--- title: Pet Travel: Tips for Traveling With Your Dog description: Prepare a comfort item for your pet canonical: https://time.com/4008604/travel-with-dog/ author: TIME article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2015-08-24T19:49:31.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-04T07:44:30.005Z og:title: 9 Tips for Traveling With Your Dog og:description: Prepare a comfort item for your pet og:url: https://time.com/4008604/travel-with-dog/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt983bc9e7deddef41/698860a02dce014a319e5391/dog-crate.jpg?branch=production&width=479&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 479 og:image:height: 269 og:image:alt: dog-crate-airport og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: 9 Tips for Traveling With Your Dog twitter:description: Prepare a comfort item for your pet twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt983bc9e7deddef41/698860a02dce014a319e5391/dog-crate.jpg?branch=production&width=479&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # 9 Tips for Traveling With Your Dog ## Video: Snob on a Budget: Travel Tricks [Watch (HLS stream): Snob on a Budget: Travel Tricks](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/OYB7Z6X7.m3u8) (2:18)  _Published 2015-07-16. Snob on a Budget: Travel Tricks_ by [Ashley Carter / Avelist](https://time.com/author/avelist/) ## Ashley Carter / Avelist Aug 24, 2015 7:49 PM UTC  Portrait Of Dog In Luggage At Airport Portrait Of Dog In Luggage At AirportGetty Images by [Ashley Carter / Avelist](https://time.com/author/avelist/) ## Ashley Carter / Avelist Aug 24, 2015 7:49 PM UTC When I found out that I would be picking up my entire life, putting it on a plane and moving across the country, my first thought was, “My dogs are part of that ‘entire life’ thing. Now what?” I panicked. I have flown several times before but I had never flown a dog anywhere. A dog. Do they even allow animals on a plane? Turns out, people do this all time and it’s not so bad after all. So before you decide that flying your dog is both stressful and near impossible, take a deep breath and just consider these 9 simple tips. Once you’ve landed, you’ll have your pup flying first class like it’s no big deal. **Health:** First things first, make sure your dog is healthy and prepared to be exposed to a new environment. Your dog may need to have shots updated, an extra box of flea and tick medication or blood work for this process. So make sure you schedule a checkup before traveling. After all, the vet knows best! **Crate:** If you have a medium-large breed dog, you’re going to need a crate because they are considered a check-in and sometimes even cargo depending on how large he/she is. Make sure your dog can stand up straight without touching the top of the crate and turn around comfortably. You can find airline approved crates at [Petsmart](http://www.petsmart.com/dog/crates-gates-containment/petmate-plastic-carriers-zid36-6588/cat-36-catid-100013?var%5Fid=36-6588&%5Ft=pfm%3Dcategory) that fit your dog’s needs. Note: it’s best to crate train your dog a few months in advance that way he/she is familiar with the crate. **Carry on:** I don’t have a toy sized dog, so both of mine were considered checked bags but if your dog meets the size qualifications, I definitely recommend keeping them at your side during the flight. It allows you to know that your dog is safe and it’s cheaper. Check out these trendy [airline carriers](http://sleepypod.com/air). **Comfort item:** Just like a child needs their “blankie” or “passie,” a dog needs comfort too, especially during a flight which can cause them a load of stress. I used an old t-shirt and sprayed some of my body spray on it right beforehand. An owner’s scent is like comfort food for a dog. **Restrictions:** Most flights have breed restrictions so make sure to double check before booking your dog’s ticket. Dog breeds that aren’t meant for the sky miles are typically snub-nosed dogs such as bulldogs and pugs. Here is a [FAQ](https://www.avma.org/public/PetCare/Pages/Short-nosed-Dogs-and-Air-Travel-FAQs.aspx) guide to air travel and short nosed breeds. **Thunder Shirt:** For the extra timid pup, I highly recommend a [Thunder Shirt](http://www.amazon.com/Thundershirt-Jacket-Anxiety-Large-Solid/dp/B0028QK6EY). It’s designed to fit tight which allows for your dog to feel secure when he is scared. Thunder is scary but turbulence is even scarier. **Direct flight:** If you can avoid a layover, please do. It sounds ideal for you dog to have the opportunity to get out and stretch his legs before hopping onto the next five-hour flight but it’s really not worth it. Once you’re dog is out of his crate for the first time, chances are he/she isn’t going to want to get back in. Direct flights are