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When you have to fly your pet by plane in order to travel during vacation or when moving, the last thing most of us want is to stuff him in a box while he sits in the cargo area during the entire flight. Unfortunately, if you have no other choice but to use the airlines for your travel needs, your dog will more thank likely be placed in a crate for the flight.

Your job here is to make certain your dog is as comfortable as possible. Below are a few suggestions to help you prepare him for the flight:

1. Purchase in a USDA approved kennel that is designed for traveling. The kennel should be custom fit to the size of your dog or puppy. Make certain that the kennel unit is sturdy and provides enough room for your pet to stand up in, as well as offers the ability for him to turn around if he needs to.

2. Avoid waiting until the day of your flight to put your dog inside the kennel. Its true that dogs do adapt easily, however, it is best to get him comfortable with the crate so that he will be a little more at ease. You can do this by having your dog sleep inside the kennel each night before your travel date. Three nights of this preparation before the day of the flight is enough time.

3. If your flight will be longer than 10 to 12 hours, make certain to tape a small bag of dog food outside the crate, complete with meal instructions.

4. For your own peace of mind and to avoid the small chance that your dog could miss his destination, simply write the destination of your flight on the top portion of the crate in big letters. Make certain to include your full name and address, as well as a valid phone number where you can be reached.

5. It is best not to feed your dog at least six hours of the flight. This will help reduce the chances of him having him accidentally using the bathroom inside of the kennel.

6. In case your dog does have a bathroom accident while flying, prep the kennel with a light layer of paper and bedding so that the urine and stools can be soaked as best possible.

7. To avoid your dog from becoming thirsty during the flight, place two bowls inside the kennel, one filled with a small amount of water, and the other filled with ice. The ice bowl will actually melt away bit by bit ' this will provide him with plenty of fluids hours later.

8. Lastly, if you own a small dog like a Chihuahua or a toy poodle, see if you can arrange to have a small crate to put your dog in that can fit underneath your chair 'But do not wait until the last minute to talk with the airlines about this arrangement. Find out if boarding the flight with your small dog under your seat is allowed as soon as you possibly can.