Expenses for Domestic and International Dog Shipping
Is your pet traveling in-cabin or in the cargo hold? Either way, you’ll need to purchase a kennel that meets the airlines’ requirements. For cargo travel, we have some tips and tricks for finding the right kennel and size for your dog on this page.
Research the costs of travel crates ahead of time and don’t forget to purchase two water bowls to attach to the door!
From general vaccinations to blood tests to health checks, your dog’s move will require at least one vet visit. You might even have to make sure your dog sees a government-approved or accredited veterinarian if you are moving internationally!
Be sure to read the pet import requirements for your specific destination and discuss the process, including the related costs, with your vet.
The majority of your dog’s move budget will fall under airfare costs. Because pets require extra care and attention throughout their journey, the rates airlines charge for live animals are often more expensive than regular passenger ticket prices. For cargo specifically, most airlines base the ticket pricing for pets off of the volume of the travel crate and/or the weight of the pet with the travel crate.
Additionally, you will need to consider how the costs will be affected if your dog’s routing requires a layover. Layovers for pets that last more than a few hours can add additional fees, which ensure they are well looked after at a pet hotel until they are put on the next flight. While you may be able to jump on a discount flight to your destination without worrying about routing or stops, pets have to be carefully routed to ensure they’re only flying in and out of airports that have pet-friendly airlines.
Lastly, it is important to note that some airlines will not allow you to book directly with them to fly your dog internationally to some countries — instead, you have to go through a pet-shipping company with an airline account. This is because they want to have the assurance that the import procedures and paperwork were completed correctly to avoid any penalties or fees.
What happens when you ship a dog?
Pets are generally received from their guardian by the pet shipping companies on the day before the trip. Then they are taken straightway to the vet to do necessary health checkups and paperwork.
Every pet dog transportation agency ascertains the guardians of their pets’ safety during the trip. The dog shippers take special care of the pets and make them feel comfortable by taking the pets for a walk within every 4 to 5 hours interval.
When is shipping puppies not recommended?
Primarily for safety reasons, PetRelocation does not ship puppies younger than 16 weeks. We believe that dogs are stronger and better equipped to handle the experience of air travel when they are at least four months old, and this also allows them to be properly vaccinated before travel.
Some countries allow young pets to enter before being vaccinated while others do not, so traveling with a very young dog may not even be possible depending on their destination. It’s important to review all airline and country import rules carefully and talk with your vet before you book your puppy’s travel arrangements in order to ensure they have a safe trip.