a great way to minimize stress. **Quarantine:** When bringing your dog(s) into a foreign country (or back to the states), they may be subject to be quarantined. [BringFido](http://www.bringfido.com/travel/international/united%5Fstates/) has a great page with information and an application if it is necessary. There are also steps you can take to avoid this long and messy hassle, it just depends on where you’re going. **Booking the ticket:** Browse before booking and book in advance. Airfare for dogs can range anywhere between, $200 to $1000 plus, depending on size and destination. I personally booked through [Delta](http://www.delta.com/content/www/en%5FUS/traveling-with-us/special-travel-needs/pets.html) but here is a list of other [dog friendly airlines](http://www.bringfido.com/travel/). Note: airlines don’t allow pets to fly during summer months due to heat. _This_ [_article_](https://www.avelist.com/list/10-tips-for-dogs-and-air-travel-18659) _originally appeared on_ [_Avelist_](http://www.avelist.com) _More from Avelist:_ * [Things to Do Before Traveling Overseas](https://www.avelist.com/list/things-to-do-before-traveling-overseas-15634) * [Tips for Business Travel: Entrepreneur Style](https://www.avelist.com/list/tips-for-business-travel-entrepreneur-style-15374) * [Networking Advice For Introverts](https://www.avelist.com/list/networking-advice-for-introverts-18561) ### Wildlife Smuggled Through Airport Security  A baby tiger cub is found in the suitcase of a woman flying from Bangkok to Iran, at Suvarnabhumi Airport, in Bangkok, Thailand. Authorities at the airport found the baby tiger cub that had been drugged and hidden among stuffed toy tigers in the suitcase. Photo release Aug. 22, 2010. Suvarnabhumi Airport Wildlife Checkpoint/AP  U.S. customs inspectors at Los Angeles International Airport seized a shipment of several dozen live Giant African snails seen inthis photo released on July 14, 2014, considered a delicacy in Nigeria but also pests that can eat paint and stucco off houses. Handout/Reuters  A Dutch traveller was caught trying to smuggle more than a dozen live hummingbirds in special pouches sewn into the inside of his underwear at Rochambeau airport on Sept, 28, 2011 in Cayenne, French Guiana. The birds were individually wrapped in cloth and taped up to prevent them from escaping. Whitehotpix/ZumaPress  A crocodile native to India is shown to the press during a news conference in Bangkok on June 2, 2011\. Thai customs authorities say 431 turtles and other rare reptiles were stuffed into four suitcases and smuggled into the Bangkok airport. Apichart Weerawong—AP  An Australian man was caught with two pigeons hidden in his pants on a flight from Dubai to Melbourne, Australia on Feb 1, 2009\. The 23-year-old man was questioned by Customs after two eggs and some seeds were found in a vitamin container in his luggage. A search of his body found two live pigeons wrapped in padded envelopes and held to the man's legs with a pair of tights. Australian Customs Service/AP  An officer from Singapore's Immigration and Custom Authority holds one of many star tortoise which were found in the hand luggage of an Indian national at Singapore's Changi Airport on Sept. 15, 2003\. An Indian national was apprehended for illegal possessing 499 endangered star tortoises. AFP/Getty Images  This undated photo provided by the Department of Justice shows a detained suspect with songbirds strapped to his legs at Los Angeles International Airport The man was charged on May 5, 2009. Department of Justice/AP  An Indonesian customs officer shows a python snake, part of a haul discovered at the Sukarno-Hatta airport in Tangerang outside Jakarta on March 26, 2011\. Indonesian airport officials said they foiled an attempt by two Kuwaitis to smuggle 40 pythons in their luggage. AFP/Getty Images/Newscom  A woman arrived in Melbourne, Australia on a flight from Singapore with 51 live tropical fish hidden in a specially designed apron under her skirt on June 6, 2005\. Customs officers became suspicious after hearing 'flipping' noises coming from her waist. Australian Customs Service/AP  An employee of Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau holds one of five sailfin lizards that were smuggled into Hong Kong and brought back to the Philippines on June 8, 2012\. The lizards were smuggled into Hong Kong along with 18 Philippine pond turtles and 13 Asian box turtles. Bullit Marquez—AP  A plane passenger with dozens of deadly tarantula spiders hidden in his luggage was arrested as he tried to smuggle the spiders past customs officials in Zurich Airport, Switzerland. The spiders were endangered Mexican red kneed tarantulas, and are understood to have died of cold during the flight. 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