Flying With Dogs: The Complete Guide to Airline Travel With Your Pet

Travelling internationally with a dog can open up a whole world of possibilities.

For some people, it means finally being able to take their pet on holiday rather than leaving them at home. For those involved in dog sports, showing or working dogs, flying can make competitions and events that would otherwise be impractical suddenly accessible.

And sometimes air travel has a much bigger purpose.

Responsible breeders of rare and vulnerable breeds may occasionally need to import or export a puppy or adult dog to access carefully selected bloodlines, increase genetic diversity and maintain healthy breeding populations across countries and continents. In these circumstances, a flight isn't simply about getting a puppy from A to B – it can form part of a carefully planned breeding programme with implications for a breed's future.

Whatever your reason for travelling, there are several different ways a dog can fly:

• In the aircraft cabin with you
• In the aircraft hold while you travel on the same flight
• Accompanied by a flight nanny
• As unaccompanied cargo

The right option depends on your dog's size, the airline, the aircraft, your origin and destination countries, and whether the journey is classed legally as pet travel or a commercial movement.

Here's what you need to know.

Can Dogs Travel on Planes?

Yes – millions of animals are transported by air, and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) maintains the Live Animals Regulations (LAR) as the worldwide industry standard for transporting live animals safely and humanely by commercial airlines.

However, there is no single set of rules that applies to every journey.

You potentially need to satisfy three separate sets of requirements:

1. The rules of your departure country.
2. The import and transit requirements of every country involved in the journey.
3. The individual airline's pet travel policy.

Airlines can impose requirements that are stricter than the underlying regulations, including restrictions relating to breed, age, temperature, crate construction, size and the number of animals permitted on a particular flight.

Never book a flight based solely on general pet travel information online. Always confirm the current requirements with the airline and the relevant government authorities for your specific journey.

Option 1: Flying With Your Dog in the Cabin

For owners of small dogs, having your dog travel in the aircraft cabin can be an attractive option.

You'll sometimes hear this described informally as the dog travelling "as hand luggage", although technically your dog is travelling as a pet in an approved in-cabin carrier rather than simply being another piece of cabin baggage.

The dog normally remains inside their carrier, which is placed beneath the seat in front of you.

Which dogs can fly in the cabin?

This varies enormously between airlines.

Cabin travel is generally restricted to small dogs and cats, with airlines setting their own maximum carrier dimensions and, frequently, a maximum combined weight for the pet and carrier.

Even where an airline accepts pets in the cabin, the exact dimensions permitted can depend on the aircraft being used.

IATA's passenger guidance points out that under-seat space is extremely limited and consequently only very small dogs and cats and their carriers will fit there.

Choosing an in-cabin airline carrier

Soft carriers are particularly useful for cabin travel because they are lightweight and can offer some flexibility when positioning the carrier beneath an aircraft seat.

At Pet Connection, our In Cabin airline travel carriers provide a practical option for small dogs and cats travelling in the cabin.

For example, the Trixie Connor Carrier measures approximately 42 × 29 × 21 cm and is suitable for pets up to 8 kg. However, this does not mean that every airline will accept an 8 kg dog in this carrier – the airline's own carrier dimensions and combined pet/carrier weight limit always take precedence.

Before purchasing a cabin carrier, check:

• Your airline's maximum external carrier dimensions.
• Maximum combined pet and carrier weight.
• Whether soft-sided carriers are permitted.
• Ventilation requirements.
• Whether your particular aircraft has different under-seat restrictions.
• Whether pets are accepted in your booked cabin or seat location.

IATA advises that an in-cabin dog or cat should be able to stand, sit, turn around and lie down naturally within the carrier. Ventilation must also remain unobstructed; a soft carrier should never be compressed so severely beneath a seat that its ventilation openings become blocked.

And remember: booking your own seat does not automatically book your dog's place. Airlines commonly restrict the number of pets permitted in the cabin, so your dog's reservation should be confirmed directly with the airline.

Option 2: Your Dog Travels in the Hold While You Travel on the Same Plane

If your dog is too large for cabin travel, this is one of the most common alternatives.

Depending on the airline and route, your dog may be accepted as checked baggage/excess baggage and travel in the aircraft's temperature-controlled, ventilated hold while you travel as a passenger on the same flight.

The terminology can be confusing because people often refer to any animal travelling beneath the passenger cabin as travelling "in cargo".

Operationally and legally, however, a pet accepted as passenger baggage and an animal shipped as air freight/cargo are not necessarily the same thing.

This distinction can affect:

• Where your dog is checked in.
• Where you collect them.
• The paperwork required.
• The price.
• Customs procedures.
• Which routes are available.

Some airlines allow pets as checked baggage on certain routes while others require animals to be booked through their cargo division.

Is the aircraft hold safe for dogs?

