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When you travel by plane with your dog and he must stay in the cargo hold, you want to ensure that he is safe and comfortable in a crate during his flight.

Be sure to check the regulations of your particular airline before purchasing a crate for your dog. If you purchase one that isn’t approved by your airline, you can risk seriously injuring, losing or even killing your dog should he break out of a poorly made crate.

Here are a few tips to follow for purchasing a crate that will be airline approved.

Crate Construction

Crates for dogs must be made of any of these materials (be sure to check with your airline before making a purchase):

• Fiberglass
• Metal
• Rigid plastics
• Welded metal mesh*
• Solid wood*
• Plywood*

* Some airlines do not accept crates made of wood. Crates cannot be made entirely of welded mesh or wire.

The crate must include several ventilation holes along the side and back of it.

According to petsonthego.com, there are new regulations regarding crates that were constructed after October 1, 2000. These crates must meet the following requirements:

• The door must be constructed of welded or cast metal of sufficient gauge or thickness to prevent your dog from bending or distorting it.
• The door hinge and locking pins must engage the kennel by at least 5/8 of an inch (1.5 cm) beyond the horizontal extrusions above and below the door opening where the pins are fitted.

Crate Size

According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and USA TODAY, there are specific regulations regarding the size of the crate and the size of your dog.

In general, your dog must be able to stand, sit, turn around normally and lie in a comfortable position inside the crate.

Here are the measurements (in inches) you need take of your dog in order to select the proper-sized crate:

• Measurement A – The distance from his nose to his backside.
• Measurement B – The distance from the top of his legs to the floor.
• Measurement C – The distance from his left to right shoulder.
• Measurement D – The distance from the top of his head to the floor while he’s standing.

Based on these measurements, you can then calculate the height, length and width of the crate you’ll need for your dog as follows:

• Height – Measurement D.
• Length – Measurement A plus 1/2 of Measurement B.
• Width – Multiply Measurement C by 2.

PHOTO: OakleyOriginals

Next week: Hotel Etiquette Tips When Traveling with Your Dog

Category : Flying &TRAVEL TIPS