Recommendations for Keeping Your Dog Happy During Air Travel

Start preparing Your Dog

A minimum of thirty days prior to taking your
dogs on planes.

Do you possess the right carrier for your dog?
Make sure that the carrier is sufficiently big
for your dog and that it is airlined-approved.
Both soft-sided and hard-sided carriers are
available, but soft-sided are more appropriate
for carry-on and can fit beneath seats much
better.

To lessen the stress on your dog, get them
comfortable with the carrier simply by placing
them within it for short stays in the beginning,
then longer stays as your trip nears. Put
anything recognizable to the dog in the carrier
which has your scent on it.

Inside of Ten days of your journey

Schedule a trip to the veterinarian within 10
days of your trip to make sure they are in shape
for the trip. Tell your vet of your respective
travel plans so they are able inform you of any
considerations they've got. Ask a veterinarian
to issue a wellness certificate for your dog.
The health certificates typically need to be
dated within 10 days of your departure. Carry
the certificate on your person at all times as
it may be needed at various situations.

Take your canine friend in for proper grooming.
Is it a warm time of the year? If appropriate,
cut it's hair. Are it's toenails needing
trimming?

The actual day of travel

Have everything packed and leave in plenty of
time. Remember that it's going to take longer
than traveling all on your own. Aside from small
amounts of drinking water, don't feed your dog
for a number of hours prior to the trip. If
you're carrying your dog on the plane, carry a
portable water bowl so that you can give him/her
small amounts of drinking water throughout the
trip.

Booking the Airline ticket(s)

Book direct routes wherever possible. If you
must book a travel plan which has a layover,
make sure the layover is long enough for you to
exit the secured area and go outside the airport
and allow your dog have a brief walk (as well as
relieve itself!) Some airports have places that
make this very easy, but others are more
challenging. In any case, be sure to tidy up
after them. The longer layover is always a
headache, but your doggie will appreciate the
opportunity to stretch its legs! When booking,
it's also a good idea to try to reserve non-peak
flights. They are almost always much less packed
- which means more room within the cabin and
less anxiety on your pet.

If traveling during hotter or colder months,
select flights and airlines which will allow for
the temperature extremes. Check airline policies
for your airline's requirements. Note that
snub-nosed dogs tend to be especially vulnerable
to heat stroke and a few airlines will not likely
allow them on their flights during hotter months
- or even at all.

----------------------------------------------------
Tony B Lumpkin III is an executive living in
Austin, Texas. With over 20 years of extensive
experience traveling with dogs. He now
contributes to a popular website devoted to dog
travel. For more valuable doggie travel tips,
please visit the website =>
http://www.doggietravelinfo.com

EasyPublish this article: http://submityourarticle.com/articles/easypublish.php?art_id=221551

>