to go above and beyond and a little “I’m coo-coo for my cocoa pups” when it comes to trying to ensure their health, happiness and safety when I’m preparing to fly with a dog or two is totally normal. Trust me, I am normal. Seriously. 🙂

traveling with a dogWarning:  This post is going to include a gratuitous amount of pictures of my old lady dogs puppies and I am going to claim that it is for your benefit.

traveling with a dog

So, first things first. You’ve gotta check in with your airline and make sure you’re on the up and up with all of their requirements for traveling with a pet. For us, it’s all about the requirements of checking a pet. For those of you with carry on sized animals … get a real pet. KIDDING! I meant to say … this post might be a bit too much info for those of you who just need to put your toy sized animal in a breathable bag and stuff it under the seat in front of you.

We’re talking things like:

  • make sure your crate specifications comply with the airlines requirements and it is big enough for the animal to turn around in
  • place an absorbent pad in the bottom of the crate
  • attach a small bowl for food/water
  • tape a small bag of food to the outside of the crate
  • write LIVE ANIMAL all over the darn thing (I think it’s only required twice in larger than 1 inch tall letters)
  • complete the information form
  • have a valid health certificate with proof of current vaccinations

All of these items are required and can be easily accomplished by purchasing this all in one kit … crate not included. Our crate is very similar to this one.
traveling with a dogNow, for anyone who …

a) has regular conversations with their pets … yes, out loud,
b) considers their pets’ feelings before deciding to vacuum, do laundry or do anything else that upsets the pet, or
c) always refers to their two pets in plural terms (girls, dogs, etc) so as to not have either one feel left out …

These next ideas are for you!

#1 – Tape pictures and a brief description of your animal to the outside of your crate.

Here are my thoughts on the description … you know how they say if you get kidnapped to tell the kidnapper your name so it personalizes you to the kidnapper? And even tell them your family members’ names so they realize you are someone’s daughter or sister. Well, if I personalize my pet to the workers shoving their crates around it might have the same effect too, right?!?!

And, if you have two animals traveling together it’s worth a mention so they don’t accidentally get separated. (“My name is Mico (pronounced Meeko) and I’m traveling with my sister Marley to our new home.”)

And put their final destination so there’s no room for error in transit. (“Flying makes me very nervous and I can’t wait to reach {insert final location destination here}.”)

See, like I said … normal. 😉

I just used a plastic sheet cover to put the pictures and description in so they wouldn’t get ruined if they got wet and duct taped it all to the top of the crate. The description is written on the cardboard backing to a regular ol’ legal pad of paper.
flying with a dog

#2 – Put a t-shirt or something with your smell on it in the crate with your pet for the flight.

Dogs have an excellent sense of smell. The constant reminder of a familiar smell could be very calming for them in this unusual situation. Lucky for me, I had a whole chair full of items to choose from. 😉

#3 – Have new dog tags made with a local phone number and address at your destination.

Just another layer of insurance that there really is no way this animal can get lost in transit and somehow not end up exactly where you want them to end up. This one makes me feel especially secure while traveling internationally, I want it to be clear who to call no matter what country we’re in.
flying with a dogAnd one more picture of my girls for your benefit. 😉
Now tell me, do you have any of your own tried and true travel with pet tricks?

And if you want to read about the moving journey so far you can read about us getting on the road again, getting our move on, my last look back as we were walking away and the last 12 things you should do before you move.

And whether you’re in an old or a new one …

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Comments

  2. Awww sorry I’m so late on this, but big congrats and best of luck with your move down here to the sunny state! You’ll be pretty close to me so hopefully we can meet up sometime!! Your pups are so cute, btw 🙂

  3. Aw! I travelled with my cat once and I had him in a travel bag that fit under the seat on the aircraft. The thing was hissing the whole time and when the plane landed I got down and had a good look under the seat – low and behold there was a bird in a travel cage under the next seat up! Poor kitty…..

  4. I can’t even imagine how upsetting it must be to have to put your dogs in a crate and say good-bye and trusting someone else to get them where they are going safely. I have kids and dogs and I always tell my kids (jokingly of course) “more dogs, less kids”.

    They don’t have to go in quarantine or anything do they?

  5. I just love all the photos and all your TLC tips! I’ve never put my pup on the plane. Honestly, I think both would have freaked out. Our first beagle, Topper, was crazy as is. I’m pretty sure a trip on the plane would’ve made him even crazier. And our shelter pet Ernie is the biggest baby of all and has serious separation anxiety. I think he would cry the whole time …

    🙂 Linda

  6. Karah I think you are totally normal. Of course I made my puppy beef broth popsicles when she was spade. Loved all the pictures of your girls. Great tips.

