How to Transport Dogs Safely

Many dog owners love their furry companions and treat them as family members. They are great to travel with and will even take their best mates on holidays. Whether it’s buying your new pup, taking your pooch on holidays, or taking you best mate when relocating there is several considerations in planning the trip. Travelling can be stressful for you and your furry pals, therefore we want to ensure the trips run smoothly and the process is safe and as stress free as possible. We fly dogs all over Australia but there are a few things to consider before packing up your pup and heading to the airport; How old is your dog? Is your dog in good health? Is your dog a brachycephalic breed or snub nose dog? All these factors will affect the way we freight your animal. To assist with us getting a better understanding of your dog’s travel requirements, we need to consider the below factors:

Not all dogs are created equal.

90% of all dogs can be transported without issue or special attention. The remaining 10% we need to freight with some special requirements. Brachycephalic or snub nose dogs need to go through a vigorous examination by a veterinarian and pass a brachycephalic fit to fly before they can travel. Please refer to our brachycephalic section for a detailed explanation of how to prepare your snub nose dog for its flight. Brachycephalic Breeds – Tail Travel American Staffordshire dogs (Amstaf) are classified by all Australian airlines as “dangerous dogs”. This is not so much due to their behaviour towards people or other animals but due to the habit of chewing when stressed. This has caused dogs to chew through their plastic crate and get out in the cargo hold of planes. Due to this behaviour Amstafs are required to be transported with a specially made timber crate called CR80 or CR82 crates. These crates must meet International Animal Transport Association (IATA) standards. Currently Tail Travel has several of these crates for adult dogs and one for Amstaf puppies which we can utilise for your Amstaf’s travel.

Crate size matters!

All dogs must fly as animal cargo on a plane and will have to spend the duration of the flight in an airline approved animal crate. These crates are generally made out plastic with a large amount of ventilation on the sides and a metal door which can be shut securely which allows a water bowl to be attached. These crates must not be collapsible and must not have wheels. They preferably have a false bottom in case of accidents during the trip allowing your dog to stay dry and they must have metal screws connecting the top half to the bottom half. Ideally you want to fit your animal into the crate correctly because if the crate is too small then your dog may be uncomfortable or get rejected to fly. On the other hand, you may pay substantially more if the crate is oversized for your pet (some airlines charge by the size of the crate not the weight). Ideally your animal needs to be able to enter the crate, stand up without hitting the roof of the crate, able to turn around inside the crate and lay down comfortably. If you don’t have access to a crate, then there is a formula which we can use to estimate the correct size for your dog. Below there is a diagram that gives 4 measurements. A – The length from the dog’s nose to its bum/base of its tail B – The length from the ground to your dog’s chest. C – The length from the ground to the top of your dog’s head D – The length across the widest part of your dog’s body. Dogs weight is also a key factor when sizing a crate to fit your animal. Each crate has a maximum weight, and it is important to keep below this weight.

If you can give us these measurements and the animals weight, we will be able to size the best crate for your dog.

Sharing is Caring

It is possible to have more than one dog to a crate BUT the airlines do have some restrictions around this.

• 1. All animals must be of the same species – e.g. cats and dogs, or cats and birds cant travel in the same crate. It’s just the foundation for a Looney Tunes cartoon and most likely will end in disaster.
• 2. Dogs must co-habitat at home and get along with one another.
• Each dog must weigh 14kg or under.
• 3. And of course, both animals are to be able to stand in the crate, move around and lay down without issue.

Here are some valuable tips when transporting your dog:

• 1. For a dog to be able to travel on a Virgin flight it must be over eight (8) weeks old. If the dog is between 8 weeks and 12 weeks or over 12 years of age your dog must have a Fit to Fly medical completed by a veterinarian.
• 2.  For a dog to be able to travel on a Qantas flight
• 3. it must be over twelve (12) weeks old, and no medical is required if the dog is between 12 weeks and 12 years of age.
• 4. All dogs over the age of 12 years need a Fit to Fly medical completed before travel.
• 5. The dog must not be unduly aggressive.
• 6. Your dog must not be unwell, sick, recovering from an operation or given birth recently.
• 7. The crate your dog is travelling in must adhere to the regulations and make sure the carrier is sturdy, well-ventilated and have enough space for your dog to stand, turn around and lie down. If the dog is too big for the crate, then the dog will most likely be rejected. This may incur added expenses like collection of the dog, purchase of a second crate. overnight holding and booking another flight,
• 8. Use a pet collar that will not get caught in carrier doors.
• 9. Affix two collar IDs on your pet, one with your name, telephone, and home address and one with a temporary travel ID with phone and address at which you can be contacted.
• 10. Affix a label on the carrier also. Write your name, phone, address and destination.
• 11. Clip your pet’s nail before travelling to ensure the nails do not get hooked in the carrier’s holes, door, or any crevice.
• 112. Help your dog acclimatise the carrier this can be done by crate training him/her days or weeks before the flight to minimise the stress during travel.
• 13. Do not use pet tranquillisers unless prescribed by your veterinarian.
• 14. Avoid feeding your dog four to six hours before the trip. Though you can give them water in small quantities, you can also put ice cubes in the water tray attached to the dog carrier.
• 15. Its always good to give your pup a good walk before the flight which will burn some energy but also encourage him/her to go to the toilet ensuring they are empty for the flight.
• 16. After arriving at your destination, make sure you are in a controlled area before you open the crate like the car or a building, this will minimise the chance of your pet escaping.

Pet Container Requirements

As a pet owner, you must provide a container for your dos transport that meets the standards IATA requirements. It must also be approved by airlines. An airline may refuse to transport your pet if the container does not meet guidelines. The container size is very important, and hence it should meet the following guidelines:

• A. Your dog must be able to stand with its head up.
• B. Your dog should be able to freely turn around inside the container.
• C. Some airlines do not accept wired containers.
• D. The pet container should be strong enough to withstand the damage and ensure that the pet cannot rescue.
• E. It should not exceed the total weight of 65 kgs, including the pet’s weight. However, it may differ from airline to airline.
• F.There should not be any wheels attached to the container.
• G.Generally, only one dog is allowed inside the container. Although, three pets can travel in the same container if they meet the below-mentioned criteria:
• (i). All three pets are from the same litter.
• (ii). They are under 14 kgs each.
• (iii).All three are under six months old.
• a. If a dog is over 14 kgs, only one dog can travel in a pet container.
• b. Two pet dogs can travel in one container if they weigh up to 14 kgs, but both pets must be compatible for travel purposes.

Conditions When Pets Are Transported at Owner’s Risk

If you dog has any of the below conditions, then a fit to fly examination will be required for your dog to obtain from a veterinarian before it flies.

• 1. The dog is either pregnant or has given birth within 48-hours of flight departure.
• 2. The dog is over 12 years of age.
• 3. The dog is between eight weeks and twelve weeks old.
• 4. The dog has been sedated.
• 5. The dog is recovering from surgery, sick or injured.