Flying with your furry friend can be an exciting adventure, but it also requires careful planning to ensure a smooth journey for both you and your canine companion. Chispita loves traveling and thoroughly enjoys her carrier. Whether you're taking a quick weekend getaway or relocating across the country, here are some essential tips to make domestic air travel with your small dog a breeze:
1. Choose the Right Airline: Not all airlines have the same pet policies, so do your research before booking your flight. Look for airlines that allow small dogs in the cabin rather than in cargo, as this is generally safer and more comfortable for your pet. Additionally, consider factors such as the airline's pet fees, size restrictions, and whether they require a health certificate. Additionally, some airlines have a restriction on the number of pets allowed on a flights, so book early and get confirmation that your dog is included as part of your reservation.
2. Select the Appropriate Carrier:
Invest in a sturdy and airline-approved pet carrier that provides enough space for your dog to stand up, turn around, and lie down comfortably. Make sure the carrier meets the airline's size requirements for in-cabin travel and has proper ventilation. Some carriers also wear as a backpack and can open up for more space when you reach your destination. Pinky has plenty of room to get comfortable and knows great adventures awaits her!
3. Get Your Dog Accustomed to the Carrier:
If dogs can smile, our dog Dilly is smiling in his carrier at the airport. He knows big adventures await him! Before the trip, help your dog become familiar with the carrier by placing treats, toys, and familiar bedding inside. Make all encounters with the carrier positive. Our dogs love taking walks while in the backpack carrier - they get to sit and take in the sites while the humans do the actual walking. Gradually increase the amount of time your dog spends in the carrier, making it a positive and comfortable experience. Our dogs love their carriers now as they always mean a great adventure with their humans!
4. Visit the Veterinarian:
Schedule a visit to the veterinarian shortly before your trip to ensure your dog is up-to-date on vaccinations and in good health for travel. Some airlines require a health certificate issued within a specific timeframe before the flight, so be sure to check the airline's requirements.
5. Plan Bathroom Breaks:
While small dogs may not need as frequent bathroom breaks as larger breeds, it's essential to consider your dog's needs, especially during layovers. Take your dog for a bathroom break before going through security and during layovers. Some airports have creative dog relief areas equipped with fire hydrants and synthetic grass.
6. Pack Essential Supplies:
Bring along essentials such as food, water, collapsible bowls, puppy pads, waste bags, and any medications. It's also a good idea to pack a familiar blanket or toy to provide comfort and familiarity for your dog during the journey. It is not necessary to over pack - your dog doesn't need as much as a human! However, if your pup uses a stroller, most airlines allow you to check the stroller at the gate similar to a child's stroller.
7. Arrive Early:
Arrive at the airport early to allow plenty of time for check-in, security screening, and any unexpected delays. Airlines typically require a pet check-in, so give yourself ample time to complete the necessary procedures without feeling rushed. Don't underestimate this - in our experience, most airlines require you to check in with an agent and those lines can be long and take time. Going though the TSA process also takes more time with a pup, so go much earlier than you think you need to in order to reduce stress.
8. Stay Calm and Comforting:
Dogs are sensitive to their owner's emotions, so remain calm and reassuring throughout the travel experience. Speak to your dog in a soothing tone and offer comfort if they seem anxious or restless. Remember that your calm demeanor can help alleviate your dog's stress. They will most likely get a lot of attention from fellow travelers, so know if this will calm or stress your pup and prepare accordingly. Chispita did not do well with little fingers (chihuahua/miniature pincher mix - it was in her dna), so we took extra precautions with her during travel to ensure little ones could only look and not touch.
9. Be Prepared for Security Screening:
Prepare to remove your dog from the carrier during the security screening process, as carriers must pass through the X-ray machine as well as remove collars and leashes. For me, this is always the most stressful part as one of our dogs has been known to wander. I hold him very close during this process, but he also is clingy in this environment! Follow the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) guidelines and cooperate with security personnel to ensure a smooth screening process. Also, if you have discussed medication with your vet, do not administer until through TSA - your dog must be alert during this process. We have found through the years, our dogs have not needed supplemental medication - as long as you keep them in their carrier and undisturbed, the tend to sleep.
10. Monitor Your Dog During the Flight:
Keep an eye on your dog during the flight to ensure they are comfortable and secure in their carrier. Avoid feeding your dog a large meal right before the flight to prevent motion sickness, and offer small amounts of water as needed to keep them hydrated. Unless you have a registered emotional support dog, your dog should remain in the carrier for the duration of the flight, It will be less stressful for your pup all around. Our female pups only made a fuss when the beverage cart passed by - each of them wanted to make sure they didn''t miss out (truth be told, they did not get a snack in order to keep belly's settled but it is very cute when head's turn to see who's barking!).
11. Plan for fun, dog friendly adventures! Definitely a topic for a future blog, but make sure you look ahead for dog friendly adventures as well as know that your hotel will allow for a safe place for your pup to rest when they can't tag along. Be sure to take pictures and share in the comments! We'd love to see them on our facebook page IDOTOO and instagram IDOTOO_Weddings. Here's a great picture of Dilly and Pinky in the mountains of Stowe, Vermont being pampered on an adventure!
By following these tips, you can make domestic air travel with your small dog a stress-free experience for both you and your furry companion. With careful planning and preparation, you'll be ready to embark on your next adventure together, creating lasting memories along the way. Safe travels!
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