How to Crate Train Your Dog for Air Travel

Flying with your dog can be a stressful experience, but planning ahead can make the journey much easier. Once you’ve booked your flight, a travel checklist can help you pack and help you feel more control over the process.

Whether your dog is flying in-cabin or in the cargo hold, we have dog travel tips on what you should bring and leave behind to meet airline regulations and ensure a safe flight. 

Basic Packing List Essentials for Cargo Hold or In-Cabin Travel

Preparing your dog for air travel requires proper planning, and crate training is a key piece of the process. Familiarizing your dog with their travel crate well before their flight helps reduce anxiety for both you and your pet. 

We’ve worked with lots of pet owners who worried that their nervous pet wouldn’t be a good fit for air travel. We’ve found that with patience and positive reinforcement, you can make air travel a stress-free experience for your dog, even if you have an anxious pet. It all starts with their crate.

Have the Correct Sized Crate

For dogs flying in cargo, you’ll need to purchase a crate that meets certain standards regarding size, ventilation, and sturdiness as set by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Plastic crates should be leakproof but not collapsible, for example. 

This isn’t just for their comfort. It’s for your dog’s safety, as well, with emphasis on the correct size crate for your pet. Most airlines will ask owners to have their dogs stand, turn around, and lie down comfortably inside their IATA-approved crate at check-in.

If you’re not sure where to start with finding a crate that meets your dog’s needs and the airline’s requirements, we have a detailed guide to choosing the right crate. We go over crate size, how to measure your pet, and appropriate accessories for pet travel. Our crate size calculator helps you easily determine the perfect crate size for your pet to travel safely and comfortably.For extra large adult dogs or breeds that require additional security for long-distance travel, we also provide custom-built CR82 crates.

Gently Introduce Them to the Crate

Your dog’s departure day shouldn’t be the first time they’re seeing their travel crate, and you shouldn’t use an old dog crate to get them ready. Prepare your dog for travel in the crate they’ll be flying in, even if you’ve used a different crate with them in the past. 

Start by placing the crate in a familiar area of your home. Curious pups may even explore it on their own, as it’s a new addition to their surroundings. If the crate comes disassembled, you can encourage them inside by leaving the top off to start with the crate door open.

These training tips apply to small dogs on long flights in-cabin, as well. They should be used to their airline-approved travel carriers well before their flight, especially if they’re older dogs who aren’t used to confined spaces.

Make It a Safe Place

Make your dog’s travel crate comfortable and inviting with soft bedding. Light blankets, beds, and crate pads up to 3 inches thick are appropriate for air travel. Include an item with your scent on it inside to provide reassurance. (You can pack that in their crate the day of their flight, too.)

Never use the crate as punishment. This can create negative associations and increase anxiety when it’s time for them to fly. Instead, reinforce the idea that their crate is a safe, cozy space by rewarding them with treats and praise whenever they enter it willingly. 

Crate training should never feel cruel. Keep the environment calm during crate time to build those positive associations as you crate-train your pet. 

You can reward your pet with playtime once they’re done in their crate, but try not to get them used to accessing their favorite toys while inside. They won’t be able to fly with them, as toys and bones can be a choking risk.

Start to Slowly Increase Crate Time

Help your dog adjust to spending time in their travel crate by gradually increasing how long they spend inside. If they’re completely new to crate training or have separation anxiety, start with short periods of time while staying nearby to offer reassurance. It can even be a few minutes.

Slowly extend the time they spend inside, always ensuring they’re calm and comfortable. Practice leaving the room briefly, then for longer periods of time to help them get used to being alone in their travel kennel.

When you think they’re ready for a few hours at a time, try leaving them in when you go out during the day or even overnight. Consistency is key to building their confidence for longer durations, whether it’s a domestic flight or a lengthy international flight. 

Help Them Learn Distance Is Okay

Your dog should have a few full nights of experience in their crate on their own before their flight, but most dogs won’t get to that level of independence on their own. 

Start with overnight crate training in your bedroom with a nervous pup, but make sure to transition them out of your room as their travel date approaches. You can start by placing the crate a few feet away from your bedroom each night, ensuring they remain calm and relaxed.

This is similar to puppy crate training when you’re housetraining. Be kind but firm. You don’t want to respond to every sound you hear, as that teaches your pet that a whimper gets them out of their crate. Over time, you can increase the distance until the crate is in another room entirely. 

This step-by-step approach helps your dog adjust to being in the crate without direct proximity to you as a way to build their confidence and learn how to self-soothe. You won’t be able to fly in the cargo hold with them, after all.

Take “Trial Rides”

It’s impossible to recreate the cargo experience for your dog completely, but you can take them on car rides in their crate to simulate the movement they might experience during air travel. This could mimic motion in the crate as they’re moved from point to point during their flight.

Start with short drives around the block. Much like increasing time in their crate at home, you can gradually increase their duration while in motion as they get more comfortable. Pay close attention to cues from your pet or signs of stress. Reassure them with a calm tone.

Once they’re done in the car, feel free to reward them with lots of treats upon arrival back home. Create as many positive associations as you can in their crate, especially if they’re new to that sensation of motion while inside. 

A Few Things to Remember

You know what your pet needs better than anyone else, no matter how many dog training tips you read. If you find yourself struggling, though, the bonus advice below can help you get over a hump in the process:

• Take breaks. You can tell when your pet is overstimulated and needs a break. If that’s the case, pause your training and return to it later to avoid reinforcing negative associations with their crate.
• Stick to the usual routines. Keep feeding, playtime, and potty schedules consistent during the training process and in the days leading up to air travel. This creates predictability and reduces stress for your pet.
• Avoid sedation. Sedatives can interfere with your dog’s ability to regulate their body temperature, putting them at serious risk while in the air. Airlines won’t allow sedated pets to fly, either. 
• You’re not out of luck for anxious pets. We’ve seen success with ThunderShirts, pheromone collars or sprays, and natural supplements with anxiety-reducing ingredients, especially at the start of crate training. 
• Talk to your vet, especially if your pet is on existing medications, about tools to help your dog acclimate to their crate. They may have additional behavioral strategies or natural calming remedies that keep your pet’s health history in mind. 
• Practice patience. Training your dog for crate travel takes time and consistency. Be aware of when you’re feeling frustrated and need a break from the process. You don’t want your dog to associate that energy with their crate. 
• Don’t forget the details. Each airline’s processes (and costs) may look a little different. Many require live animal stickers on travel crates, on top of relevant vaccine and health certificates. A professional pet shipper can help you get everything sorted.

Pet Transportation Made Simple

Making sure your dog is well-prepared for air travel takes careful planning. That includes consistent crate training well ahead of their trip to help them (and you!) feel secure on the big day. Every dog is unique, so adapting your training to suit their needs is important. If this feels like too much, you don’t have to do it alone. Our experts are here to help you choose the right crate, meet complex airline requirements, and prep even the most anxious pets for travel.

Ready to get started? Each pet relocation situation is different, so to get an idea of the costs involved, fill out a quote request.