Travel Kennels Whether it’s a short trip to France or a long haul flight to Australia, your pets will always need to travel in an IATA approved travel kennel and one the most important points to remember when preparing your pets for their flight, is pre-flight conditioning to the new crate.
In doing this, not only will your pets grow accustomed to being inside the kennel, they will feel safe, secure and relaxed during their journey.
When introducing your pets to the kennel for the first time, it will need to be done gradually and in a positive manner. You should not force your pet inside or shut them in when they are anxious or stressed, as this will cause them to associate the kennel with an unpleasant experience, which can make acclimatization very tricky. It is vital that you praise and reward your pet throughout the process.
Try and encourage your pets to enter the kennel voluntarily as much as possible. You can do this by placing treats, toys or a favourite bedding inside the crate. once your pets have entered the kennel off their own accord, let them come and go as they please until they are fully confident in entering and leaving.
Try to get your pets to use the kennel as a place where they can go to rest and relax. placing the kennel in a spot where your pet would usually sleep can be a good way to do this.
Getting pets used to their kennels can sometimes be hard work, below are some tips which may help:
Nervous pet?
If you have a particularly nervous pet, or a pet who suffers from anxiety or travel sickness, PBS can supply Feliway (for cats) and Adaptil (for dogs) – which are sprays that release pheremones, to help calm and reassure your pet during stressfull situations. The spray can be applied to the inside of the travel kennel, car or the bedding.
Adaptil and Feliway are a natural and convenient way to help comfort your pets during travel – they do not alter blood pressure and are completely safe to use before flights. For further information, please download our leaflets (left)
Kennel Size
It is extremely important that you have the correct size travel kennel for your pet and that it meets the current IATA regulations. If you already have your 
own travel kennel, PBS will be able to advise whether or not it is suitable for travel. If you do not have your own kennel, PBS can supply standard sized plastic Vari-Kennels and bespoke wooden crates.
So that we can ensure the correct sized kennel is provided for your pet, we will need to know your pet’s exact measurements. Please see our guideline (left) on how to measure your pet.