Taking pets on planes is becoming more popular each year with air travel becoming more economical and the general population starting to travel more.  Animals are transported in the hold and, if you are leaving the country, you will need a pet passport.  However, there is one consideration that most people are initially unaware of and that is that you can’t just put your dog in any dog kennel for the journey.

To put a dog onto a plane you will need an airline approved kennel.  Vari kennels have this approval and are the most popular approved brand on the market.  The reason that you need a specially approved kennel is that it needs to have specific features which are not necessary in a standard travel kennel.

The most important feature of a vari kennel is that it has air vents on all four walls and the roof.  Also, the walls are at a slight angle so that should the kennel be up against the plane wall air will still be able to circulate.  Because travel on a plane can be quite a rough and bumpy experience the dog cage also needs to be made from particularly sturdy plastic, which won’t break if given a hard knock.

Kennel doors are also important as, not only should they be very secure and lockable, your dogs nose and paws mustn’t be able to poke out of the mesh as this would cause a big risk of injury to the animal.  There have also been specially designed water cups which can be fixed to the inside of the door, making it impossible for your dog to knock over its water in transit and suffer from de-hydration.

A deluxe vari kennel also comes with wheels and a leash so that it can be pulled through the airport rather than you having to lug the kennel around.

These days having an indoor animal such as a dog can cause major monetary damage to one’s pocket. Be prepared to pay a pet deposit that 99% of all apartment complexes charge. This fee normally ranges from 100 to 500 dollars and is non-refundable. Once you and your new found best friend move in get ready for an adventure. House training is far too often a more than difficult task. You will more than likely be making a bi-weekly trip to the store to purchase dog supplies such as potty pads and odor remover unless you wise up like I did and purchase a dog kennel.

Crate training your new companion is very simple. In the wild, canines normally live in small caves that they utilize as their den. So once you have your new portable dog kennel set up, your pup will more than likely scope it out immediately to claim as his or her ‘den’. I suggest throwing a sheet over the top when you first start leaving your animal in the crate while you are away from home. This seems to calm the pet down. Don’t worry about your animal urinating or defecating in his or her new home. Animals will not use the bathroom where they sleep. So as long as you come home with 6 – 8 hours to walk him or her you will see no accidents. Make sure to adjust your feeding schedule to help out with this.

My dog was safely house trained by the use of a dog kennel. Not only did this method teach my pet not to urinate inside my home, it also ensured the safety of my carpet and furniture while he was going through his puppy stages and teething! Feel free to try other methods but I’m betting you will find that this method is by far the best.