The three-part preparation plan that helps puppies and dogs travel with confidence.

Flying with a dog can feel overwhelming. There are airline rules to understand, carrier sizes to check, and the very real worry about how your dog will cope with hours in a confined space.

If you’re wondering how to fly with a dog, it really comes down to three parts. First, research your airline’s requirements before you book your flight so there are no surprises on travel day. Next, teach your dog to love the travel carrier they’ll be flying in so it becomes a place where they can truly relax. Finally, if you’re travelling with a puppy, teach them to potty on a pee pad. It’s an extra training project that can make a long flight much easier if they need a bathroom break before reaching your destination.

When Prophet flew home from Switzerland as a puppy, I had so many people ask how we prepared him for such a long journey. The answer wasn’t a special carrier or a travel secret. It was preparation. 

The Three Parts to Puppy Flight Preparation

Before you even think about packing, there are three things I want you to prepare.

Part One: Understand the airline requirements before you book your flight.

Part Two: Teach your dog to love the travel carrier they’ll be flying in.

Part Three: If you’re travelling with a puppy, teach them to potty on a pee pad before travel day.

The first part is about planning. The second and third are all about dog training. Together, they can make the difference between a dog who simply tolerates flying and one who is calm, confident, and comfortable throughout the journey.

How to fly with a dog infographic

Part One: Research Before You Book

One thing I never want people to do is take airline requirements for granted. Do your research before you book because the rules can change, and they can vary not only between airlines but even between different aircraft on the same airline.

Before purchasing your ticket, find out which aircraft you’ll be flying on and confirm the carrier dimensions for that specific flight. Airline staff may measure your carrier at check-in and ask to see that your dog fits comfortably inside.

That’s more important than ever because travel requirements continue to evolve. For example, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) updated its pet container guidelines in January 2026, including a requirement that ventilation openings be no larger than 25 mm (1 inch) to help prevent dogs from getting their paws or noses through the holes. If you’re travelling with a smaller dog, it’s worth checking that your carrier meets the latest guidelines.

I’ve heard from people who arrived at the airport only to discover that what they’d prepared didn’t meet the airline’s requirements. That’s the kind of stressful surprise a little research beforehand can often prevent.

The carrier itself deserves some thought too. I like flexible carriers because they fit beneath the seat during takeoff and landing while still giving the puppy a little more room once you’re in the air.

I also like having a backup plan. When Prophet travelled home from Switzerland, I packed a Gunner Crate as checked luggage just in case he wasn’t allowed to fly in the cabin. We never needed it, but having that option gave me peace of mind.

Now we get to the fun part, which is the dog training.

Part Two: Teach Your Dog to Love Their Travel Carrier

I want my puppy to be completely at ease sleeping in the carrier they’ll travel in. If they aren’t comfortable, they may bark, dig at the bag, chew it, or even eliminate because they’re so upset. The embarrassment is the least of your worries. Think about what that poor little soul is going through.

We want to prepare them.

If you know your puppy will be flying, this training can begin weeks in advance. I like to start by target training the puppy to a small bed that will eventually fit inside the carrier. Feed meals on that bed for a day or two, then begin rewarding the puppy for choosing to return to it. Before long, that little bed becomes something they truly value.

Once the puppy loves that little bed, move it halfway inside the carrier. The puppy hops onto the bed, earns reinforcement, and comes right back out. As their confidence grows, simply move the bed a little farther into the carrier until they’re happily going all the way inside.

With Prophet, we actually started with a much larger carrier than the one he’d eventually fly in. It was open on several sides, which made it feel spacious and inviting while he learned that getting in, relaxing, and coming back out were all part of the game.

Don’t zip the carrier closed right away. Let the puppy get in and out confidently first. Build a little duration by giving a couple of cookies before using your release cue. When they’re happily staying inside for about a minute, zip the bag for a second or two, then open it again and let them come out.

Keep the sessions short. Thirty seconds is plenty in the beginning, and several successful sessions each day build far more confidence than one long training session.

Eventually, after a little play, shape your puppy to go into the carrier for a nap. By the last few nights before the flight, I like them sleeping beside the bed in that same carrier. By then, it isn’t something new anymore. It’s one of the safest places they know.

If you’ve already played Crate Games with your puppy, you’re ahead of the game. The same confidence, value, and understanding your puppy develops through Crate Games transfer beautifully to a travel carrier because they’re already learning that being in a crate predicts great things.

If a breeder is preparing your puppy, consider sending the carrier ahead so they can begin this conditioning before the puppy travels.

