When we hit 10,000 followers on instagram and 11,000 fans on facebook (both @pettransportnz) we wanted to say thank you to all of you.  Thanks for following our pet travels, joining our international pet courier journeys and sharing your experiences with us.  We love the little online community that has formed around the pets who travel overseas with us.  We hope you understand why we so passionate about our job and doing it right because for us, it's all about the pets!

WINNERS - PLEASE COMMENT YOUR CONTACT DETAILS BELOW AND WE WILL BE IN TOUCH TO ARRANGE DELIVERY AFTER THE LONG WEEKEND!!! WELL DONE TO ALL WHO ENTERED!!!!

Special mention to Ayla Crawford and Anika Horn, you were both equal points runner up and we have a selection of all natural NZ doggy farm treats for all your pawfect pooches!

So many cute cats!  So many darling dogs!  So many wonderful humans trying to win things for their precious pets!  In truth, you are all winning at life so we just had to find some extra prizes for you all...

CATS SPOT PRIZES
Blue Cat Collar, 3 x Pack of Cat Toy Bliss Balls, Glamour Puss Slicker Brush + Organic Cat Treats
 
Ashleigh Moat 
Jess Tamara 
Rachel Crimins and Liam Fagan ​

DOGS SPOT PRIZES
Blue Lead, Blue doggy poop bags, 1 x toy duck, Farm Treats 
  
Sam Richardson-Taite 
Catherine Hannagan
Nikki Ramage ​

TRAVEL CRATE WINNERS: we literally couldn't choose!  There were just too many adorable cats and dogs and puppies and kittens and the back stories and community involvement was too much to go unrewarded!  So these gorgeous creatures have all won a travel crate each!
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Winner of a PP20 – Ann Harris
Winner of a SG821 – Cassie Gibbons
Winner of a PP40 – Jen Keir 
Winner of a PP40 – Lisa Buttunz Taylor

Pet Transport NZ was pretty chuffed to hear our little bloggy woggy won an award!  Ok, full disclosure we thought it was spam so we ignored it for ages but they were really persistent and eventually we checked our email to read the pet transport blog had been placed in the top 100 Feedreader Blogs.

We would like to thank everyone who has read, liked and shared our blog.  We hope you find our tips useful and our journeys interesting.  Biggest round of applause goes to the beautiful pets themselves who brighten our blog with their antics.  We look forward to more international adventures with you!

Most airlines and international pet couriers reject brachycephalic dogs and cats as a flight risk.  For 50years we have been known as the only international pet transporters in NZ that can safely get your brachycephalic pets into the UK, Europe, Asia, USA, UAE, Africa, India, and Australia! We love your brachycephalic cats and dogs as much you do!  

Airlines avoid flying snubnosed dogs and cats due to their reduced ability to regulate body temperatures and propensity for respiratory distress.  In our 50years of international pet travel experience, we know snubnosed pets require greater ventilation in their travel crates to compensate for their broadhead / shortnose skull structure. We assist you with crate training to reduce anxiety induced respiratory distress. 

There are other safety measures to ensure successful delivery of your brachycephalic pet to your end destination, without qarantine. We plan the most direct routes possible that offer minimal temperature and humidity changes for your snubnosed pet on brachycephalic breed friendly airline carriers.  To date, the most brachycephalic friendly direct route to UK or Europe was with United Airlines who will cease operations here mid April until October 30

Whilst every airline has their own list of brachycephalic dogs and cats, which they change and update regularly. Here is a comprehensive list of brachycephalic dogs and dog breeds with brachycephalic tendencies from Air New Zealand:

As the most brachycephalic friendly airline, United Airline will shortly cease operations in New Zealand, extra planning and attention to detail will be need to fly snubnosed breeds overseas from NZ.  Different flight routes will need to be planned and prices may vary depending on your destination.  It will still be possible to move your snubnosed pets internationally but it will require more time. Ask us how we can help fly your brachycephalic pets overseas today to start planning your future move now.

When you fly your pet overseas from New Zealand with us, we professionally fit your pet with the correct sized IATA compliant cage or custom-build your travel crate to spec.  If you are unable to come to our stock rooms at Auckland Airport with your cats or dogs, we can explain travel cage sizing over the phone and will send IATA measuring diagrams guide you with instructions by email.  This week on Facebook and Instagram we started sharing our top 5 tips for travel crate training success with a little help from Rosie the Border Collie.

Step 1: Park your professionally sized & fitted #IATA approved #travelcrates in your living room. You want your pets to be really comfortable with their new #crate in your home before you start introducing play inside. No drama, no stress. Just let the crate become part of the living room furniture. A little curiosity, sniffing around or pawing at the door indicates they are ready to proceed to the next step

Step 2: Start introducing play in and around the crate to get your pet comfortable with the crate. Don't be shy with the treats or praise! Use them to reward exploring behind the door and staying inside with the door open.  No need to push your pets to go in and stay in but reluctant pets maybe encouraged by placing a favourite toy or blanket inside, or some dirty clothes from your laundry basket.  Familiar comforts and rewards are key here!

