Have you ever seen a dog on a flight and wonder how to travel with your dog? People always ask me how I manage to travel so much with my dogs or sometimes even if dogs can fly. They wouldn’t be able to get through security if they couldn’t!
I think this has been my most requested post, and since most people do not know the hows of “pet air travel” I think it is a much needed one. Once you know the ins and outs of pet travel, your furry friend can enjoy a new city or country with you. So here are my 5 essential tips for dog air travel with some quick training tips:
1. Train your dog for travel
When I got Mishka, I planned on taking him with me everywhere. Which is why I researched a ton about how to fly with a dog and trained him since he was a puppy to be able to handle airplane travel. He and Lilo have traveled by plane from Mexico City to Europe multiple times including Croatia, traveled within the United States, and within Mexico.
Your dog needs to be well trained to stay in their carrier and be able to hold it and only go to the bathroom when you allow it. Mishka held it for about 20 hours one time we were traveling from Rome to Mexico. Due to layover delays, we weren’t able to find a bathroom and hurried out of the Mexico City airport!
That was extreme but make sure your dog can hold it and use the pet relief areas in airports when needed. All US airports have them and I discovered Istanbul has as well.
Make sure to socialize your dog a lot so they’ll be friendly, or at least indifferent, to strangers. No barking or growling! Disruptive pets may be denied boarding in-cabin, so if your pet is not well trained, they might get denied boarding.
It’s so much better when fellow passengers are surprised when they see us deplaning with Mishka and Lilo as they didn’t even notice a dog was on the flight! This is what you want. A nice and peaceful flight.
Not every dog is like this. If your dog is anxious to fly, ask your vet about alternatives to sedatives as a lot of airlines will not fly a sedated pet. I use a natural alternative treat to calm my dogs down, and it has worked fine. Maybe yours will like a calming shirt. But again, ask your vet first so you can prepare your pet for travel.
What if they’re too big for in-cabin? I know, I know, no one ever wants to send their pet to the dreaded cargo. In 2019 when I moved to Rome (the first time), I sent two of my dogs in cargo. It was the only way we could move with our dogs to another country. United used to have a service that was very good and my dogs were well taken care of. During Covid it got cancelled and then never came back.
If you need to send your dog in-cargo check out the next section’s training tip on how to get your dog used to their carrier!
2. Get the right travel carrier and get them used to it
If it is either in-cabin or a checked pet, check with the airline the requirements for height, weight, and construction materials of the carrier. Each airline might have slightly different limits so the generic airline approved carrier might not be for every airline.
For in-cabin flying I used to love my Sleepypod Air, but it is heavier than other dog carriers and Mishka is on the margin for some weight restrictions—8kg limit including the carrier for most European airlines. US airlines don’t have a weight limit but your dog must fit comfortably in the carrier and they do have size restrictions.
I now use the Sherpa carrier and the Amazon Basics one and they have worked really well on multiple airlines for the past 5 years.
I also recommend a soft sided carrier as they are easier to fit under the seat even if the size is a bit bigger. I’ve never really gotten the carrier measured, only weighed. They have checked if the pet fits comfortably inside.
For cargo hold pet carrier, opt for a kennel that your dog can stand up and turn around it. Make sure your crate is IATA compliant. While metal windows and screws are not required by all airlines but advissable to prevent your pet from eating them away and getting out. Make sure you always have zip ties to secure the door and prevent any unwanted opening. I bought some reusable ones that worked really well and I didn’t have to look for scissors or a knife to open the crate once in Rome. Do not skimp on the cost of the crate as it will protect your pet.
I was allowed to keep both Groot and Timon in the same kennel. Normally they only allow same race dogs, but since they are both mixed dogs (one is a cockapoo, the other a stray), there was no way to prove they were the same race. I knew it wasn’t going to be a problem as they had eaten from the same bowl without fighting. Actually, if we took Groot outside of the kennel while still in the airport, he would dash back in. This brings us to my next tip on bringing pets on planes.
Training tip
This is my number one tip for training your dog on how to travel:
A dog’s crate is never a place of punishment! This is especially important for checked pets. Get them used to their crate or carrier, make them love it and it be a safe place.
When we were moving to Italy, I bought their travel kennel a month early and set to training my 3 dogs. I would start with luring them inside with treats and giving them the treat once inside. Slowly we progressed to the door closed and more time.
My family laughed at me because I got in the crate with them and hung out with them in there. They also found it ridiculous when I covered them with a blanket and put on loud plane sounds to try and simulate what it would be like on the flight. I started slowly, always treating them, until I would move them around inside the crate while covered and with noises.
It worked because their crate became their safe space. When we arrived to Rome, the dogs preferred to stay in their crate at the airport as it was less scary than the outside. This same principle can apply to the in-cabin carrier.
So even if it sounds ridiculous, trying to simulate what travel will be like while showing them it is safe and with positive reinforcement will make travel a much better experience for everyone involved.
3. Stop food and water 4 hours before travel
I always take away their food four hours prior to the flight. This is both for them to not have to go during travel and also so they don’t get motion sickness. Right before we need to check them in or go to the gate, we take them out once more to relieve themselves.
Do not panic about the no food and water rule. When your puppy sleeps they go for up to 12 hours (or more if they’re lazy) of sleeping without drinking or eating. They will be fine!