  7. Enjoyed pics of your girls, they are so sweet looking. I’d love on em in a heartbeat. I’m an animal nut. My MIL once accused me of loving our dog more than the kids. Not more but sometimes when the adult kids are obnoxious I could say I liked the dog more. For some reason our adult kids think since we got older our brains have gone to pot so they tell us how to live.
    . Why do you think my email address is FurryKidzPaperworx@gmail.com?We’re two old people that are crazy about our furry kidz. We have a 4 yr. old black lab/border collie, got him at a yr. at PetSmart adoption fair. Our cat is about 10, an orange striped guy that showed up in our yard one Saturday in KY and decided we were his. When we moved here he rode in a carrier for little bit but wasn’t one bit happy so after a few miles of listening to him yowl we put him in the travel trailer on top of the bunks with vent and windows open and he was fine the rest of the way. We had lived in the trailer so guess he was more comfortable in there. When we take our dog he lies down in back seat doesn’t bark or bother anything, a very good passenger. Not sure our furryKidz know they’re animals. good luck with your trip. I’d be worried sick about my kidz flying.

    • I do think that animals can just decide where they want to be. Not surprising an old orange cat would seek you out!

  8. AW, I don’t have a dog anymore and so I think I just skimmed your text, but I was mesmerized by your photos of the girls, so thanks for sharing. They are precious. And clearly loved. 🙂
    xo Heidi

  9. I think if you could…you would be buying those beautiful girls two seats next to you on the plane….I know you will be thinking of them every moment of the flight….for they are part of your family…so special….You certainly have explored every angle of flying with your precious girls….I hope that they have a wonderful experience…they will be fine…it is “mama” that will be a wreck!!! That’s what moms do…worry!!….

  10. Now these are tips that many wouldn’t have thought of, but like you’ve said, you are an experienced traveler. Your dogs are so lucky to have you, and having your clothing with them while they travel is such a special gesture for them.
    Yes, we call our chickens ‘ladies’, the cats are my ‘boys’ and our one lab that’s left is just Jet, or his pet name ‘Big Dog’.
    Debbie 🙂

  12. We’re definitely sister-dog-moms…. as in equally obsessed with our furbabies. I love the idea of writing a little personal information and taping pictures to the top. What a nice touch… especially so people will be able to pronounce Miko’s name if they want to offer some nice words to calm the two of them.

    Can’t wait to see your new home!

    • Thanks Dana!! I figured any attempt to personalize them with strangers might encourage a kinder/gentler demeanor with the frightened pups! And “Sister-dog-moms” LOL … my cousins just came to visit and since my husband was the only man around we called each other “sister-cousin-wives” … my husband thought he was hot sh!t. hahaha

  13. Totally normal! Absolutely a loving and concerned mom. The one additional thought I had {and I can also see some reasons why not to do this} but adding your cell # to the top of the crate in case during the time the dogs are in the care of airline workers a question arises, they can reach you directly and immediately? Even if a cell # was something you had to provide on the paperwork for the dogs to fly, having it on the crate could eliminate wasted time.

    • I love this idea. We used a sharpie and put our names, final destination and phone number at the final destination in big print. We had issue with an actual number for us since our Curacao cell numbers wouldn’t work in the US. But I would definitely put my cell number, the safety of the pet is worth the risk someone would misuse the number, in my opinion!

  14. These are some really great tips for the pet lovers among us bloggers! I don’t currently have any pets, but I can tell you that the ones we have had in the past were truly “family” and their well-being was important to us!

  15. Your pups are so pretty! We had to fly with my dog once, and I’m sure it was more traumatic for me than for her. Great tips!

  18. Your pups are absolutely adorable! I’m sharing a link to your post over on the Psi Bands Facebook page that I administrate.

    Jenn

  19. Hi!! I used to internationaly travel with Tango, my siberian husky. We’re from Argentina living in the states (and we moved several times too, kinda like you and live in Florida too) .we made like 10 trips (back and forth) and made me very nervous everytime!!! I did everytihg you said, but never put a picture on the kennel,i think is a very good idea! But i did take a picture and had it ready in my digital camera to showing if something happened.
    Never feed the pet nor give it water inmediatly before the fly (they can vomit), and generally i didn’t use to put nothing inside the kennel, only once i put his towell and it got totally destroyed by him! (The flight was delate and he was really upset, poor puppy!!)
    Other thing I used to do, is inform the fly attendants and the pilote, if posible, that a dog is gonna fly. (Sounds stupid and understated but is not, believe me. Many times they had no clue they have a live animal and that they have to presurisize the part where the dog is!) Also I don’t move from the doors untill someone with a handy told me that my dog is already IN the plane. (That door thing, and the atemp to talk to the captain is more dificult after sept 11, and one time almost got arrested…) but if i wasn’t stuborn as I am, in one of my last trips, my dog was in another plane going to Rio (brazil) instead of buenos aires (Argentina), so… do not completely trust in other people!!
    He is 10 years old and I’m afraid of flying with him… it’s a 9 hours trip.
    Let me know how everything go! Your “puppies” are so cut!!!
    I enjoy your blog!!
    Regards, Fercita

    • Fercita – I feel exactly the same way you do, I’m so happy I’m not the only one!! I watch like a hawk to try to see for myself the dogs getting on the plane and tell as many people as I can there’s a dog on board. It can’t hurt, right!?!?! BTW – You are from such a beautiful country, we went to BA and Mendoza and loved every minute!!!

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