Domestic Air Travel with a Puppy

The content of this article deals with domestic air travel with a puppy in the cabin with you. This article is limited to advice for domestic air travel only.

While this will be the majority of cases for air travel with puppies or small dogs up to, there will still be a large number of folk that will need to travel to an international destination with their puppy. A separate article will be written and can be found elsewhere on this site. If you do look for it and it is not there, apologies in advance. I have not had a chance to write that content yet.

Consider The Risks of Air Travel With Your Puppy

An alarming number of dogs and other pets become injured, lost, or even die on board an airplane when traveling. Compared to the number of successful animals transported from one location to another via the airlines, this number is low, however, it only takes one incident to change your life forever when your dog becomes seriously injured or dies because of a lack of preparation on your part.

The most important precautionary measure to take for the safety of your puppy is simply to take him to the vet for a complete checkup. This will go a long way to avoiding complications of any pre-existing medical condition.

Please add the following additional tips to your flight with puppy checklist:

Select The Quickest Airline Route

Researching for the flight that will make the trip for your dog go by the fastest is easy, but one that many dog owners do not think about. Take some time and research all of the options available and ask the airline which flight time is the fastest.

Additionally, avoid flights that do not fly directly to your destination. It does not happen often, but some dogs get transferred to the wrong airplane, arrive in a totally different location than the intended destination, and worse yet – never make it back to its owner.

If a layover is unavoidable, choose a layover period that will allow you to take your puppy out of the carrier for a stretch and a scratch, a walk, drink and a hug – not necessarily in that order. Some airports these days actually have a small area for the travelling puppies to do their “business”, usually a small artificial grass area with poop scoopers and disposable plastic bags and waste collection point nearby.

Choose Flight Times During The Morning Or Evening

As far as comfort for your dog goes, do your best to select a flight that is either during the early morning hours or early evening time. These are the best times during the day in which your dog will experience the most comfortable of temperatures. Avoid flying your pet during extreme weather climates that are too hot or too cold. Remember, he will be stuffed down in the cargo area.

Air Travel with Your Puppy in the Cabin

It may seem like common sense to advise this tip, but it does happen at times where puppies are loaded in a crate and do not handle the flight very well. Always fly your puppy with you in the cabin area so that you can keep the dog comfortable with small treats and affection.

A puppy’s early weeks (and months) are a very crucial time in its life. Everything that the dog experiences will be remembered, both good and bad. This is part of the socialization process. A traumatizing flight that keeps a puppy in a constant state of shock and anxiety for hour after hour may have a disastrous impact on your pup’s mental wellbeing and may even last a lifetime.

Label Your Soft Shell Carrier

From time to time, flights are canceled at the last minute and the airlines will rebook you onto alternate flights. Not all airlines have the same rules and regulations regarding travel with puppies in the cabin. Best to be prepared and have your soft-shell carrier labeled appropriately ahead of time. It should have in ½-inch letters the following information :

• Flight’s destination
• Your Name
• Name, Address and Phone number of the people or place you are visiting

If there is a problem with an unplanned airline change, there is a possibility that your puppy will need to be transferred to travel in the hold in a different style transport case. The airlines will be able to assist with this if your original flight has been canceled.

Plan Ahead

This must seem like an understatement, as most puppy owners will spend a lot of time planning their travel and what their puppy may need during the journey and transit periods. If you are the sort of person that plans travel months in advance, don’t forget that your puppy will be growing all of the time up until your planned travel date.

Check online or with your vet and research what size and weight your puppy is likely to be at the time that your travel is being planned. There is many a sad story of folk planning travel well ahead of time, and at the last minute, realizing that their puppy will no longer fit in the travel carrier bought for the journey. This will result in the need to scramble to organize your puppy to now travel in the hold with a different style of pet travel crate, or to find somebody to look after your puppy. If all of that is just too hard, there may be no other option, and have to cancel your long-awaited trip.

Pre-Flight Checklist

• Softshell carrier. Be sure to have your puppy spend quite some time in this carrier getting used to it. That way, when you are on the flight, he will at least be used to his immediate crate environment and it will have a familiar smell and feel to it.
• Documentation from your vet, clearing your puppy for air travel. This is a good idea to bring, even if it is not stated as a requirement for your airline.
• Collar and leash, or harness. There may be an opportunity to take your pooch for a walk if there are any stopovers. This will help to ease any stress that is building from the confinement and the unfamiliar sensations of flight.
• Any medical supplies. If your puppy is likely to be frightened and makes more than an occasional whimper or two, it may be an idea to see your vet and have some sedatives or calming medication on hand if required.   
• Suitable and secure travel crate. You will need to check with the airline to see what size travel crates are allowed on the flight you are booked on. Most airlines require that the animal crate will fit under the seat in front of you.
• Snacks for the puppy
• Water as well as some small dish or bowl to drink from. Try and hold back with the puppy’s water consumption for an hour or two before the flight if the climate allows. This will save some of the initial trepidation the dog may feel if he needs to relieve himself in the crate, especially if he is some way toward being house trained. A small insulated container with some prepared ice cubes that you can pass into the carrier may be just the ticket to providing puppy with water while traveling.
• Soft padding for the interior of the crate. You will be carrying this case to and from the drop off point at the airport to the departure gate and onto the aircraft. There may be crowds to negotiate and from time to time, we know this can get a bit bumpy. Note: If your puppy is a champion chewer, you may need to reconsider the padding.
• Small blanket. This will keep Fido warm and will also provide a level of security for him if things get a little hectic.
• Small comfort toy. If your puppy has a small favorite toy, include this inside the crate, or carry with you to bring out if he starts to show signs of any distress.
• Water absorbent pads for the base of the crate
• Small and sealable plastic bag to collect his poop
• Poop scraper
• Safety restraint, for any car travel to and from the airport