Air Travel

Luckily for Boxer owners, these animals travel by air better than cats. If the Boxer is accustomed to car travel, then air travel shouldn't be a problem at all.

Certify Your Boxer's Health before Air Travel
Not only is Boxer air travel better for your Boxer if the Boxer is healthy, but it's actually the law. Federal law requires that a canine has been certified within 10 days of the trip to be healthy, vaccinated, and free from contagious diseases.

Avoid Excessive Temperatures
Ensure the safety of your Boxer during air travel by never flying with your Boxer while temperatures are over 85 degrees or under 35 degrees, on either end of the flight. Many airliners put "heat restrictions" and/or "cold restrictions" on canine air travel during the summer and winter months respectively. This means that the airliners prohibit canine air travel during these times. This shouldn't be seen as a problem, because the airlines do it to prevent disease or death, and guarantee a safe flight for your Boxer.

Overseas Boxer Air Travel May Involve Quarantine
For international Boxer air travel, keep in mind that some isolated countries, such as New Zealand and England, quarantine animals arriving by air. Before traveling and booking reservations, familiarize yourself with the laws, requirements, and procedures of your particular destination. Unless your flight is non-stop, remember that you may have to deal with regulations in multiple places.

Don't Tranquilize Your Boxer During Air Travel
Although tranquilizing may seem like a good idea during canine air travel, it isn't. Tranquilizers are the leading cause of death or sickness of pets during air travel. A Boxer can't receive immediate or professional medical care during air travel, so unnecessary medications do more harm than good. In fact, many airliners reject tranquilized pets as a safety precaution.

Obedience During Boxer Air Travel
Training your Boxer before airline travel is the best way to ensure a good flight. Unfortunately, even short air travel means hours of separation between owners and their Boxers (except for service dogs). Your Boxer will be confined to a shipping crate for the entire flight.

You can help relinquish the strain and discomfort on your Boxer by preparing him for air travel beforehand. Do this by getting your Boxer used to being inside a travel crate for extended periods of time. Also, make sure your Boxer works well with strangers, namely in busy, frantic, or uncomfortable environments. This will do wonders for traveling with your large furry companion.