A Guide to Traveling by Air with Dog Crates

Flying with your dog and his dog crate can be strenuous.  This guide is designed to help your make air travel with your dog crates easier.  In addition to being the owner and operator of this store with my wife, I am also an airline pilot. Some may wonder how an airline pilot decided to get in the dog crate business, but the answer is easy. Airplanes and canines are two of my favorite passions in life. For us animal lovers, the joy of being able to take a pet on an airplane with is a wonderful experience, but without proper planning, it can be disastrous.


Many people sometimes wonder what is necessary to take their dog crates on an airplane. It can be a very time consuming and difficult task without proper planning. The most important thing a pet owner should remember is that each airline has its own set of rules, so be sure to contact the specific airline for their special rules that pertain to dog crates. That is priority number one. Also, be sure to give yourself plenty of time before the flight to find out the necessary information. The airlines have given a lot of thought into safe travel, both for you and for your pet.

Okay, let’s put aside dog crates for a moment and examine a few of of the basic things that we pet owners should know about our pet after we know the airline we are traveling on and its specific rules. We should make sure that our pet is not sick, in distress, or of a bad temperament. Some pets may be sedated for travel; however, it is not recommended, especially for very young pets. If you feel thus could be a problem, your veterinarian is most definitely the best source of information on that subject. Also, make sure your pet has the appropriate and necessary health documentation from your vet.

Back to dog crates.  Small pets can travel in the cabin with you provided they are in dog carriers or a dog crate that will fit under the seat in front of you. There are many great dog carriers on the market that will provide comfort for your small animal. Large pets must travel in a dog crate in the cargo compartment. You need not worry though.  Experience from my airline profession gives me the knowledge that the cargo compartment is safe and kept at a cozy temperature for your canine. The airlines will not allow any animals back there if that air conditioning system is not working properly.  Your dog crate should be clearly marked with “Live Animal” and “This Side Up” tags. You should also have your name, address, telephone number, and telephone number at your destination clearly marked on the dog crate. When looking at dog crates for your pet, many of the top quality dog crates are approved for air travel. Be sure to ask.

A few basic things about dogs and dog crates to remember are:

• Be sure to put your pet’s favorite blanket and toy in the dog crate
• Book a nonstop flight
• Don't feed your pet just prior to departure.  You don’t want your pet to get airsick, lost, or stuck out on the hot tarmac for a long time
  
• Give your pet frozen water or ice cubes in his or her dog crate or dog carrier It will melt slowly, keep your pet hydrated, and not spill so easily.
  
• Plan for your dog crate ahead of time
  
• Enjoy the company your pet can give you during your travels
  

Thanks for taking the time to read this guide and I hope to see you on your traveling adventures

Blog is Now Part of the Store

Hi,

I would like to note that the blog is now part of the Canine Crate Store domain.  I originally created this blog to compliment the store and now thanks to learning how Blogger has the great option of doing this, I have made it a reality.  I hope that you like what you see.  The new address for this blog is http://blog.caninecratestore.com/.

Thanks,

Bob

The Next Generaton of Soft Dog Crates

Behold the Pet Gear Home N Go Generation II Soft Crate!  I have seen many soft dog crates in my day, and I have to say that I am really impressed with this specimen.  These fine softies are made my Pet Gear Inc.  I have to say that I am really enjoy the products that this company provides our pets.

Pet Gear Inc. is a division of Vermont Juvenile Furniture and the parent company has been providing products for kids since 1936.    I am very glad that they decided to start providing products for our furry children as well.  One of the things that I really like about the Pet Gear products is that they are not like the majority of pet products on the market.  The Pet Gear Soft Crates in particular have been constructed with your pet as the number 1 priority.  The Generation II Dog Crates are very sturdy and long lasting provided you do not have a pet that loves to chew.  It doesn't matter how tough a fabric crate is, if your pet is still in the chewing phase or has not been trained properly, there is no soft crate that will hold up against those sharp puppy teeth.

For you the owner, one of the best features of the Pet Gear Soft Crate is its portability.  It folds very easily with the push of a button and comes with a great storage bag for easy carrying.  It has one of the strongest frames I have seen on a soft crate.  The company claims that the oval design is stronger than rounded types.  It is available in sizes to fit almost any pet.  My Lab fits nicely in the Large size.  An extra large would be nice for those pet owners who have giant breed pets, and maybe we will see one in the future.