Aircraft used to transport live animals have appropriate facilities for doing so. IATA notes that dogs and cats can actually rest well in the hold because it is quieter and darker than the passenger cabin.

What matters enormously is correct preparation.

Your dog needs an appropriately sized, secure travel crate, should be comfortable being confined in it before the journey, and should be physically suitable for air travel.

Petmode Aviation Crates for Dogs Travelling by Air

For dogs travelling in the hold or as cargo, a strong aviation travel crate is essential.

Our Petmode Aviation Carriers at Pet Connection are designed in accordance with the construction principles of the IATA Live Animals Regulations for transporting dogs and cats.

Available in sizes from L50 through to L120, they cater for pets ranging from small dogs and cats to many large and giant dog breeds.

Features include:

• Strong, impact-resistant plastic construction.
• Heavy-duty steel mesh door.
• Secure locking mechanism.
• Multi-sided ventilation.
• Leak-resistant base.
• Clip-on food/water bowl.
• Wing-nut fastenings.
• Smooth internal surfaces.
• Removable wheels on selected larger sizes.

Does an IATA-approved dog crate exist?

This is an important distinction.

IATA does not approve, certify or endorse individual brands or models of pet crates.

Instead, IATA publishes Container Requirement 1 (CR1) within its Live Animals Regulations, which establishes standards for containers used to transport dogs and cats.

Petmode Aviation Carriers are therefore described as being designed in accordance with IATA LAR construction principles, rather than claiming that IATA itself has certified the product.

Ultimately, your airline decides whether it will accept a particular crate, and individual airlines can impose additional requirements.

How Big Should an Airline Dog Crate Be?

Buying a crate based solely on your dog's weight or breed isn't enough.

Two Border Collies, Mudis, Labradors or German Shepherds of identical weight could have significantly different body proportions.

IATA's guidance requires sufficient space for the animal to:

• Stand naturally.
• Sit erect.
• Turn around normally.
• Lie in a natural position.

When measuring your dog, you'll normally need measurements including:

A – Body length: nose to base of tail
B – Front leg height: ground to elbow
C – Width: across the widest part of the shoulders/body
D – Standing height: floor to the highest point of the head or ears

Your airline may request these measurements before accepting the booking.

If your dog is close to the limit for a particular crate, moving up a size is generally preferable to risking the crate being rejected as too small.

Option 3: Travelling With a Flight Nanny

A flight nanny is a person who accompanies an animal during its journey on behalf of its owner, breeder or new owner.

This can be particularly useful when:

• A puppy is going to a new home overseas.
• A breeder cannot personally make the journey.
• A dog is being imported from another country.
• The owner cannot travel on the required date.
• A small dog is eligible for cabin travel and you'd prefer it to travel accompanied.

Depending on the airline and dog's size, a flight nanny may accompany the dog in the cabin or travel as the accompanying person while the dog travels in the hold.

A good flight nanny does far more than simply board a plane with a puppy.

They should understand:

• Airline pet policies.
• International pet documentation.
• Airport procedures.
• Customs and veterinary checks.
• Safe handling of unfamiliar dogs.
• What to do during delays or missed connections.
• The import requirements of the destination country.

Does using a flight nanny automatically make a puppy "pet travel"?

No.

This is extremely important for breeders.

The legal classification of an animal's movement depends on the applicable legislation and the purpose and circumstances of the journey – not simply on whether somebody accompanies the dog on the aeroplane.

If ownership is being transferred, or an animal is travelling outside the permitted timeframe relative to its owner, commercial movement rules may apply.

Always establish the correct legal movement category before booking the flight.

Option 4: Sending a Dog as Unaccompanied Air Cargo

Dogs can also travel without their owner or a flight nanny travelling on the passenger flight.

This is generally arranged through the airline's cargo operation or an approved pet shipping company.

Rather than checking the dog in at the passenger terminal, you normally deliver them to the airline's cargo facility. At the destination, they are processed through the appropriate cargo, customs and animal health procedures before being released to the authorised recipient.

Unaccompanied cargo can be useful for:

• International relocation.
• Importing dogs or puppies.
• Exporting dogs to overseas owners.
• Long-distance breeding programmes.
• Routes where accompanied pet travel isn't available.
• Larger dogs that cannot travel in the cabin.

The documentation and import process can be considerably more involved, particularly where the animal is changing ownership.

Flying Puppies Internationally: Responsible Breeding & Genetic Diversity

There is sometimes a misconception that every puppy travelling internationally is being transported by a large-scale commercial breeder.

The reality is considerably more nuanced.

For breeders working with rare breeds, vulnerable populations or numerically small gene pools, international cooperation can be incredibly important.

A carefully selected puppy imported from another continent may introduce a bloodline that simply isn't available locally.

Likewise, exporting a thoughtfully bred puppy to an experienced breeder overseas can help establish or preserve a healthy population elsewhere.

