 Blonde-haired, brown-eyed Nicholas looked up at me, confused and
nervous. The house was in disarray and all of his worldly possessions
had been boxed up and sent away.
I wanted to explain to him that we
were moving and that in a few days everything would return to normal,
but no matter how hard I tried, I could see that Nicholas didn’t really
understand.
Nicholas is my Golden Labrador who now, at six, has been through two
international moves. The first move from America to Japan was so
stressful that I dreaded the day I would have to move him again, yet
when the time came, I had learned so much about relocating my dog that
the second move was virtually flawless.
I have prepared ten easy-to-follow steps that should save you a lot of
time and stress when preparing to bring your dog on an international
move:
Step #1 – Several months before you leave, contact the consulate of the country to which you’re moving
This is a crucial step no matter how many times you move, because the
requirements may differ from country to country. When I moved from San
Diego to Japan, I called the Japanese consulate in Los Angeles. They
answered all of my questions, explained what medical checks, shots and
paperwork were required by their country, then faxed the forms I needed
to complete. They also let me know that Japan had a two-week quarantine
and that I would be responsible for all of the associated costs. The
German consulate in Tokyo was equally as helpful, thoroughly explaining
the requirements for bringing a dog into Germany. At a minimum, you’ll
need to provide an International Health Certificate certified by your
vet, but in some cases, there will be much more involved, so be
prepared.
Step #2 – Research airlines
This is something I didn’t do carefully enough the first time. Make
sure you select an airline with a good reputation for handling pets,
because not all of them do. You can find information through kennel
clubs, dog magazines, your local vet and on the internet.
When I flew from San Diego to Japan, Nicholas arrived in the baggage
claim area after nearly an hour. He was shaking and appeared
traumatized. It seemed to me that he had been handled like a piece of
inanimate cargo, rather than a well-loved member of my family. The good
news is that my experience from Japan to Germany was completely the
opposite. Nicholas was in the baggage claim area with an airline
representative as soon as we got through passport control. It was a
happy reunion for both of us. I believe that the difference between the
two moves had everything to do with the attitude of the individual
airlines towards pets. For my move to Germany, I chose Lufthansa. They
had an excellent reputation for pet transportation and they lived up to
it in every way. Nils Haupt, Vice President of Corporate Communications
at Lufthansa Cargo explains, “Lufthansa Cargo is specialized in
transporting live animals. We treat animals almost like passengers: to
offer them a comfortable, stressfree and caring transport all over the
world.”
I do recommend that you research the cost for transporting a dog,
however. In the case of one of our trips, the airline charged our
36-kilogram dog as excess luggage. That came to a staggering 3,000
Euros! Ouch. We requested a business-class seat for him, but they just
laughed, so we spent our entire excess baggage allowance on Nicholas.
Don’t, however, book your dog with a questionable airline just because
it’s cheaper. Instead, consider putting an overweight dog on a diet
immediately!
Step #3 - Make sure the airline has a direct flight to your destination
If not, try and limit the amount of time between layovers. No one likes
to be stuck at airports, especially those passengers forced to travel
in a kennel. Also make sure you have pet-friendly transportation and
accommodation arranged for your arrival. There’s nothing worse than
hassling with an uncooperative taxi driver or hotel manager after you
and your dog have been traveling all day.
Step #4 - When you book your flight, let the airline know you are traveling with a pet
They often have limited space for animals (which can range from dogs
and cats to chickens and horses). Smaller dogs may even be able to
travel in the cabin with you, so make sure you check.
Step #5 - Avoid traveling in summer months
I have heard of cases where dogs have been left out on the tarmac in
the summer heat. Contrary to what you might think, not everyone loves
dogs as much as you do - I know, hard to believe - but keep this in
mind when traveling. Some airlines have a policy of not transporting
dogs during summer months at all, so make sure you check. Also, make
sure you provide your dog with a water source for the flight. We
attached a large water bottle to his kennel (like that used in a
hamster cage) and trained him to use it months ahead of time. It was
inexpensive and it worked perfectly well.
Step #6 – Train your dog to sleep in his travel kennel
Make sure the kennel you buy is sturdy and has plenty of space for your
dog as well as a secure lock. Start training him by making the kennel a
pleasurable experience. Throw his favorite toy inside, then praise him
for entering. Continue this until he seems comfortable, then start
closing the door, talking to him and petting him the whole time.
Nicholas felt so safe in his kennel that, when faced with one last
visit to the vet at the airport, he ran from the doctor and hid in his
kennel. The vet wasn’t happy, but we were pleased that our training had
worked so well!
Step #7 – Limit food and water prior to your departure
Before my first move, I made the mistake of feeding Nicholas his normal
meals. During the flight he couldn’t resist nature’s call and his
kennel was a mess when we arrived. So before we left for Germany, I fed
Nicholas a small breakfast the day before our flight and a snack in the
evening, picking up his water bowl before bed. I walked him in the
morning, gave him a small snack and limited water, then walked him
again at the airport. Although it feels cruel to deprive your dog of
food at any time, prior to a long-haul flight, it’s the kind thing to
do.
Step #8 – Enclose a copy of your name and flight information plus a
copy of all of your dog’s documents in a plastic casing, and attach it
to the outside of the kennel
Always keep the original documents with you. In addition, I recommend
printing a computer photo of your pet and putting it on the outside of
the kennel. This way, people who handle your dog can see that he is a
well-loved, well-cared-for member of a family, not just an animal.
Step #9 – Don’t sedate your dog
I know, you think you’re doing him a favor, but it’s not necessarily
true. Dr. Bernd Endres, a veterinary surgeon in Baldham near Munich
warns, “You’re taking a risk when you sedate a dog during flight. You
never know how he will react to the medication and without any way to
check on him, you can’t be sure he is safe.” Also consider this:
passengers in the main cabin have seatbelts to secure them during the
flight, but there are no seatbelts in kennel class. An alert dog can at
least brace himself during turbulence, but a sedated dog is at risk for
injury. Believe me, your own peace of mind isn’t worth the risk to your
dog’s health.
Step #10 – Don’t take your stress out on your dog
Anyone who has moved internationally knows how stressful it is – moving
day being the worst. But imagine how confusing it is for your pet! So
although it’s not easy, don’t get frustrated with your dog when he
decides not to cooperate. Allow yourself plenty of time before your
flight for unexpected events like your dog hiding or refusing to go in
the car or the kennel. We all know how sensitive dogs can be to our
emotions, so remain calm and reassuring. You’ll feel better, and so
will your dog.
Here is a quick review of the ten steps:
1. Contact the consulate of the country to which you’re moving
2. Research airlines
3. Try and book a direct flight
4. When you book your flight, let the airline know you’re traveling with a dog
5. Avoid traveling in summer months
6. Train your dog in advance to sleep in a travel kennel
7. Limit food and water prior to flight
8. Attach a copy of travel documents to the kennel and keep original documents with you at all times
9. Don’t sedate your dog
10. Don’t take your frustrations out on your dog
Traveling internationally with a dog doesn’t have to be a stressful
experience if you take the proper precautions. You’ll enjoy your flight
a lot more if you know your dog is in good hands. We at Expat-Media.com
wish you and your dog a safe and relaxing journey!
 Theresa Mills
|
|
|
First Steps 