As far as your pet goes, these soft dog crates come with a lot of comfortable additions including a treat bag, and adjustable leash, a two sided pad, and a removable inner tray for easy cleaning.  With there not being an extra large size, the only other downfall is that each size, with the exception of the Small, only has one color available.  The Small comes in Red or Pink.  It would probably result in a lot of inventory that was never sold if we had too many options available.  The colors are quite attractive and add to the overall quality of this fine crate.  Check them out if you are looking for something long lasting and fashionable in a soft dog crate.

More on Vari Kennel Crates for Your Puppy

Choose a Vari Kennel that will fit your puppy’s needs. When you first bring the kennel home, take the crate apart, removing the screws from the door and the top. Using just the bottom half of the crate, let your puppy go in and out of it for awhile before attaching the top portion. This will accustom him to his new quarters and not intimidate him. After he is comfortable going in and out of it and maybe even taking a little nap, attach the top portion. Getting your puppy where he welcomes this as his new home may take several hours to a few days. You can forget this step if the young puppy takes to the crate right off the bat. Some do and some don’t. Remember each puppy is different and what is comfortable for one will be a discomfort for another. In most cases, crating is no problem.


If you plan on leaving your puppy in the crate for over two hours at one time, attach a small hamster-type water dispenser so it can easily be used. Putting a towel or blanket inside the crate that has your smells on it will give your puppy not only a soft, comfortable place to sleep, but a sense of security thinking that you are right there with him. If your puppy relieves himself on the towel, remove the bedding until the pup no longer eliminates in the crate.

Rolling a ball into the crate is another way to introduce him to his new surroundings. Keep in mind that when you put your new pup into the crate that objects need to be inedible and large enough to prevent their being swallowed. Always take his collar off, when he is in the crate. You can entice him, if necessary, into the crate with some small edible treats. Vari Kennel Crates come in difference sizes and are rated according to your puppy’s weight, so choosing one is an easy task.

From Mud Homes to Fashionable Insulated Dog Houses and Dog Crates

Taking care of one's animal is obviously important to her healthiness and well-being. Pet dogs have been utilized by humans as pets, defense dogs, a method to obtain food and fur, an animal of burden, hunting partner, a pair of eyes, to sniff out dangerous substances and the list keeps growing. You have the obligation to help keep your pet fed and sheltered. A dog crate is among the easiest ways to house train a pet and is also a superb den for your pet. An insulated dog house provides warmness in the cold weather and proper protection from the heat in the summer. Our animals demand very little but will offer one hundred times more in return. Canines work long and hard to gratify their leader even when they're fatigued.

Experts, who have analyzed orphaned wolf pups, have come to the conclusion that people would adopt the orphaned wolf cubs as well as nurse the pups together with their human children. Due to the fact mankind took the puppies and nurtured them, the baby wolves grew to become domesticated animals. After the adopted wolf pups bred among each other they became a lot more like what we recognize as the household canine. The human beings would probably keep the most friendly and the very least fearful wolf pups for domestic pets. In order to keep them contained around their own residences, dens or kennels were constructed.

Dating back to 4500 B.C. in Egypt, canines were being trained and held for companions of mankind. A dog crate, or insulated dog house didn't exist at that period of time, and it has been speculated that houses for most of these earlier canines had been made of mud. They were much like the normal den that the canines might have constructed on their own in the outdoors. Insulated dog houses and dog crates of today are made of durable materials and constructed to supply comfort and ease in addition to protection against the weather.

Man understood that to be able to stop the canines from going back to the wild, he had to construct some kind of enclosure. Over the years, we have produced many structures in order to contain our amazing pets. The most effective structure for your dog will be based upon his / her size. A good insulated pet house is among the best ways to safeguard an outdoor pet from the extreme heat as well as chilly seasons that exist in several environments. Pet crates are a terrific way to duplicate the canine den in our hectic society. There are plenty of options for you to look at in today's market. Opt for one that will best fit the wants of your dog as well as provide him the comfort, protection and security he deserves.