I don’t know about you, but I love to travel and when I do, I take all three of my little munchkins with me. This ultimate guide to traveling with a dog will help you prepare for air travel with your dog.

Traveling by air with a dog can be a little like traveling with a baby — they are 4-legged babies, after all. This air travel guide will help prepare both you and your dog.

It takes preparation! If you decide to travel with a pet by air you are exposing him to all kinds of new sights, sounds, and environments. You need to prepare him for the trip in advance.

Dogs are creatures of habit and they don’t like change very well. New environments, noises, and movements can be terrifying for the first time. Especially when experienced all at once.

How To Prepare Your Dog For Traveling

Preparing a dog for travel is absolutely necessary, especially if for the first time or if you don’t travel often with your Chihuahua. Remember, Chihuahuas are fear aggressive. If you throw him into this new situation without being desensitized to all the new things he will encounter, he will likely be terrified.

Wouldn’t it be nice if we could just set them down and explain it to them and make them understand what is coming? We can’t do that, but we can show them in ways that dogs understand.

Air travel for a dog can be difficult, but not impossible. You need to prepare your Chihuahua for the noise, people, and chaos that he will encounter during the travel process. Here are some things you can do to make traveling by air more comfortable and safe for them.

Should Your Chihuahua Even Be Traveling By Air?

Contact the airport and book your dog in advance, just like you would yourself. Different airlines have different rules and requirements for traveling pets, so be sure you know what theirs is.

Should Your Chi Travel By Air At All? Not all dogs should be flying. In general, airlines recommend that puppies, older or sick dogs not travel on an airplane. Dogs with short snouts also should not fly as it could compromise their breathing. They are also at more risk of overheating.

Handling Your Dog In His Carrier

Security or other crew members may have to handle your dog. If your dog is not good with strangers, don’t risk it. Even a tiny bite could land both of you in big trouble.

Crate train your dog weeks before the flight. If already crate trained, make sure he is comfortable in the crate. Try putting your dog in the crate and leave the room to make sure they remain calm.

• Line the bottom of the crate with a blanket or towel to keep your dog warm and cozy, and to absorb any in-flight accidents. If you can, use his favorite one. It will smell like home, which may help calm your dog.
• Begin the training process far in advance of the trip if your dog has not been crate trained yet.
• Even dogs flying in-cabin need to stay under the seat, so he needs to be comfy in his crate. ~ WikiHow

Is your dog comfortable being in his carrier? Once your dog is comfortable in their crate, help him adjust to new sounds and motions. You can do that by taking him for car rides often before the trip. That way he will experience the motion he will experience.

Have friends and family come over and carry your dog around in his carrier. Being carried and handled by other people is something he will have to become accustomed to.

Playing recordings of airport sounds thereby helping him to become accustomed to sounds that he will experience. Try playing recordings of crowds and planes taking off and landing. Play these tracks a few times a week in the weeks leading up to your flight. You can find recordings of crowds and airport noises on websites such as Youtube.

How Your Vet Can Help

Let your vet know that your dog will be traveling on an airplane. Whether you check your dog in as cargo (I would not recommend doing so for a Chihuahua) or in the cabin most airlines require a travel certificate from a veterinarian. Different locations have different requirements, so talk to your vet, they will be able to tell you if your dog needs new vaccines or boosters and can sign any paperwork that the airline may require.

Contact the airline to find out what specific requirements their are for your destination.

• If your dog needs a vet check, try to do this around 45 days before your departure, or at the time specified by the travel certificate. You need at least 30 days for a rabies vaccine to take effect, but getting checked too early could make some tests invalid.
• Make at least two copies of your dog’s paperwork to take with you when you travel. Keep one copy with your boarding documents and tape one on your dog’s carrier. ~ WikiHow

Ask your vet about sedation. Some dogs will never be comfortable with flying, no matter how much preparation you do beforehand.

Ask your vet about sedation if your dog doesn’t like traveling. In most cases, an unsedated dog is a safer traveler since its senses are still sharp. you suspect, however, that your dog will feel panicky then sedation may be best. Your veterinarian can prescribe something in the right dose for your dog.

• Some dogs get motions sickness or have separation anxiety or don’t do well with strangers. In these cases, sedation may be the safer way to go.
• Not all dogs that are uncomfortable traveling will require a prescription sedative. There are many calming supplements that may work just fine for your dog.
• Consult with your veterinarian before giving your dog any new medications or over the counter supplements for the first time.
• If you do decide on a prescription sedative, ask your vet to prescribe an extra dose so you can test for any adverse reactions before the big day.

Don’t Forget About Safety

Get your dog microchipped in case it gets lost. If your dog panics and escapes in a busy airport you will want a reliable way to find him. Get him microchipped a few weeks beforehand.

If your dog gets lost the authorities will be able to scan the microchip and get the information to contact the microchip’s registry where they can get your contact information

If your dog is already microchipped make sure that your contact information is current and correct.

Don’t miss coming soon: The Ultimate Guide to Traveling By Car With Your Chihuahua. Don’t want to miss it? CLICK HERE to be notified when it is posted.