Responsible international breeding programmes may help breeders:

• Access unrelated bloodlines.
• Reduce excessive reliance on popular sires.
• Increase genetic diversity.
• Exchange dogs between small breed populations.
• Access dogs with valuable health-tested pedigrees.
• Preserve rare breeds internationally.
• Develop working, sporting or functional characteristics while maintaining health and temperament.

But puppies being sold or transferred to another owner frequently fall under commercial animal movement legislation, even when nobody involved considers themselves a commercial breeder.

For example, Irish government guidance specifically treats movements involving sale, rehoming, gifting/change of ownership, or certain unaccompanied movements as commercial movements. Similar distinctions exist in Great Britain.

That doesn't mean the movement is prohibited – it means different paperwork and procedures apply.

Never attempt to make a commercial movement appear to be ordinary pet travel simply because the rules seem easier.

Flying Abroad for Dog Sports, Shows & Competitions

For agility competitors, obedience handlers, working dog enthusiasts, exhibitors and other dog sports people, flying can dramatically expand the events available to you.

It can make it possible to attend:

• World and European Championships.
• International agility competitions.
• Breed shows.
• Working trials.
• Obedience competitions.
• Seminars and training camps.
• Specialist breed events.
• International team selections.

Sporting dogs can also receive specific exemptions from some numerical pet-travel limits.

For example, Great Britain normally limits pet travel to five animals, but an exemption exists for people travelling with more than five dogs to attend or train for a competition, show or sporting event, provided the relevant requirements are met. The animals must be over six months old and documentary evidence of the event is required.

Always check the rules for your particular destination.

Our Air Travel Essentials Kit

The crate is only part of preparing a dog for air travel.

We've put together the Pet Connection Air Travel Essentials Kit to provide useful accessories for dogs and cats travelling by air, particularly those travelling in aviation crates.

The kit includes practical items such as:

• Live Animal identification stickers
• This Way Up/directional stickers
• Pet details label
• Cable ties for additional door security during transport
• Small blunt-ended scissors for cutting the cable ties after arrival
• Additional clip-on bowl
• Lightweight 6 ft emergency slip lead
• 500 ml water bottle
• Food storage bag
• 2.5 litre zip-lock bag for organising travel essentials
• Double-sided adhesive pads for attaching the bag to the crate

It pairs particularly well with our Petmode Aviation Carriers and helps keep those easily forgotten little travel essentials together.

Shop pet travel equipment at Pet Connection.

Preparing Your Dog for a Flight

One of the best things you can do happens long before you reach the airport:

Crate train your dog.

IATA recommends allowing your pet to become familiar with its travel container weeks or even months before departure.

Don't buy an aviation crate three days before the flight and expect your dog to suddenly feel comfortable spending hours inside it.

Instead:

1. Assemble the crate and leave it accessible at home.
2. Allow your dog to investigate it voluntarily.
3. Feed meals inside it.
4. Reward your dog for entering.
5. Encourage them to sleep and relax inside.
6. Gradually introduce closing the door.
7. Slowly extend the time spent inside.
8. Practise short journeys in the crate where appropriate.

By flight day, ideally the aviation crate should feel like a familiar sleeping space rather than something associated with being taken away.

For sports dogs already comfortable in crates, much of the concept will be familiar – but it's still worth training specifically with the aviation crate that will be used for the flight.

Feeding, Water & Sedation Before Flying

IATA advises feeding a light meal approximately two hours before dispatch, providing a small drink and exercising the dog before they enter their container.

Water should remain available before travel and appropriate water provision needs to be made for the journey.

Should I sedate my dog before flying?

Generally, no.

IATA advises against routine sedation or tranquillisation of dogs and cats travelling by air because of the potential adverse effects during transport.

If medication is genuinely required for medical reasons, discuss this with your veterinarian and airline well in advance. Never give your dog a sedative for the first time immediately before travelling.

Check the Rules for Every Country – Including Transit Countries

One of the easiest mistakes to make is researching the destination and forgetting about the journey itself.

Your dog may potentially require documentation relating to:

• Microchip identification.
• Rabies vaccination.
• Rabies antibody titre testing.
• Parasite treatments.
• Veterinary health certificates.
• Export health certificates.
• Import permits.
• Government endorsements.
• Customs declarations.
• Commercial movement certificates.
• Breed restrictions.

And a country you're merely connecting through can sometimes introduce additional requirements.

Start researching early. IATA warns that obtaining the necessary international travel documentation can potentially take several months.

Special Note for Travelling to Ireland and Great Britain

The rules aren't identical.

For entry into the Republic of Ireland, pets may travel in the cabin or as excess baggage where the airline permits it, but they must meet the applicable Irish/EU pet travel requirements.

