Flying A Large Dog Internationally
Flying with your dog can seem rather daunting, especially if your dog is large and the flight is long. It gets even trickier if you have multiple transfers. This will usually require that the dog has a longer layover between flights. While this can be a strenuous experience for both the dog and owner, there are a few steps you can take. Here are my tips on how to prepare your dog for a long flight in cargo.
Most airlines have a weight restriction of around 20 pounds for dogs in the cabin, anything heavier will usually have to fly as cargo. Milo weighs close to 60 pounds so he has always had to go in the cargo hold. Since there are numerous resources out there on how to fly small dogs internationally, I’m going to focus exclusively on large dogs as that has been my personal experience.
For those of you with small dogs check out Montecristo Travels and Boogie The Pug for helpful travel tips!
Health Check
The first thing to do when preparing your dog for a long flight is get a health check from your vet. You must always make sure your dog is healthy enough to fly. This means they should be able to endure temperature and altitude changes.
Conditions will differ slightly with each airline, but there might be a lengthy waiting time on the tarmac before being loaded and again when offloaded. Unfortunately this is a very noisy and unpleasant experience. The cargo hold is dark and cool and encountering turbulence is always a possibility. These are all important aspects to review with your vet when considering flying your dog.
Selecting An Airline
If your dog has been cleared for travel by your vet you can then select an airline. Do your research, if your dog must take more than one flight call the airlines. It is important to inquire about their transfer process. Your dog will be tired and stressed after a long flight so it’s best to pick an airline that has a clean and comfortable holding area with trained professionals who will care for them.
I highly recommend flying with KLM or Lufthansa. Both airlines are very professional, fly almost everywhere in the world and have well developed animal care facilities. You can read more about KLM’s Animal Hotel and also see this video for Lufthansa’s Cargo Animal Lounge to learn more about their facilities.
When To Hire Assistance
If your dog is embarking on a long international journey that involves more than one flight, I highly recommend looking into hiring a pet relocation company to assist you. Depending on which country you fly into, customs and immigration can be very confusing. It’s unfortunately not unlikely that mistakes will be made. With such long journeys it’s worth it to have the peace of mind that someone is looking out for your dog. This then makes a better trip for the dog.
I hired a company called Pets With Passports and they did a fantastic job orchestrating our move from the US to Uganda. While there is no harm in doing your own research, companies like Pets With Passports already know the best airlines to fly with depending on where in the world you are going. In addition to the fact that they are a female run business (love to the ladies!), they are animal lovers and care about the well being of your pet.
Even if you are sure you can organize things on your own, it’s always a good idea to consult a company. Pets With Passports is a great source if you are planning a big move. In some cases hiring a company is actually the safest way to move your pup. Sarah and Elaine have a wealth of knowledge and experience when it comes to pet travel. Read their blog and testimonials to learn more!
Microchip
Make sure your dogs microchip is internationally recognizable! I can’t stress this enough. The microchip Milo was given in Tunisia could not be read in the United States. This is a huge problem if your dog gets lost abroad or if there is an issue during transit.
The 15 digit ISO pet microchip is the international standard so be sure to organize that with your veterinarian before travel.
Socialization
Because your dog will be handled by various people during the trip, it’s important that they can behave well with strangers. Most large international airports have live animal holding areas, as I mentioned previously with KLM and Lufthansa.
If your dogs journey includes multiple flights then they will be held in one of these live animal transit facilities in between flights. Here they are walked and fed by designated staff before being loaded onto the next flight. So it’s good if they can be friendly with the people and animals that pass through these areas.
Crate Selection and Acclimation
Making sure your dog is familiar and comfortable with the travel crate is important. This will help them to feel more relaxed during the trip. If your dog is not crate trained, try to work on that as much as you can in the time leading up to the flight. Simple things like having your dog ride in the crate when you drive places can be very helpful.
The general guideline for cargo approved crates is the dog has to be able to stand up, turn around and lie down comfortably inside the crate. Airlines are very strict and specific about which kinds of crates you can use. Review this list for a detailed explanation of the sizing and design requirements. Additionally, if your dog is very large you might need to have a custom crate made. If you fall into this category then check out these great travel tips from Pets With Passports for extra large dogs.
I have been using the Petmate Giant Sky Kennel for Milo and absolutely love it. This crate is durable and designed for air travel therefore it’s approved by most airlines. I also use screw/twist-back bowls that attach firmly to the crate so you don’t have to worry about them falling off. Most airlines will have live animal stickers on hand to put on your crate, however you are expected to have your own.
Inside the kennel I like to put a bolster bed on the bottom. It’s thin but still provides cushion so it’s perfect for flying. Its then a good idea to put a disposable absorbent kennel pad or towel on top.
Remember there are very specific height restrictions for your dog inside the crate. I had a friend who bought an expensive foam bed that was 4 inches thick for her dog who was flying from Australia to Uganda. Because the bed took up 4 extra inches it threw off the original measurements and was no longer compliant with the height regulations. The airline made her remove it so make sure whatever bed lining you choose is thin!
Day Before Travel
On the day before a long flight it’s a great idea to give your dog lots of exercise if you can. Nothing too crazy but I usually try to double what we do on a daily average so that Milo is more tired than usual. I also feed him a larger breakfast and dinner. Milo gets very nervous when traveling and does not eat during the layovers, so I bulk up his meals the day before.
It’s a good idea to get the Ziplock bag with dry food ready and find an extra leash that will be attached to the crate. I have seen some crates that have a little compartment on the top where you can store the food and leash, however the crate I use does not have that so airline staff just duct tape everything to the top.
Day Of Travel
To help your dog feel comfortable during the journey I recommend getting up early to feed a light breakfast. This way your dog has enough time to digest the food and relieve themselves before the flight. Milo is a bit of an odd dog and would rather hold it in for 10 hours than soil his crate, so I like to make sure I minimize his need to go during the flight.
If you have enough time to exercise your dog before you head to the airport definitely do so. The more exercise they can get before a long journey the better, but also make sure they hydrate. You don’t want them to dehydrate during the flight.
Another way to make your dog feel more comfortable during the journey is adding an item of clothing that smells like you to the crate. I usually put a shirt or a small towel in the crate with him so there is a smell of familiarity.
At The Airport
After checking in and adding a plush toy to the crate, I will do one final walk outside before I hand Milo over to the gate agents. Everything is now our of your hands until you arrive at your final destination. If you are on the same flight as your dog you can let the flight crew know there is a dog in the cargo, which they should already be aware of.
Arrival At Your Destination
Your dog is going to be overjoyed to see you when you arrive at your final destination. The airline will instruct you on where to collect your dog. If you are on the same flight, pick up will probably be at the baggage claim. If your dog is coming on a different flight you will likely have collect at the airports cargo facility. This is usually located in a separate building. Your dog will have to go through a customs check so don’t be alarmed if you don’t see your pup straight away.
After a long journey your dog will be very thirsty so have some water ready. It’s also a good idea to bring some clean towels or blankets in case the crate has been soiled. The last thing to remember is that flying is very stressful on the dog and they will take several days to adjust to the new climate and time zone.
From left to right: Me picking up Milo in Uganda, Milo before his flight to South Africa
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Have questions about traveling internationally with your dog? Need some advice or reassurance on what to do? Feel free to send me a message! I’m happy to share my knowledge and put you in touch with the right people.
