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Crate training has major advantages: airlines all have different regulations about whether and where they will accept pets, but the ones that do, want them crated. (I have a friend whose recent seat mate on an Air Canada flight was a medium-sized dog who was not crated. My friend didn’t appreciate spending a cross-country flight with somebody else’s pet. I don’t know if Air Canada has recently changed their regulations so you can buy your dog an actual passenger seat, or if this was one of those in-flight anomalies.)
Some airlines don’t fly pets, and some only allow them in the cargo hold. Cargo travel may be restricted during hot and cold months as well. Airlines have their own rules, so if you are definitely bringing Fifi along, you should talk to the individual airline well before you buy your ticket.
I was recently on a flight where, after we landed, a passenger removed her little Papillon, asleep in his crate, from under her seat. This was a best-case scenario, but it was possible because of the compact nature (and the drug-induced fatigue) of the dog. When airlines do allow pets to fly, they still place restrictions on the size of the crate and the way it’s made, so that’s another thing to investigate while you’re still in the trip-planning phase.
A crate-trained animal sees the crate as his own room, and feels secure tucked away with a toy and a familiar blanket. An animal who isn’t crate-trained may require sedation during a flight – not the happiest solution. Hotels and motels vary as to whether they will allow pets, and having your pet crated makes him a more desirable customer. Besides that, you will probably prefer to stay in a place where pets are crated – it will be cleaner, and your dog will have fewer chances of picking up a contagious illness from someone else’s dog.
When you travel in the car with your dog, ensure his safety by keeping the windows mostly rolled up – some dogs get so excited, they will try to crawl or leap out. If you must leave him alone while you run an errand, park in a shady spot, and crack the windows so he has air. In moderately warm weather, the heat inside a car can reach lethal levels in minutes.
On extended car trips, make sure to walk your dog frequently (try for once-hourly), to avoid in-car accidents or digestive trouble later. Remember, your dog still needs an exercise period of 30-45 minutes every day, and this shouldn’t be ignored when you’re traveling. Especially on trips, sticking to routine will help keep your dog healthy and feeling secure. If you’ve ever taken even a three or four-day road trip, you know the impact that fast food, changes in climate, and sitting in the car all day can have on your body. Make sure your dog drinks plenty of water (you have some, too) and gets lots of exercise in between spells of driving.
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