1. Keeping Your Dog Safe

Before you embark on the trip, try and take him to the veterinarian for a health check-up. You have to confirm if your boxer dog is up-to-date on vaccinations and ask for every health certification that is required for airline travel.

Also, get all of his food supplies and medications. If your dog gets nauseous during car traveling, you should get some antiemetic medication.

2. Get your dog a crate

Your dog needs a crate to keep him safe while traveling. Whether you are traveling with him by road or by air, you still need to get a crate. No airline will allow you to board a flight with your boxer dog without a crate. This is to keep you less distracted while driving, and if you have to stop abruptly, the crate will prevent your dog from flying all around the car.

When buying a boxer dog crate from a pet shop, below are the features to look out for;

• Is it big enough to allow the dog to stand, lie down and turn around?
• It has strong handles for easy carriage.
• It has excellent ventilation on two sides.
• It has absorbent material placed at the bottom.
• It does not have interior protuberances.

Then stick a label to the crate with information such as “Your Name,” Phone number, and address. Make sure the label also has the inscription “Live Animal” on it. Place a comfortable mat inside the crate alongside a toy that your boxer dog likes. Perhaps it would be a good idea to hand your boxer dog a boxer dog gift for Christmas during this holiday. Also, make sure your dog has exercised properly before letting him enter the crate.

3. Make your dog identifiable

Your boxer dog should be easily identifiable. Wear a collar with an identification tag (with the dog’s name) and a durable leash. You can also use a permanent method of identification, such as a microchip. Also, make sure you keep a recent picture of your dog with you.

4. IF YOU ARE TRAVELING BY CAR

Before going on long car trips, you should have ensured that your dog has gotten used to the car by taking him on short rides. Before the trip, make sure your dog’s stomach is not filled. You should also ensure that the car is well-ventilated. While on the trip, stop for potty breaks and exercise.

The most important thing that you should know about traveling by car is not to leave your dog in a parked car, especially if it is the hot summer season. Even with the window left open, your dog may get dehydrated and suffer a heat stroke.

5. IF YOU ARE TRAVELING BY PLANE

Make inquiries from the airline you are traveling with to know their rules for canine travel. Generally, before traveling with an animal on any aircraft, you will need to tender health certifications and evidence of vaccinations. Your dog should be on an empty stomach for a minimum of six hours before the flight, and he should empty his bowels before the departure time. Keep some water for him to keep him hydrated throughout the trip.

6. Sort Your Dog’s Accommodation

Before you get to your destination, search for hotels that allow their guests to keep dogs. You should also be ready to keep your dog quiet so that he does not go about barking loudly and damaging things if you leave him alone in a strange place.

ADDITIONAL TIPS TO PREVENT PROBLEMS ON YOUR TRIP

• Take your dog to see the veterinarian before the trip. Obtain a health certificate from the veterinarian.
• Ask for advice on sedatives if your dog has experienced travel anxiety before.
• If the vet prescribes any sedative, make sure you try it out before the trip. This will help you know about your dog’s allergic reaction before the trip.
• Find out the dog rules at your destination in advance.
• Be prepared for daily walks, no matter where you are headed.

CHALLENGES OF TRAVELING WITH YOUR BOXER DOG ON INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS

If you are flying with your boxer dog internationally, there are some requirements that you have to satisfy, and you have to plan for many of them. For some airlines, pets are not allowed on international flights at all. While for some that allow international boxer dog travel, you (the owner) will need to obtain an international health certificate and satisfy all the requirements of your destination country.

For instance, in the United States, if you are traveling with your boxer dog internationally, you have to get in touch with the appropriate embassy or consulate at least a month before traveling so that you can confirm the entry procedures of your destination country. Also, when returning to the United States, based on the laid-down rules by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, you may need to present proof of immunization for your boxer dog against rabies.

THINGS YOU SHOULD DO BEFORE THE DATE OF DEPARTURE

1. BOOKING YOUR FLIGHT

A non-stop flight is the most advisable type of flight to book if you are traveling with a boxer dog. This is not the same as “Direct Flight,” which can have stops. A non-stop flight will ensure that you do not have stop-overs, and there are reduced chances of having your boxer dog left on the tarmac or getting rough-handled by baggage personnel.

If your flight will have a layover, find out the minimum layover time and attach a small bag of food to the dog’s kennel so that the airline personnel can help you to feed your dog during the layovers.

Do not schedule your trip for the holiday season. This period can be very busy and if the weather is warm, try and book a morning or evening flight. If the weather is cold, midday flights sound good for traveling with a boxer.

1. GETTING YOUR BOXER DOG READY FOR THE TRIP

Animal experts are against sedating an animal before a trip. Many airlines, too, will not accept a boxer dog that has been sedated. United Airlines is one of such airline that will never knowingly accept a sedated dog.

A day before your departure date, in the evening, freeze a dish of water so that it will not spill all over the place when loading. The frozen water will melt later, and then your dog will be able to drink.

Take a recent photo of your dog and attach it to its kennel so that it can be easily identified.

Make sure your dog does not eat before the flight to avoid the problem of stomach discomfort when traveling. Keep your boxer from eating for at least four hours before the flight.

THINGS TO DO ON THE DEPARTURE DATE

1. CHECK-IN

On the day of departure, get to the airport with your boxer dog early and check-in at the ticket counter if your dog is flying in the cabin. If your boxer dog is flying as cargo, confirm from the airline to know where you can drop him.

1. Security Screening

For in-cabin transport of dogs, you will have to place the kennel on the conveyor belt and then the x-ray machine. You will then have to leash the dog and take it through the metal detector, which might be a bit of a struggle.

One important tip that you must remember, however, is that pet policies are not the same with all airlines. You have to specifically check with your airline to know about their pet policies and how it may affect your boxer dog. All that is required of you is a little bit of planning and research to ensure that you have a smooth journey.

DIFFERENT AIRLINES AND LINKS TO THEIR PET POLICIES

If you want to know what the pet policies of your chosen airline are, you have to check specifically as different airlines have different policies. Below are the pet policies of some of the biggest airlines in the United States

• Alaska Airlines
• American Airlines
• Delta Air Lines
• Hawaiian Airlines
• JetBlue Airways
• Southwest Airlines
• United Airlines

CONCLUSION

Traveling with a boxer dog is fun and enjoyable, as you get to spend time with your beloved pet without worrying about what may be going on with him if you left him behind. However, before embarking on the trip, do your due diligence and find out everything that you can about traveling with a box