A non-commercial pet generally needs to travel with its owner or authorised person, or within the permitted timeframe. Where the conditions aren't met – particularly where an animal is being purchased, sold, gifted or otherwise changing ownership – commercial movement rules may apply.

For Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales), the situation is particularly important for air travellers: pets entering Great Britain by plane generally have to travel as cargo, with limited exceptions including recognised assistance dogs and certain private charter arrangements.

So don't assume that because your airline permits a dog in the cabin when leaving one country, you'll necessarily be able to return using the same arrangement.

Check both legs of the journey before booking.

Frequently Asked Questions About Flying With Dogs

Can my dog fly in the cabin with me?

Possibly. Many airlines allow small dogs and cats to travel in an approved carrier beneath the seat, but others don't accept ordinary pets in the cabin at all. Weight and carrier-size restrictions vary considerably, so check with the airline before booking.

Is a dog in the cabin considered hand luggage?

People commonly describe it this way, but technically your dog is being transported under the airline's pet-in-cabin policy. The airline may count the pet carrier towards your normal cabin baggage allowance or apply separate rules and fees.

Can a 10 kg dog fly in the cabin?

Sometimes, but options become considerably more limited as weight increases. Many airlines calculate their limit using the combined weight of the dog and carrier. Check individual airline policies rather than assuming there is a universal weight limit.

Can a large dog travel on a plane?

Yes. Dogs that are too large for cabin travel can potentially travel in an appropriate aviation crate in the aircraft hold or as manifested cargo, depending on the airline and route.

What does IATA approved mean for a dog crate?

Strictly speaking, IATA does not certify or approve individual commercial pet crates. IATA publishes standards within its Live Animals Regulations, including container requirements for dogs and cats. The airline ultimately determines whether your crate is acceptable for your particular journey.

How do I choose an airline crate for my dog?

Measure the individual dog rather than relying on breed or weight alone. Your dog needs enough room to stand and sit naturally, turn around and lie comfortably without being restricted by the crate.

Can my dog travel on the same plane as me but in the hold?

Yes, on airlines and routes that accept pets as accompanied/checked baggage. Other airlines require dogs travelling in the hold to be booked through their cargo operation instead.

Is travelling in the hold the same as travelling as cargo?

Not necessarily. An animal may physically travel in a similar part of the aircraft but be booked either as accompanied baggage or as manifested cargo. The booking, check-in, collection, documentation and customs procedures can therefore be different.

What is a flight nanny for dogs?

A flight nanny is someone who accompanies a dog or puppy during an air journey on behalf of its owner, breeder or future owner. For eligible small dogs, this can allow the animal to travel in the cabin rather than unaccompanied as cargo.

Can a puppy fly with a flight nanny?

Potentially, provided the puppy meets the minimum age, vaccination, health, import/export and airline requirements for the journey. Using a flight nanny does not remove the need to comply with commercial movement legislation where applicable.

Can a breeder send a puppy overseas by air?

Yes, provided all applicable export, import, animal health, airline and commercial movement requirements are followed. International movement between responsible breeders can play an important role in maintaining genetic diversity within rare breeds.

Can I fly internationally for an agility competition with my dog?

Absolutely. Many dog sport competitors fly internationally. Check the pet import requirements, airline policy and your return journey before booking, and carry evidence of competition or event entry where relevant.

Can I travel with more than five competition dogs?

Some jurisdictions provide an exemption for dogs travelling for recognised competitions, shows or sporting events. Great Britain, for example, allows qualifying movements of more than five pets where specific conditions are met. Check the rules of every country involved in your journey.

Should I sedate my dog for a flight?

Routine sedation is generally discouraged. IATA advises against sedating or tranquillising animals for air transport because medication can affect their ability to respond normally to the stresses of transportation. Discuss any medical concerns with your veterinarian and airline.

How early should I start preparing my dog for air travel?

Ideally, several weeks or even months before departure. This gives you time to confirm documentation, reserve the limited number of pet spaces available on some flights and thoroughly acclimatise your dog to their travel crate.

Where can I buy an aviation crate for a dog in Ireland or the UK?

Pet Connection stocks Petmode Aviation Carriers in sizes L50-L120, alongside cabin travel carriers and airline travel accessories, with delivery options throughout Ireland, the North of Ireland and Great Britain.

Ready for Take-Off?

Flying with your dog can seem incredibly complicated the first time you do it.

There are airlines to compare, crates to measure, veterinary appointments to organise and import regulations to decipher.

But with enough preparation, air travel can make the world much smaller for our dogs.

It can take a much-loved pet on an overseas adventure with their family. It can get an agility dog to an international championship. It can bring a carefully selected puppy halfway around the world to contribute new genetics to a rare breed.

The key is to plan early, train for the journey and never assume that the rules for one airline, country or previous trip will apply to the next one.

For aviation crates, cabin carriers and those easily forgotten finishing touches, explore the dog and pet travel range at Pet Connection.