We have a dog named Theo who travels with us frequently! We’ve had him since 2015 when he was just a small puppy, and at this point he’s been to 15 countries! He’s a Maltese-Poodle mix, weighs 8 lbs, loves nothing more than being with his moms, and is an awesome traveller. Because we started taking him with us on road trips and short flights from a young age, he’s adapted really well to our ever-changing routine, and is always a happy little guy.
Of course, not every dog will enjoy travelling, and some pets really do best in their own environments, with a regular routine and steady patterns. Before you consider flying with your dog, be sure to consider their age, health, and behaviour, to help determine whether or not they will be able to handle it well. In this post we are talking about flying with a small dog, in cabin. To fly with your pet in cabin with you, they need to weigh 20 lbs or less. They must travel in an airline approved soft pet carrier, that is leak proof and well ventilated. The carrier needs to be stowed at your feet, underneath the seat in front of you, and your pet must be able to turn around and lie down comfortably inside it.
If you do decide to travel with your pet and they meet these requirements, you’ll want to make the experience as comfortable as possible for them. Keep reading for our tips on flying with your small dog!
Do Your Research
Before booking your pet on any flight, you should start by doing a lot of research. If you are flying domestically, you should look up all of the pet policies for each airline and compare prices, procedures, and requirements, and determine what will be best for you. If you plan to fly internationally, you will need to look up specifics for the country you are exiting, as well as the country you are entering. Some countries require certain vaccinations to be up-to-date prior to entering which you will need to provide documentation for. Some countries require certain paperwork that may need to be signed by your vet and/or your national food inspection agency. In most cases your dog needs to be microchipped, and in very few cases your dog would need to be quarantined. We fly domestically with Theo often, and find it all to be easy and stress free. We’ve flown with him internationally several times and it’s definitely a bigger hassle, but still possible. We have never taken him anywhere where he requires a quarantine, and we always keep him up to date on his vaccinations anyways.
Book Your Flight Far in Advance
Once you’ve done your research and decided on your airline and preferred flight, you should book it as far in advance as possible. Most airlines only allow a certain number of pets on a flight, so you will want to reserve your spot as soon as you can. There is a fee to travel with your pet, and it varies between airlines. You also generally need to phone to book your pet, so even if you buy your flight online, you will need to call the airline afterward to add a pet to your reservation. Different airlines may have varying weight requirements, and different regulations on pet carriers, so be sure that you have all of the information and choose the best fit for you and your dog.
Opt to Choose Your Seats
When booking your flight, opt to choose your seats in advance. There are so many factors that go into having a comfortable flight, and you want to make things as stress free as possible for you and your dog. We like to choose seats in a low traffic area so there won’t be a lot of extra noise. We generally choose something closer to the back of the plane, but away from the restrooms. We also try to book just two seats together, so that we don’t have anyone sitting next to us. This way Theo can hear our voices but doesn’t feel the need to want to say hello to strangers. We generally try to put Theo by the window, so he isn’t hearing all of the noise coming down the aisles. The quieter it is, the more likely he will just take a little nap during flight. Some airlines have regulations on where pets can be on a plane, and they sometimes keep certain sections dog free for people with allergies. These are all questions to ask when booking your flight, so you don’t end up getting moved to a less desirable seat at the last minute.
Arrive at the Airport Early
With most airlines, you can’t check in for your flight online when you have a pet on your reservation, so you will need to arrive to the airport with plenty of time to stand in line and check in with an agent. We like to arrive early, check in at the desk, and then leave ourselves enough time to take Theo outside the airport for one final bathroom break before going through security. All of this contributes to making him as comfortable as possible on the flight! Some airports do have pet relief areas indoors, so this is something else you can research beforehand. If your airport does have a pet relief area, just leave yourself enough time to find it and give them a break before boarding your flight. When going through security, you will need to send the carrier through with your carry on bags, and carry your dog through the metal detector. This is where Theo makes friends with all of the airport employees! Also note that with most airlines, your pet carrier counts as one of your carry on items.
Purchase Your Carrier Far in Advance
When flying with your small dog, they will need to travel in an airline approved pet carrier. It needs to be small enough to slide under the seat in front of you on the airplane, and it needs to be a “soft carrier”. This is the style of carrier that we use and Theo loves it. (They don’t make the exact model that we have anymore, but this is the closest one!) We’ve never had any issues going through security with his bag or with taking it on the plane. It always fits where it needs to, and does its job. Before travelling with your dog, purchase your pet carrier as far in advance as possible so they can get used to it. When you first get it, open it up inside the house and allow your dog to smell it, inspect it, and check it out on their own terms. Give them time to get inside it only once they’re comfortable, and allow them to warm up to it on their own. Then start implementing it into your routine by using it in the house, in the car, etc. so it becomes a safe and comfortable place for your dog. The more time they have to get used to it, the better!
Make Their Carrier the Coziest Place in the World
Now that your dog is comfortable with their travel carrier, you want to make it the most amazing place in the world for them, so they’re happy being in it for a longer period of time. We put an extra comfy pillow in Theo’s bag for him so it’s like his own portable bed. We also put a little blanket in there for extra comfort and as a just-in-case, if he were to get sick. (This way you only have to wash the blanket and not the entire bag!) Theo loves his bag so much that as soon as we bring it out he jumps inside. He associates it with travelling and coming with us, and knows to get in and get comfy for awhile. He obviously feels safe and comfortable in there, and it makes travel days so much easier for everyone. We love this style of bag, because you can open it on either end, and also on the top. This way, on the plane we can unzip the top of the bag to check on him, or rub his tummy when he asks. There’s also a spot to clip on a portable water bowl if he wants a drink!
Try a Thunder Shirt for Anxiety
At least in the beginning, travel might cause some anxiety for your dog. And while they will likely adjust to flying, it’s still best to do everything you can to alleviate their anxiety, and make them feel safe and stress free. Something we started using for Theo when he was a puppy is called a Thunder Shirt. It’s a “natural calming solution”, that applies gentle pressure to your pet’s body, like swaddling a baby. We started using it on Theo when we left him alone to ease any separation anxiety, and on travel days to make him feel calm and safe. Even though he probably doesn’t need it anymore, we still put it on him before flying because it’s part of his routine, and signals to him that it’s a travel day and it’s time to get cozy in his bag. Thunder Shirts can be used for everything including storms, fireworks, separation anxiety, travel, visits to the vet, and anything else that stresses out your pet. They come in different sizes and have worked really well for plenty of our friends. We highly recommend them!
Try Aromatherapy for Additional Calming
Just like humans, dogs can respond well to aromatherapy. Certain essential oils work really well for stress and anxiety, and can be a great addition to your pet’s travel routine. We will spray Theo’s travel blanket and Thunder Shirt with a calming spray, and it helps to further alleviate any anxiety that may be caused by flying. Great calming scents that are safe for dogs include lavender and chamomile, and can be available in drops or a spray. Thundershirt makes a great spray that we’ve been using for Theo for years. All of these things work to make Theo’s travel carrier the coziest place possible for him, and also somewhere that he feels safe. On a flight, he’s perfectly happy curling up in his bag for a nap, and stays nice and calm the whole time we’re on the plane. We try not to bring any attention to him, because the only thing that makes him excitable is people that want to say hello to him!
Flying with your dog doesn’t need to be stressful, but of course there are a lot of factors that depend on your pet. Be sure to keep their health, safety, and comfort in mind at all times, and only travel with them if you know they can handle it. Hopefully these tips help you plan your trip, and if you have any questions or suggestions please leave them in the comments down below!
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