For Prophet, we also taught two practical skills. He learned to lie down as soon as he entered the carrier so anyone looking inside could immediately see he had plenty of room. He also learned to turn around on cue in case airline staff wanted to see that he could move comfortably inside.

The final layer of preparation is carrying your puppy into the real world. Visit an outdoor café or somewhere with a little background noise. Not so much that they’re worried, just enough to let them learn that unfamiliar places still predict good things.

That’s how you prepare a dog for a busy airport without waiting until travel day to find out how they’ll cope.

Part Three: Prepare Your Puppy for a Long Flight

The final part of the preparation is one many people don’t think about until they’re already on the plane.

What happens if your puppy needs the bathroom?

A seven-hour flight can quickly become a nine-hour journey once you include arriving early at the airport, waiting for luggage, and clearing customs. That’s a long time for a puppy to wait before getting outside.

Rather than hoping for the best, prepare for it.

For Prophet, his breeder covered several pee pads with fresh grass clippings so the surface felt familiar. Once he happily used the pads, there was a little less grass each day until eventually he was comfortable using only the pad itself.

The large potty area was gradually reduced to one small pad, and he also learned a potty cue.

If he needed to go during the flight, the carrier could be taken into the aircraft bathroom, the pad placed on the floor, and the familiar cue given.

As it turned out, he did use the pad during the journey. It was a worthwhile investment of time, even if he never needs to use a pee pad again.

The Bigger Picture

People often ask me how to fly with a dog.

I think the better question is, how do you help your dog feel safe wherever life takes you?

Flying is simply one example.

The same thoughtful preparation helps dogs succeed at veterinary visits, hotel stays, outdoor cafés, competitions, and countless other adventures. When we build confidence first, our dogs don’t just cope with new experiences. They enjoy them.

That’s why I don’t really think of this as travel training. I think of it as relationship training. The airport just happens to be another classroom.

If you’re planning to travel with your dog and would like even more detailed information, I’ve put together a Flying Your Pet eBook. It covers everything from preparing your dog for air travel to travelling in the cabin or cargo, helping you feel confident before you ever arrive at the airport.

Frequently Asked Questions About How to Fly With a Dog

How do you fly with a dog?

If you’re wondering how to fly with a dog, the key is to prepare well before travel day. Research your airline’s requirements, teach your dog to love their travel carrier, and gradually introduce them to the sights, sounds, and routines they’ll experience on the journey.

How do I prepare my puppy for a long flight?

Start several weeks before travel day. Focus on building positive associations with the carrier, gradually increasing the amount of time your puppy relaxes inside it, and introducing them to new environments before the journey.

Can you fly with a dog in the cabin?

Many dogs and puppies can fly in the cabin if they meet the airline’s current size, weight, and carrier requirements. Because every airline has different rules, always confirm the requirements for your specific flight before booking.

What are the rules for flying with a dog?

The rules for flying with a dog vary by airline and even by aircraft. Before purchasing your ticket, check the approved carrier dimensions, health documentation, age requirements, and any destination-specific regulations to avoid surprises at the airport.

How do I get my dog comfortable in a travel carrier for flying?

Don’t introduce the carrier on travel day. Pair it with meals, games, reinforcement, naps, and overnight sleep so it becomes one of your dog’s favorite places to settle and relax.

Should my puppy sleep in the travel carrier before flying?

Yes. Sleeping in the carrier before the journey helps it become familiar and predictable, making it much easier for your puppy to settle during the flight.

Can I fly with a large dog?

Many large dogs travel in cargo because they exceed in-cabin size limits. If you’re flying with a large dog, research your airline’s policies well in advance and prepare your dog for travelling in their crate just as carefully as you would for cabin travel.

How much does it cost to fly with a dog?

The cost of flying with a dog depends on the airline, your destination, and whether your dog travels in the cabin or cargo. Because fees change regularly, it’s always best to check directly with your airline before booking your trip.

Should I teach my puppy to use a pee pad before flying?

For longer journeys, absolutely. Teaching a potty cue and introducing a pee pad before travel day can make the experience much less stressful if your puppy needs a bathroom break during the flight.

Gratitude

I’m grateful for every opportunity we have to prepare our dogs for success instead of hoping they’ll simply cope. Every game we play, every layer of confidence we build, and every thoughtful training session tells our dogs they’re safe with us. Whether the adventure is a flight across the world or a trip around the corner, that’s the kind of confidence that lasts a lifetime.