For example, Mishka will not take treats and sometimes won’t drink water while traveling, especially when he is working. Lilo, on the other hand, will gladly gobble up anything you give her. Even for our roadtrip in Croatia, we didn’t give them food before travel to avoid motion sickness but we did give them water!
For cargo hold kennels, make sure to leave those drip water bottles in your dog’s crate. For in-cabin pets or pets in simple carriers, bring a bowl to give them small sips of water.
If you have a long layover, make sure you take your puppy outside—if immigration and airport policies allow—so they can stretch their legs and relieve themselves. Some airports (especially those in the USA) have special pet relief areas inside the terminals.
4. Know what documents you need for pet travel
Depending on the country, you will need different things to travel with your dog.
The most important and required everywhere is a vet certificate of good health. The vet certificate for travel should include the date, pet description (breed, color, name, birthdate, sex), owner information, microchip (for international travel), lot number and expiration date of vaccinations (especially rabies), and some countries require deworming (internal and external). It should also state that the pet is free of illness and wounds.
For travel to Europe, a microchip that is ISO compliant is required.
The US now requires a CDC Dog Import Form when coming from a rabies-free or low-risk country. If from a high-risk country, your dog may require a rabies titer test.
Traveling to Mexico, you should know that the vet certificate cannot be issued more than fifteen days prior to travel.
The airline will be the one making sure you have all requirements. Europe has never really checked the documentation upon arrival but Mexico, Turkey, and the US do!
Some countries, especially island ones like U.K., Japan and New Zealand have addition restrictions. Even Service Dogs have restrictions in these countries. New Zealand and Japan only recognize service dogs that are trained through just two specific organizations, Assistance Dogs International and International Guide Dog Federation. This is why on my travels to Japan and New Zealand Mishka hasn’t come with me.
Tip: digitize their documents so you always have a copy of their documents with you.
5. Do some research for pet friendly activities
Not every place you go to is pet-friendly. They all have different cultures around dogs and even different laws about hygiene and pets in public places.
For example, in the US pets are not allowed where food is being prepared or available because of food hygiene but in Italy, on the other hand, that is not a thing. Restaurants and grocery stores allow dogs without any issues—grocery stores even have special carts for dogs! There has been only one restaurant that didn’t accept dogs inside but set up a table for us outside.
When traveling to Croatia, I did extensive research on dog friendly beaches, fun activities, and especially, if we could take Mishka and Lilo to Plitvice Lakes as it was my main reason for wanting to go to Croatia. We loved our time in Pula and Split, even though Croatia has many wonderful cities.
In Italy, hiking in national parks is a great pet friendly activity or walking around cities. In Rome, most historical sites like the Colosseum do not allow pets, but Pompeii is pet friendly! You’ll be surprised at how many fun things you can do on a dog friendly vacation.
Do some research on local vets. It’s better to be prepared and never use it than to not be and be scrambling to find one during an emergency.
Easy steps to train your dog for air travel
You may be wondering how to train your dog for travel. Here are my easy steps and tips for training your dog to become your travel buddy:
1) Watch TV with your dog. Yes, simple, but one of the best tips for traveling with your dog. Make sure they can stay seated and clam for long periods of doing nothing.
2) Potty train them. Again, sounds like common sense. But if your dog cannot hold it for the amount of time needed to not only fly or travel, but also the “lost” time before they can get to a potty area, they cannot travel. Try crate training when they are a puppy. Remember, the crate is never a punishment. You can also say “potty” or “baño” and give a treat when they go outside. After a while just the word will get them to go.
3) Take them on even small trips and to a crowded pet friendly place. Sit them to watch people go by and stay calm. Treat your dog when they ignore strangers or when an especially disruptive groups passes and they don’t react. This way they will stay calm in a crowded airport.
4) Put them in their carrier and simulate a travel environment ment. Treat them while inside the carrier. Make them used to cars, movement, and their carrier to prepare them for the plane. Check out the full training tip above.
5) Teach them stay. Slowly build up so that you can walk away from them and they won’t follow until you allow them. This is especially useful for bigger dogs when going through security. It is also useful for being able to stand up and stretch or go to the bathroom without your dog panicking.
Remember to have fun!
Don’t forget to give them a treat once they’ve completed the flight, and many cuddles! They deserve it for being your companions through thick and thin.
Follow these easy steps so. You too can now know how to travel with your dog!
If you want tips and tricks on where to go with your dog, pet-friendly activities, and itineraries, check out the rest of the blog.
Checklist for traveling with your dog
Dog Travel Destinations
Croatia
Croatia With Dogs: All You Need To Know To Travel With Your Dogs
9 Dog Friendly Activities In Croatia
Pet Friendly Beaches In Croatia
8 Best Cities In Croatia You Have To Visit With Your Dog
5 Reasons Why You Should Roadtrip Croatia With Dogs
What To Do In Split With Dogs: Top 5 Activities
Top 5 Activities In Pula, Croatia With Dogs
Plitvice Lakes With Dogs: A Guide To Exploring Croatia’s Natural Wonder
More on Dog Travel
Travel To Europe With A Dog: Complete Guide For Easy Dog Vacations
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Wow! I had no idea you could travel with a dog with so much ease! Thanks for the tips and tricks. And thanks for the adorable pictures. I needed that today!
Yes, it’s easier than people think! I love traveling with Mishka!