How to Fly with Dogs, Part 2

Some people love to fly. Take pilots for example. Whether they are flying a commercial airliner, a fighter plane, a helicopter, or a paraglider, those who love to fly can’t wait to get back up in the air again. However, a lot of people do not like to fly, especially on commercial airliners. For some, it’s not necessarily the flying itself, but the process of flying, from parking at the airport to getting through airport security. In fact, those that don’t like the process of flying could probably be converted over to lovers of flying if the process were made easier.

Enter Klik Belts, the maker of the best TSA-compliant belts that were designed with the express purpose of bringing our already best-in-class belts to the realm of security compliance. When you purchase a TSA-compliant belt from Klik Belts, you can rest assured you’ll be getting a top-notch belt that will eliminate the need to remove it before going through airport security.

Increasingly, many people are now flying with dogs in tow. Dogs, at least for Americans, are part of the family. They are beyond just companion animals and are now viewed by many to be invaluable to their lives. In our last blog post, we discussed many tips with flying with dogs. In this blog post, we’ll continue our look at flying with dogs. Browse our amazing selection of TSA-compliant belts, and order yours today!

MORE TIPS TO FLY WITH DOGS

Purchase the Right Sized Crate

Hopefully if you are flying with dogs, they are crate trained already. If not, throwing them in a crate and then plopping them on a plane for the very first time is probably not the best idea. 

First, many airlines require a certain sized crate, or carry-on pet carrier for storage purposes. A carry-on usually must be soft-sided and be able to be stowed underneath your seat. For your dog that will be traveling in the cargo area of the plane, you’ll need a crate that is durable, have handles or grips for the airline personnel to use, have padded material in case your dog has an accident, be properly ventilated, and be labeled in the biggest letters possible that you have a live animal inside and that you write your contact information on it as well. Klik Belts, a maker of the best TSA-compliant belts, recommends that you check with your airline on proper size dimensions as well.

Take Your Dog Out Ahead of Time

You’ll want to make sure your dog has plenty of time to do its business before being put into its crate for a long period of time. Dogs hate soiling their dens, or the places that they sleep. If your dog has no choice, they will, but it just adds more stress to your dog. It’s also a good idea to play with your dog ahead of time. Wearing your dog out before the long trip may help them sleep some of the way, which will decrease the stress on your dog.

Minimize the Amount of Time Your Dog is Away From You

Klik Belts, a company that offers TSA-compliant belts, recommends that you do everything possible to minimize the amount of time you are separated from your dog. You’ll want to wait till the last minute to check your dog into the baggage area, and you’ll want to get off the plane as soon as you can upon landing and go and claim your dog. This will help relieve both of your anxieties as you realize your dog is okay, and your dog is back with its owners.

Be Prepared for Quarantine if You are Travelling Overseas

Some countries require live animals to be quarantined for a minimum amount of time before they will release animals into their country. This is to ensure animals are disease-free, and for dogs specifically, that they are rabies-free. However, many countries now have ways for you to avoid quarantine if you meet certain requirements, or do a very minimum number of days. Do your research ahead of time so you can bypass quarantine. However, you still need to be prepared in case your dog is quarantined.

Be Mentally Prepared for What Could Go Wrong

While we all hope nothing goes wrong with your pet during airline travel, things can go wrong. You need to be prepared mentally for the worst. Some of the things that can go wrong are listed below:

• Your dog could escape its dog crate. If your dog escapes its crate or the crate is damaged to the point your dog does escape, they could be lost forever. Oftentimes, dogs just run when scared, and in an unknown city, your dog may be long gone. Your dog could also become injured running around on the tarmac or in the cargo area of the plane. The best preparation for this Klik Belts notes is to have a well-trained dog who will come to you when called.
• Your dog could die. A plane’s cargo area can be a scary place for a dog. It can get very hot or very cold in there, depending on the weather outside both where you takeoff and where you land. Let’s face it, a plane’s cargo area was designed to handle luggage, not pets.
• Your pet could be loaded onto the wrong plane. This is doubly stressful as now your dog has to endure more flight time to be reunited with you. Klik Belts, a proprietor of the best TSA-compliant belts, recommends that you ask to watch your dog be loaded onto the plane to ensure your dog is onboard. There’s almost nothing worse than postponing your vacation in order to retrieve your lost dog.
• Your dog could be scarred for life. What we mean by this is that some dogs don’t have the temperament for flying. After all, airports are scary places for dogs. They are stuck in crates away from their families. They have to endure extremely loud noises (since dogs hear much better than we do, these are really loud noises) from the airplane. And if they are mishandled, such as their crates thrown around, they could never ever get in a crate again. Although we love our dogs and treat them as our children, the reality is they are still dogs, and they don’t have the mental capacity to understand what is happening to them. When they don’t understand, phobias develop — sometimes for life.

Klik Belts, a maker of the best TSA-compliant belts, loves dogs. We urge you before flying with your dog to properly prepare your animal, or it will be unpleasant for everyone. If you must, perhaps Fido would be happier at home rather than by your side for your vacation. You must weigh the pros and the cons, and do your best to guess what is best for your dog. Remember, you are ultimately responsible for your dog’s safety, health, and well-being. Some caveats Klik Belts has are listed below:

• Don’t fly with old dogs
• Don’t fly if your dog has a medical condition or is on medication
• Don’t fly if your dog is a Brachycephalic (smashed in noses like a bulldog)
• Don’t fly if the temperature outside is at its extremes

HOW KLIK BELTS CAN HELP

Time is of the essence when traveling with dogs. Klik Belts understands that you need to get through airport security quickly after you check in your dog at the last possible moment. We make the best TSA-compliant belts on the market that are superior in every way to others. We have partnered with COBRA® buckle to make a polymer buckle that has all of the great qualities of their metal belt buckles. COBRA® buckles are the only stab-lock style fasteners in the safety products marketplace that won’t open under load. This means that they will stay fastened once fastened. However, they also are easy to open and look awesome on your belt.

These airport-friendly belts will get the job done, and you won’t have to remove them. Our 1.5” wide 2-ply webbing is designed to fit through all pant loops, and they are triple-stitched for extra strength. These TSA-compliant belts are ultra-lightweight, super comfortable, and easily adjustable for the perfect fit. If you’re a frequent flyer, a federal employee, or anyone else who frequently has to pass through metal detectors, these non-metal belts are for you. Minimize your airport security time and maximize your time with Fido. Order your TSA-compliant belt today!