Hi!
I'm moving from Aspen, Colorado in February and I need to bring my dog home to Sweden.
I am aware of what needs to be done with vaccinations and chips and all that stuff, however I've only heard horror stories of shipping a large dog since he can't sit with me on the plane.
Which service is best? Can I ship him separately without me on the same plane? I can give my dog some type of sedative? We know that benadryl works but he might just sleep for around four hours, so will he be traumatized or should he be ok?
And then also: do we buy our own crate or do they have crates? I have a lot of questions I can't find searching online.
Sincerely,
Marine
Hi Marine,
Thanks for reaching out, we're happy to help answer your questions!
First of all, it sounds like you're off to a great start by researching the rules and requirements for pet imports to Sweden (here's an official link explaining what's needed in case you need a refresher).
Now, as for your safety questions, we can tell you that when the right choices are made, pet air travel is actually very safe. We've moved thousands of pets via cargo without incident and have discussed this matter in depth on our blog -- here's a look at the safety statistics surrounding pet air travel.
Essentially, if you work to crate train your dog, choose an airline with solid pet policies, and discuss any concerns or questions you have with your vet, you'll be well on your way to planning a safe and surprisingly uneventful trip. Note: we often use KLM, Lufthansa, United and British Airways for our own clients.
As for your other questions, you will need to buy your own airline approved travel crate and no, sedation is not allowed (most airlines won't fly a pet who appears to be sedated). Rather, work on crate acclimation in the weeks before the move to help your dog enjoy a calm trip and ask your vet about possible holistic alternatives.
Hopefully this helps to get you started, Marine. Feel free to look over these additional pet travel tips and please let us know if you're interested in our door-to-door pet travel services by filling out our online consultation form.
Good luck with your travels!
Pet Travel Question Details:
Name: Marine
Number of Pets: 1
Pet Type: Dog
Pet Breed: Labrador / English Pointer Mix
From: Colorado
To: Sweden