Do I Need to Buy Special Pet Travel Gear When Flying With My Dog?

As pet lovers, there’s nothing better than being able to take your dog along on holiday with you. Whether it’s to visit family, go on a relaxing getaway or you’re relocating overseas permanently - modern aviation and great pet travel companies have made it fairly straightforward and easy for us to be able to bring our furry friends wherever we go.

In fact, 19% of dog owners take their pooch away on holidays with them.

However, travel can often be a fairly stressful experience for dogs. Some dogs are resilient and don’t mind the experience, however, it’s full of unfamiliar sights, sounds, and smells, so some dogs can use a little bit of support.

Besides the kind of staff that will be helping your dog along their journey and an airline-approved carrier, there are some great items that you can purchase that will help your pet. Let’s take a look at some of the best products on the market for your pooch.

A self-filling water bowl

Just like humans, it’s also easy for pets to get dehydrated on planes. It’s essential for their health and wellbeing to make sure they have constant access to fresh, clean water - no one wants their pet to arrive at their destination thirsty.

Self-filling water bowls are a great way to make sure your dog always has water, no matter how long their journey is. For example, the ‘Torus Bowl’ holds up to two liters of water, with carbon filters that remove nitrates and toxic impurities from the liquid. The bowl is able to sense when the water level is low and refills when it reaches a certain level. This will make sure that even if it’s a bumpy ride and your dog’s water gets spilled, they’ll never run out.

A great doggie travel bag

Along with your own luggage, you’ll need to pack a bag that contains everything your dog will need to stay healthy, happy, fed and watered on their travels. Your dog needs to have enough food, toys, and treats for the trip, as well as any prescription medication they’ll need (enough for their entire duration of your holiday). Paper towels and poo bags are also required for any in-flight mess making!

You can find bags online that come with everything you need, from food carriers to collapsible bowls.

A lifting aid

The dog behavioral experts at Totally Goldens advise that if you have a really big dog, or they’re sensitive to being handled, you’ll want to make sure to include a lifting aid harness when leaving your dog with the pet travel company. They continue, “You can provide special instructions to the pet travel handlers that the lifting aid is to be used when your dog is moving during their journey (for example, if they’re being lifted into their carrier or lifted down to go to the bathroom).”

You should ensure that any lifting aid features soft padding around the weight straps, leg straps, chest pad and shoulder section for your dog’s comfort and ease.

A metal detector-friendly harness and leash

As your dog is going through security screening checks, it’s likely that you’ll have to take their harness and leash off (and then put it back on) a few times. Traveling with pets doesn’t have to be hard if you ensure you’re familiar with the different rules and regulations of airports, and pets are often subjected to the same security screening procedures as humans.

You can take the hassle out of traveling with your pet with a metal-free collar and leash that won’t set off metal detectors. The last thing you want is a private pat down or visit a screening room.

Handy devices for cleaning on the go

Did you know that most pet owners spend on average $975 per year on their dogs? Obviously, you won’t be cleaning your pooch when they’re on the plane, but there’s no harm in having a few handy aids for making sure your dog is squeaky clean when you arrive at your destination, particularly if they suffer from motion sickness and lose control of their stomach.

The BarkBath is an awesome device that allows you to clean your furry friend basically anywhere. It works like a small vacuum cleaner, needing just a small amount of water and no-rinse shampoo to clean your canine from head to tail. It comes with a separate tank for dirty water that can be easily emptied and only requires a basic power source.

Final remarks

Flying can be stressful for humans, so there’s no doubt it can also be stressful for dogs. Make their journey that little bit more comfortable with the right travel gear.