Hi All,
Most of us aren’t only mamas to our two-legged children, but also to our four-legged babies.
That being said, I wanted to share my first experience traveling (on an airplane) with my dog, Harley this past weekend.
First of all, I literally lost sleep over this. He is 6 years old and suffers from anxiety, so I was naturally worried how this experience would affect him. He is also too big to travel in the cabin with us, so he had to go in cargo. Not to mention all of the horror stories that have been seen in the media lately with respect to airlines and traveling with dogs. Given his temperament and the time of year (everyone who usually watches him was going to be traveling), we opted to bring him home with us for the Easter long weekend.
Second of all, I had nothing to worry about! He did great – thanks to some preparation in advance, good travel gear and of course, WestJet for being so wonderful!
I wanted to share some pre-travel and travel tips to help you prepare (and endure) for a successful journey for both you and your four-legged baby:
- Speak to your vet in advance of the trip. Let them know your travel plans and seek their advice as to whether you should in fact travel, whether a sedative is recommended and whether there are any other tips they can provide (including whether any vaccinations are needed or flea prevention medications are recommended based on the area of travel);
- Buy an airline approved crate/carrier. We heard many great things about Great Choice crates, and we loved it (see below link)
- Bring your pet to get sized for the appropriate crate/carrier. It will put your mind at ease in knowing they are comfortable;
- Set the crate/carrier up in your home and allow you pet to get computable with it before you travel;
- Make the crate/carrier comfortable – lay down a bed, include a toy (one they find comfort in and won’t be possessive of (if your pet has possessive issues)), and purchase a travel water bowl that can attach to the crate/carrier (fill with amount of water based on the duration of your flight) *Speak to your vet and the airline about whether to include food in the crate/carrier and how much;
- Call the airline before you travel to ask questions and understand their pet policy (fly WestJet – they are amazing). It is also important that you understand what you have to do if you have a lay-over;
- Arrive at the airport early!!! Allow enough time to fill out the paperwork, and to not be stressed. The last thing you want is to create a stressful situation for your pet;
- Take your pet outside to “do their business” before you hand them off;
- Ensure your animal has a proper collar and identification on them;
- Don’t draw too much attention to leaving them before you had them off to the airline – I had to have my husband do this part, as I knew Harley would sense my anxiety. Again, the last thing you want is for them to sense your stress/anxiety;
- Give them a little treat before you board, and have one waiting on the other side when you greet them after the flight; and
- It’s advised to bring proof of vaccinations incase the airline asks for them.
Lastly, stay calm and enjoy the flight! They will be just fine 🙂
Happy flying and safe travels!
M.J.
