Air Travel
If you are planning an airline trip with your boxer, you cannot do so without planning in advance. Not only are there certain times of the year when airlines will not fly dogs or pets as excess baggage (in extreme hot or cold temperatures), there are also times when you can't fly your boxer because another pet may be flying as excess baggage. Many airlines no longer fly dogs at all.
Planning for Your Flight
You will need to contact the airline you wish to use to check with them if they fly pets. If your boxer is flying as excess baggage (at an additional charge to you), he will need to fly in an airline approved crate or one that is made out of strong, impact-resistant plastic. Most pet stores carry airline crates.
If for some reason your boxer is not crate trained, now is the time to get him used to his crate. He will need to be in the crate in the hold while the plane is being loaded, or on the ground waiting to be loaded, and while being prepared for take-off, landing, and while in the air. It is often a considerable amount of time that your boxer needs to learn to tolerate.
You will need a health certificate that the airlines can examine in order for him to board. All health certificates are valid for a period of thirty days, but most people get them as close to the time that they leave as possible, which usually means a day or two before the trip.
It is a good idea to feed your boxer lightly as early as possible before you need to leave for the airport the day you fly. If your boxer's stomach is too empty for too long, it will typically only become more upset as time goes by than if he has a little something in his stomach to digest. Half of breakfast or dinner is good, or just a couple of treats. But don't let your boxer overeat before he gets on a plane!
Decorating the Airline Crate
When you buy your airline crate, it will have two or more stickers to put on the outside of the crate that read something on the order of, “Caution Live Animal.” This is to alert airline staff of the fact that they are dealing with a live animal. However, in this busy, impersonal day and age, many who travel with their beloved boxers go much farther than that simple alert. They attach a picture of their boxer and personal note from the boxer that reads something like this: “Hi, I'm Bonzo, a well-trained boxer, and I'm happy to be flying with you to the American Boxer Club National Specialty in ________. I'm normally very friendly, but I'm away from my person, John Smith, and I may be worried.” A personalized note like this can do much to remind airline workers that your boxer is a nice dog, and he will be treated accordingly.
When you buy your airline crate for your boxer, buy it only as large as it needs to be so that your boxer can stand and turn around somewhat comfortably in it. If the crate is bigger than that, it defeats the purpose of helping contain your boxer in case you run into turbulence in the sky, and he gets bounced around. It the crate is too large, your boxer can also get stiff from having to brace himself.
Some airlines require you to attach a small amount of food to the crate for your dog, and most require that you have an available supply of water in the crate. What many experienced dog owners do when flying is to freeze water in the cup that comes with the airline crate. This helps to insure that your boxer's water won't spill in turbulence, and he is less likely to become dehydrated if the flight takes more time than expected.
Assistance Dogs
If you require an assistance dog to help you in life in general, the American Disabilities Act helps to ensure that you can fly with your boxer in the cabin of the plane, although he must be out of the way at all times. You will need to make arrangements for this with advanced planning if you want to take your boxer with you. He needs specific certification as an assistance dog that you will need to provide to the airline, plus all the other items any dog requires to travel.
VIP Dogs
Some domestic airlines have special programs that allow your boxer to fly in the cabin in a seat, strapped in as if he were wearing a seat belt. To fly inside the cabin, he must have proof that he is well trained as well as a health certificate. This service varies by airline, and is only provided by a few. If you would like to fly like this with your boxer, you will need to plan well in advance and do your research.
International Flights
If you are planning to travel by air with your boxer to a foreign country, you will need to contact the appropriate consulates or departments of agriculture of the country or countries you are planning to visit for information on their vaccination requirements. You may need to check on this frequently, as much as six months in advance as well as just days before you travel. These laws can change quickly and often, so the requirements for vaccinations can change with little or no notice.
