As a dog owner, you already know how we can become so attached to our pets. There is even scientific proof that shows humans love their dogs in the same way they love their children. According to studies when a dog owner and their pet stare into each other’s eyes, a hormone called oxytocin spikes in the brain that makes both you and your dog feel happy.

Now we have explained why humans and dogs have such a strong bond let’s look at what you can do to ensure your best friend is as safe as possible when flying in an aircraft’s hold.

Before we start, however I feel it is only right for the sake of full disclosure that I mention that I traveled with my two Westies from Newark (EWR) to Barcelona (BCN). While my dogs arrived safely, I would never put a dog I owned through that experience again.

Ed Perkins, a contributing editor at Smart Travel and owner of two dogs, says you should never put your dog in the cargo hold of a plane saying:

"It's not a question of how to do it, just don't do it. Drive instead or leave the pet at a kennel or with a friend or a sitter."

This is pretty much how I feel after seeing how scared and afraid my dogs were when I was finally reunited with them.

While airlines transport thousands of dogs in the cargo hold each year without incident, whenever a dog dies, gets lost or put on the wrong airplane it is plastered all over the news.

Before your dog is allowed to fly

All dogs need to be microchipped before they are allowed to fly. If you are traveling to a different country, make sure the chip is the same in both. In my case flying from the United States to Europe required my dogs to have European chips that are ISO 11784/11785 compliant and have 15 digits.

dog-shots
Make sure your dog’s vaccinations are up to date. Photo: Scott Veterinary Clinic

You will also need to take your dog to the vet for a check-up and to make sure all their vaccinations are up to date. If your dog is getting its first rabies vaccine after being chipped there is a 21 day waiting period before it can fly. There is no waiting period for boosters or other vaccines.

Selecting the right airline

If you must fly with your dog, do your due diligence and try and make sure you can put your dog on a direct flight, even if it means driving a couple of hours out of the way to do so.

Do not medicate your dog before flying, and while some people might take anxiety medications like Xanax or Valium to help them with flying, if your dog is lethargic or unresponsive the airline may refuse to take them.

dog-in-crate
Be sure and fly with an airline that has a dedicated pet program. Photo: Lufthansa

If you find that you have more than one airline to select from, choose an airline that has a dedicated pet program like United Airlines PetSafe®. Nowadays, most airlines offer a special service that ensures someone is looking after your dog and that it is kept in an air-conditioned or heated place before being put on the aircraft. As a rule, dogs are put on an aircraft last and taken off first.

Follow the airlines recommendation for the size of crate your dog requires. Metal crates that you may have used at home are not accepted.

Once you have purchased a travel crate, be sure and put a live animal sticker on the crate and all relevant information about your destination including a telephone number where you can be reached.

Also, write a short message for the person that will be looking after your dog and include the dog’s name.

Flying with your dog

Parting company with your dog at the airport is the worst feeling, but realize that you will both meet up soon and that your dog will be as happy to see you as you are to see them.

Once you are seated on the aircraft and all the suitcases and cargo have been loaded, ask one of the flight attendants to check with the captain to ensure your dog has been put on the plane. Doing this accomplishes two things; it gives you peace of mind, and also reminds that captain that there is a live animal onboard.

If you are flying domestically they should be no problem retrieving your dog after arrival. If, however, you are flying internationally, your dog could be at a veterinary holding facility on the other side of the airport. Contact the airport you are flying in to so that you know where to go to pick up your dog.

In my case, the dogs were several miles away from me, but fortunately I had rented a car and was able to get to them.

Traveling with dogs is very complicated and not cheap either, so be prepared for the extra expense. If you follow my advice and use an airline with a pet service you should be fine.

If you have any dog and airline-related stories, please post your thoughts in the comments section. We would love to read them, plus you might help other travelers with their dogs.