Getting the right dog crate while perusing the many styles of dog carriers can be daunting. As you plan for travel with your pet, two ideas should influence your choices: first, sturdy construction is critical and second, comfort inside will make your pet safe and secure. A rule of thumb is to choose a crate or carrier that exceeds the requirements for safety, construction and comfort set down by the IATA (International Air Transport Association). Since these features are often under review, check for the latest updates at www.iata.org before shopping. One of the best features of pet friendly travel is that airlines have established safety guidelines to help you do your part to make your pet's journey successful.

Crates

Pet travel crates should be big enough for your dog to stand in the carrier and should feature access to a well-secured water reservoir. The bottom should be padded. The sides should be sturdy and ventilated. Interior seams should be well joined and neither sharp nor movable so as to pinch. The door should latch securely. Dogs have been known to escape in the hold to tragic ends. Do not buy a carrier with a flimsy or pliable locking system. Some crates feature locking wheels for easy movement. Some have climate control features for heat and cold, which might be advisable if the rating system for reliability in the carrier of your choice is high. When selecting the crate, imagine your dog using all his strength to escape over 8 hours and choose materials accordingly.

While many dogs find airline travel a nice interlude for a nap, some dogs can become rambunctious at a time when they are unsupervised in the hold. Your crate should feature comfortable-grip, well-placed, strong handles to assist airline staff in moving the carrier to cause the least jostling to your dog.

In-Cabin Carriers

In-cabin airline carriers, frequently soft-sided, should also conform to IATA guidelines. Generally in-cabin travel is restricted to pets under 15 lbs who can be slid under the seat in front of you. Carriers that have many areas for ventilation, zippered exits in the front and top, flat pockets for paperwork and pertinent materials, a fluffy washable pad on the bottom and are well sewn make for comfort for your pet. A covered or padded strap will make pet travel and transport most comfortable for you. Designer bags with style and flash rarely conform to as many dog-comfort features as the more pedestrian bag brands do. Chose durability, safety and comfort for your dog and buy yourself a slick briefcase, bespoke backpack or stylish pocketbook instead.

Other Carriers

When you reach your destination, instead of using your soft-sided airline carrier, there are many ways to carry a small dog about when his paws need a rest. Many companies make stylish totes, backpacks, front packs and slings for dogs who go sightseeing in new destinations. These present an opportunity to enjoy style in your dog carrier since stringent regulatio...

Dogs love to travel. They are natural nomads, used to moving around in a pack and love meeting new friends. Learning how to travel with your dog requires some knowledge and adjustments, but after a trip with your pet, you will most likely agree that having a dog helps you make friends and keeps the fun meter way up.

Air Travel For Your Pet

Most major airlines will accept dogs as passengers. Dogs under 15 lbs. can travel in-cabin. Larger dogs must be booked in cargo in traveling dog crates and there are some seasonal restrictions. When booking your flight, book your pet as well and be sure to get a locator number associated with your seat for your pet. This is an important security precaution. It is better for your pet to fly a short distance for his first flight. To ask a pet to travel in a carrier or a cargo crate for eight hours the first time is asking a great deal.

Make sure your pet enters the airport having had a walk and carry all rabies and other pertinent inoculation information with you. Various requirements exist for each airline and for various countries. Please check these before planning your trip. (For some destinations in the United States, Pet Airways represents a new trend in traveling dog airlines and its limited flight schedule could help you to fly a big dog in relatively more comfort in cabin, even a large pet, but you will have to meet your pet at the airport in the end destination.)

Car Travel

Dogs love to go out in the car. Make a comfortable travel nest for your dog in an approved car carrier that is seat belted in. That way he is safe, you are not distracted and you can enjoy the open road. Never allow your dog to put his head outside the car window. He could fall out, hurt his neck on the window edge or damage his corneas in the wind and grit. Yes, dogs love to ride that way, but it's not safe for anybody. Always use a leash in an unfamiliar area to avoid bolting.

Hotels

Most travel resources list which hotels accept pets. You will also find a pets accepted symbol on the homepages of many major hotels. When checking into those hotels, be sure to tell the desk you have your dog. Many hotels provide bowls and snacks for dogs as well as offer information on safe walks. Some even have walking and sitting services. And many offer a "pet in room" door tag to let maids know not to leave the door open so your pet can not wander out. For dogs you cannot trust to be left alone, you will find the visit is made much more congenial by bringing a sturdy, safe traveling dog crate. Be careful to choose a traveling crate with a high safety rating so your dog does not harm himself if he tries to wiggle out. Most traveling dogs do not like being left alone in a hotel room, so plan activities where you and your dog can have fun together.

Restaurants

Traveling with your dog in most European countries does not pose a problem for restaurants. Many restaurants -casual and nicer- in Europe accept well-behaved dog...

Every national border crossing is governed by its own set of requirements when you take your dog on holiday. Most countries make such transitions very easy. DO plan for international travel with your dog, but DO gather all the information you need to make the transitions -both leaving and returning- worry-free.

Rabies Inoculation

At the least, most countries require a recent rabies shot within one year (at the outside) and 30 days (at the inside) of passage. Speak with your vet about the safest options for rabies shots for dogs that will travel frequently.

Always keep a current rabies inoculation tag on your dog's harness or collar and keep the documents safe with you while traveling. Putting them in a zippered pocket in your dog's carrier is the best way to keep them close to hand should you be asked to present them. And make a few copies in case an official at a point of entry wants to keep the documents on record.

Health Certificate

Technically, countries require you to carry a health certificate from your vet done within 10 days of travel. All normal inoculations must be up to date and accounted for. Simply visit your vet, have a check up, and take signed documentation stating that your pup, indeed, is in good health to travel. (Chronic illnesses that are non-infectious do not compromise the health requirement, but always be sure your dog feels well enough to take on the stress of travel. And remember to take a good supply of all regular and emergency meds, carrying them securely in your carry-on bag.)

Documentation

The Pet Passport was introduced in the UK by the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) to ensure easy passage of pets into the UK. The passport is associated with information on microchipping and other inoculation and health documentation and spares pets going into the UK from having to undergo quarantine. While some other EU countries have adopted the Pet Passport, it is currently not required for entry into most non-UK countries, nor do most countries acknowledge it. The microchip is technically required by many countries. Inconsistently, the chip ID is rarely asked for when entering. If you do microchip, consider it yet one other precaution. Make sure you have memorized the microchip number and microchip-issuing agency call in phone number.

Difficulties and inconsistencies remain when researching how to travel with your dog to various countries around the world. The consulate or embassy office has been the traditional place to get answers on international travel with pets, although actual practices on the ground rarely conform rigidly to the official information you will receive when calling a consulate or an embassy. In actuality, most of the stringent regulations are not enforced consistently, with the exception of the UK, which is a carefully regulated pet border. Immigration Forms do not require you to list pets.

Quarantines exist for the UK (without Pet Passport), some of the Caribbean Islands, Hawaii a...