Dog owners would always want to have the pet around. It is not surprising for people to love these animals as apart from being loyal and protective, dogs have lots of love to give. In malls, in the park, in the place of work and in any other places – a dog will be seen.

Toy dog breeds are carried in the arms of the owners if not comfortably nestled in posh dog carrier bags. People with large dogs running or walking alongside is a common sight. Carrying the dog would not be as easy for a pet owner that has to relocate to another state or another country. How can you go about shipping the dog safely?

There are several ways by which the pet can be transported but shipping a pet by plane is the easiest (though costly) method. Airline carriers though have different rules and regulation concerning the shipping of animals. As mentioned, pet shipping services follow different regulation, other may even refuse to fly a dog during hot or cold weather thus it is necessary to make inquiries before bringing the dog to the airport.

In spite of the different regulations, requiring a health and vaccination certificate is common among pet shipping services thus the first thing you need to do is to take the dog to the vet’s for a checkup. Travelling will stress a dog thus vets often prescribe sedatives. Shipping a weak, pregnant or sick dog is dangerous. Air pressure inside the cargo compartment is expected to change too as the altitude of the plane increases. Because there are no humans inside the cargo hold, an emergency situation that will happen to a weak dog can have fatal consequences as assistance for the dog will not be given.

For an additional fee an owner that travels with a small dog may be allowed to carry the pet to the cabin as long as the dog carrier is small enough to fit the space under the seat. Dogs that are shipped though normally travel as cargo. As the crate containing the dog will be placed along with other cargo, it has to be sturdy. The dog has to be comfortable thus the crate must be big enough to let the dog stand, lie down and move comfortably. The owner’s name, address and contact numbers must be written on the side of the crate using a permanent marker. The dog must be made to wear a collar with identification tags. These information will be vital in reuniting a lost dog with its owners.

At Sarah’s Dogs you can find out more about how to safely ship a dog as well as dog first aid.