Flying with a Dog
5 cards · about a minute
The airline decides
Weight limits, crate specifications, breed restrictions and how many dogs a flight will take vary by airline and change often, so confirm in writing before booking.
The crate comes first
Buy it weeks ahead and let it become furniture, fed in, slept in, door open, because a dog meeting their crate at the airport is a dog who will panic in it.
Paperwork
A health certificate signed close to the date and an up-to-date rabies record are the constants; check the exact window your airline and destination require.
Light meal, full water
A small meal about four hours before and nothing after, water right up to check-in, and freeze the crate bowl so it melts rather than spills.
Afterwards
Expect a dog who is thirsty, stiff and off their food for a day; a quiet walk and a small meal help far more than a celebration does.