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It is not ideal to travel by air with your dog, but sometimes there is no other option. You’ll need to consider transport dog crates, and the key is to make the trip as stress free for your dog as you can.

Airplane travel for dogs is fraught with problems, and most pet owners who have made any enquiries about transporting animals by air are aware of dogs being injured or worse on such trips. Don’t misunderstand me, most dog air travel is incident free, but because things can go wrong, planning ahead can mean the difference between a smooth journey for your dog or one with mishaps.

Before you do anything else, you should call the airline you intend to travel with and find out their current policies on pet transportation. If you have a choice of airlines, call each one, as the policies may vary slightly. If you intend to transport a young puppy, you also need to be aware that federal regulations require that a puppy be at least 8 weeks old before it is permitted to be carried by air, and it needs to have been weaned for a minimum of 5 days prior to transportation.

Small dogs (under 15 pounds) may be able to fit inside small transport dog crates or small pet carriers that will fit under your seat, if you are travelling with your dog. But large dogs must travel in the cargo section of the plane, which has no heat and no air-conditioning. This can be very uncomfortable and scary for your dog.

Some steps you can take to provide your dog with a stress-free airplane trip:

- book a direct, non-stop flight wherever possible. Avoid plane transfers and stop-overs.

- confirm your flight before you leave home, to ensure that there have been no changes to your flight schedule.

- take your dog for a walk shortly before you leave for the airport.

- check with your vet as to feeding recommendations for your dog. Most vets will recommend that your dog travel on an empty stomach. For long flights, your dog will need to be fed, and your vet will advise you what is appropriate, taking into account your dog’s age, size and regular diet.

- make sure your dog will have a good supply of water during the flight in order to keep him properly hydrated.

- arrive at the airport in plenty of time.

- if you are leaving from a destination that’s close to the airport, make sure your dog is given an opportunity to toilet just before you leave. If you are a distance from the airport, wait until you arrive at the airport before toileting your dog. Either way, it’s important that your dog has a toilet opportunity to avoid accidents in the transport dog crate during the trip.

- stay with your dog for as long as possible prior to the flight, and personally deliver the transport dog crate to the gate. (This may not be possible for an international flight).

- when you board the plane, tell the flight attendant that you have a dog in the cargo hold.

- upon arrival at your destination, go immediately to the baggage area to welcome your dog.

When you travel with your pet, you’ll want further information on dog transport and transport dog crates, and also on stylish pet carriers from HealthierDogs