Has anyone done it? Transatlantic flight. Crate, tranquilizer? The dog is pretty level-headed, not spooky or overly anxious.
have done it several times with different dogs. Germany to the US. Never gave anything and the dogs had no problems at all. I personally would be scared that my dogs would get problems with any medication, because they are not used to it… Maybe if the dogs get Medication all the time its different…
I have done it. I try not to fly with them in the summer if I can avoid it- its too hot on the tarmac.I prefer the most direct flights with them- the less connections, the better for them. We have kept dogs for several months for friends until it cooled down and then send them or flew with them. Check with the countries regulations , but even here in the states- Hawaii for instance has a 6 month quarantine and you get to pay for it all. England as well. Australia has gotten pretty strict. You can call the embassy of the country you like to fly to and check what their rules and laws are. Check with the airlines as well - some provide a crate, others you can use your own. I avoid any meds if possible, but I have had dogs that where too nervous and we gave a small dosage- just enough to give them a relaxed attitude. I try not to feed 12 hours before a flight- that way they are empty and dont have a mess in the crate - embarrassing for all- including the dog. I also sweat up a towel and put that in the crate with them- it seems to keep them calmer to have that scent with them. Some countries want a vet check no more then 2 weeks before your flight, others are ok if your shots are up to date. Here are some good tips for it
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Thanks for the info! I know some airlines don’t allow pets (unless they can go in the cabin) in the Summer. My dog would travel in the Fall on a direct flight to Paris and I will buy a crate for her.
A note about quarantine-the Hawaii six month quarantine can be avoided by following a specific medical protocol, but you have to follow the rules exactly or it will be six months. Some countries have similar ways to certify the animal as healthy, and avoid quarantine, but you have to follow the rules exactly.
I have done it with three different dogs, once in 2009 (one-way Frankfurt to Calgary with Air Canada), and with two dogs last summer (Calgary to Amsterdam and return with KLM). All dogs arrived safely. All flights were direct, I accompanied them on the same flight. All dogs were fine in the end, but it makes a big difference which airline you chose.
KLM was a much better experience than Air Canada.
Idk how big your dog is, but for one, KLM has no restrictions for crate size. A size XL crate costs the same as a size M, and they are all transported as oversize luggage. When we arrived in Shipol, the dogs had already been brought to the terminal, they were accompanied by two ladies from KLM until we picked them up, and they had already been given water. In YYC on the way home, the service wasn’t quite as good but the dogs were unloaded and brought to the terminal promptly. They were just dropped off in the oversize baggage section without water though. Good thing I brought some bottled water with me from the plane.
When I flew my dog out in 2009, he just exceeded Air Canada’s weight limit for oversize baggage, so he had to fly as cargo with an animal transport company. The whole procedure was different. He arrived at the cargo terminal, so I needed to go through customs / immigration for myself first, then get a car, drive to the cargo terminal to pick up his papers, back to the passenger terminal for customs, then back to the cargo terminal to pick up the dog. That cost me at least an extra hour, and my dog was also not given any water while he was waiting, despite the fact that he had a water dish that they could have been filled without opening the crate. So at that point he had been without water for about 13-14 hours - not optimal.
All my flights were in summer too, I think there was a temperature limit for the departure / arrival destinations, but we didn’t exceed it. Pretty much all transatlantic airplanes have a pressurized and heated cargo section (smaller airplanes sometimes don’t), so that shouldn’t be too big an issue. I’m not sure it’s true, but I’ve heard that the Boeing 787 Dreamliner has the best system for pressurizing the cargo section and reducing engine noise.
I didn’t tranq any of my dogs. It’s not recommended by vets for the risk of vomiting/aspirating, or the risk of the dog freaking out if there is a delay and the tranquilizer wears off. My male can get pretty nervous and definitely didn’t enjoy the experience, but he made it alright.
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I have not done it but know several breeders that have shipped dogs back and forth to other countries. No one ever tranquilizes a dog for shipping. If you have not done so already - crate train your dog now. A dog that is used to being in a crate will be fine.
I agree with the above posts - follow the rules for the country you are traveling to, and talk to the airlines long in advance to understand their own rules.
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Yes, my vet clinic has a client that has a second home in Hawaii and she flies back and forth with her dogs. It is a lot of paperwork and coordination to get the dogs ready to go.
My dog is medium size and used to being in a crate. I don’t plan on tranquilizing her. I was just curious as to other people’s experiences.
DIMC that sounds awful, with Air Canada, having to run back and forth like that to get your poor dog! I am hoping Air France will be better.
And yes of course I will follow the rules, lol!
No one doubts that; it’s just that there are a lot of rules - both the country and the airline. Find out sooner than later and just be diligent. My dog’s breeder has a co-breeder in Australia. It’s a lot of paperwork but when followed diligently, it’s not that bad of a process.
Are you flying with your pet? What time of year? Do you know what country and what airline? That will all impact the arrangements. If your medium-sized dog has erect ears, you may need a jumbo crate so the ears don’t touch the roof; it depends on the airline. What kind of crate do you currently have? It may or may not be acceptable to the airline.
This e-book may be helpful. I haven’t purchased it but I assume it has tips like taping food, kennel lead, and contact info to the crate’s exterior; ziptieing doors and corners with releasable zipties; water bowl that can be filled from outside, etc. Profleece bedding or something similarly quick-drying may be helpful.
http://susangarrettdogagility.com/ultimate-ebook-offer/
Airline kits with requisite stickers can be purchased online. I suggest more secure bowls than the shallow little white ones sold with the kits that fall off if they are bumped. Freeze a little water in the container overnight. Exercise her thoroughly in the days before, cut food back, and make sure she defecates before loading.
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Thanks, Bicoastal.
The trip may or may not happen but if it does, it will be this fall, and to France. Dog is a small-ish standard poodle. Flight time (we’ll be on the same plane, which, hopefully, my BIL will be flying) is about 6 hours.
How long will you be staying? You will need an EU Health Certificate. Pay careful attention to the dates of your vaccinations. be sure the Rabies vaccination does not expire while you are traveling.
The EU Health Certificate is good for 4 months. If you are staying longer you may need an EU pet passport.
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