Imagine air travel from
the comfort of your own
bedroom. As the world
outside sped by you
could sleep in your own
bed or enjoy your
favorite entertainment,
just as if you were at
home, instead of
traveling inside a
airplane at hundreds of
miles per hour.
This may not be possible
for you, but it is for
your pet - at least
those pets who have been
given the gift of
"Contented Confinement"
training. (see below)
These pets relax in
their own pet bed safe
inside their portable
kennel "bedroom,"
perhaps with a favorite
toy or chew. The lucky
ones even have their
personal space bathed in
commercially available
airborne pheromones that
have a calming
influence. For these
pets, as long as they
are in their "Safe
Place" it doesn't matter
to them that the entire
portable kennel is in a
car, plane, motel room,
or anywhere else.
This is in contrast to
those poor pets whose
guardians stuff them
into a travel crate just
before the flight
without any preparation.
These uneducated owners
often then compound the
problem by giving the
pet sedatives that don't
lessen fear, but in fact
make the pet groggy and
less capable of
appropriate
physiological responses.
For a pet to be
contented inside his or
her kennel, it means the
owner probably
introduced the portable
kennel in a series of
steps designed to make
it their favorite place
in the world.
The key to safe travel is a
quality portable kennel that
has been properly introduced
in advance. |
Each pet has his or her
own underlying medical
conditions. Therefore,
each pet should obtain a
health certificate from
their veterinarian, and
take any medication they
would normally take.
Similarly, each pet also
has an individual
personality and varying
fear of abandonment and
fear of new experiences.
The key is for the pet
to simply learn that
being inside his or her
own portable kennel is a
safe and wonderful place
to be. Then, as long as
they are inside their
safe place, the outside
scenery can change
without apprehension.
Depending on previous
experiences and the
pet's personality, this
"mind set" can take from
one to three weeks to
obtain. Here's how to do
it:
Contented Confinement
Training:
1) For
the first few days,
introduce only the
bottom half of the
kennel as the pet's new
dining room. Feed all
meals inside where the
pet only needs to step
into half shell and can
leave when done. Praise
and stroke the pet when
inside the kennel. If
possible, do this in
different rooms so it is
the kennel that is
constant.
2) When
the pet's body language
is relaxed with this,
add the kennel top, but
leave the door off.
Continue to feed within,
but also now hide
special food treats or
chew toys inside the
kennel, and watch for
the pet to go in just to
check for surprises.
3) Add
and close the kennel
door during feeding,
then open it to come out
after finished. When no
food is inside, place
the pet bed inside and
leave the door open with
treats hidden inside.
Praise your pet whenever
entering the kennel.
Initially, every time
the door is closed
combine this with some
peanut butter inside a
toy. Chew toys left
inside should be too
large to be swallowed,
and ok if destroyed.
Provide cats with some
catnip inside if the cat
likes it.
4) After
3-4 days of gradual
introduction, (and extra
exercise that day) close
the pet inside with
special toys overnight.
The best location is
next to your bed so the
pet can hear and smell
you sleeping. Ignore
fussing, and praise
quiet. If the pet
complains too much, move
the kennel to the other
side of the house, and
put a blanket over it.
For these insecure pets
include a worn T-shirt,
and consider commercial
anti-anxiety pet
pheromones (D.A.P.
collar for dogs, or
Feliway for cats). Don't
open the door when the
pet is fussing. Better
that the pet learn to
accept the kennel here,
instead of panic inside
the belly of the plane.
5) If
the pet panics
repeatedly when left
alone, it is likely that
"separation anxiety" is
part of the problem, so
obtain professional
veterinary help
resolving this pet
behavioral problem.
(e.g.
www.AnimalBehavior.Net)
This category of pet
might benefit from
anti-anxiety
prescription medication
like "Alprazolam" when
traveling, rather than a
sedative.
6) Once
they are relaxed in
their portable kennel at
home, take the
pet-plus-kennel in the
car for some short
trips, and praise quiet
calm behavior. Give the
special treat for the
ride. You are gradually
building up their
tolerance. If at any
point, the pet starts
panicking, begin again
introducing the kennel
during feeding.
7) Once
the pet has adapted to
calmly accepting the
portable kennel as their
private, "safe place"
(even when traveling,
and if you are out of
sight), then your
"precious cargo" is
ready for air travel.
SUMMARY - Checklist For
Pet Travel:
1) Check
your airline and with
your port of entry (if
you are traveling out of
the country) for their
specific pet vaccination
and heath certificate
requirements.
2) Make
certain your pet has had
a recent health
examination and if there
are any known health
problems, discuss these
with your veterinarian
prior to air travel.
3) If
the pet is seven years
old or older, have a
veterinary, "internal
exam" of lab tests to be
sure the pet is healthy.
4) Have
the pet travel in the
cabin with you, if
possible.
5) Obtain
a high quality, airline
approved portable
kennel.
6) Provide
a comfortable pet bed
inside the kennel to
help maintain body heat.
(Cargo temperatures
average 50-60F)
7) Introduce
the kennel at least a
week before the trip as
the pet's new, "safe
place." (See
instructions)
8) Confirm
that the door and all
other openings are
secure when checking the
kennel at the airport.
9) Do
not open the kennel for
any reason once inside
the air terminal.
(Escapes are common.)
10)
Do not provide food and
water inside the kennel
as it only makes a mess
and stimulates
elimination.
11)
Do not use sedation or
tranquilizers unless
absolutely necessary.