Step 3: Closing the door is almost the final stage. By now, your pet's travel #crate is fun and cozy place they sit or sleep in by choice. Your #pet needs to be #calm and comfortable inside the cage when the door closes. This will be their "home away from home" whilst #travelling. If they seem distressed, open the door immediately and let them out - you do not want their #travelcrate to ever be a scary place.  If things start to come unstuck at this stage, don't hesitate to give us a call on 09 256 0999

Step 4: This final stage is really only necessary for pets flying long haul, however it never hurts to see your pet's crate training all the way through to completion.  If your pet is quite happy inside their travel cage with the door closed, start making it part of your evening routine with bedtime inside the crate with the door closed.  You can even start this early in the piece with the door open and don't hesitate to move the crate to your bedroom if that is where they usually sleep.  You want your pet to make their crate their home, their safe space and a personal retreat in the same way they will identity their pet bed or favourite chair in the house as theirs.

Smelly socks, used nighties, freshly worn gym gear and underwear are among pets favourite smells and do let them use these items to mark their crate with your smells.  You can always remove them later when they are chill with the crate.  Heaps of our clients hold onto the crate even after travel and use it as an indoor kennel or pet bed - yep, eventually cats and dogs really grow to love their lovely travel crates!  Continued use of the crate well after your international journey will only smooth the way for further adventures together in future. 

If you would like an IATA measurement guide, further information about our drug-free crate-training program or need help at any stage of the game, don't hesitate to contact us.  We want every pet to fly safe, calm and happy.  There are no stupid questions and we love helping travellers with pets - do get in touch with one of our consultants! Did we miss something?  Let us know in the comments below!

From the outside, Pet Transport NZ looks like cute puppies and fluffy kittens all day long. And it is! But that doesn't cover the complexity of international pet transport.  We are proud to be the official pet transporter for the New Zealand Sheep Dog Trial Association and the Paw Blacks.  Both champion dog teams are international title holders. Every year we fly their prize-winning trial dogs with their handlers from New Zealand to Australia for their agility competitions.   ​

​We also arrange their return pet transport to NZ.  Return pet flights are unique to Pet Transport NZ. We are the only pet courier providing round-trips from New Zealand.  This is because pet transport, from any country in the world, is actually pet export.  The government of the country the pet is leaving must approve the pet is fit to fly and a local pet transporter must oversee this process. We have agents operating in the UK, Europe, USA, Asia and Australia that allows us to provide return services.

​Working dogs like these are highly trained to respond to specific command words.  Say the wrong thing to the wrong dog and you might have a pre-flight situation at the airport! For this reason, working dogs must be accompanied by their human handlers at all times. Every vet visit, airline and MPI requires the attendance of the human they are trained to respond to.

Moving dogs to Australia is similar for the NZ Police. These working dogs are also trained for particular command words and need to remain with their handlers at all times.  When they travel to Australia for specialised training, we assist with their return trips from New Zealand.  Flying guide dogs for the Blind Foundation requires human attendance as well

Pet Transport NZ sent 2 husky dogs and a chihuahua from Auckland Airport to London Heathrow this week.  Sending 3 dogs together often makes international pet travel go much smoother than sending pets overseas separately. These darling dogs were lots of fun to send to the UK from New Zealand!

The husky dog with brown fur is Bungle and chihuahua pup pictured below is Bryn.  The last picture , taken at Cargo Central of Auckland Airport moments before we handed them in, is of Rudy.  These 3 dogs were such a pleasure to send to UK from New Zealand - they seemed excited for their flights!

When you are sending dogs to UK, it is really important to let them stretch their legs before flying.  The last walk in New Zealand before any international pet transport is a really key part of our service.  We pride ourselves on making your dog's last moments on Auckland soil really enjoyable.

Dogs flying to UK from New Zealand need exercise and a toilet opportunity before they leave.  We also top up their water and slide them a few sneaky treats before flying to London.  If you are moving to the UK with pets, get in touch with us today and ask how we can make your move easier!  We'll explain which vaccines are required and how to crate train your dogs or cats for the big move!

Pet Transport NZ couriered this supercute German Shepherd puppy from Auckland to  Honolulu this week.  Heeni was a total pre-flight delight, completely relaxed in her pet travel crate.  Our international pet transport team take your dog's international travel experience personally.  All our travelling pets enjoy walkies, play, fresh water, cuddles and treats before boarding their flight.

This darling dog enjoyed her playtime and an organic pig's ear treat before boarding her doggy flight from NZ to USA.  Shipping dogs from New Zealand to Hawaii is a pretty regular event for Pet Transport NZ. You might be surprised how many kiwi dogs and cats are relocating to USA every day!

If you are moving to USA or Hawaii with pets, please call one of our expert pet travel consultants for a free, no-obligation quote..  Our expert pet transport team can explain the vaccinations, and pet export requirements for sending your pets from New Zealand to Hawaii, USA, safely and on time.

Pet Transport had our hands full with the precious shipment of black labrador puppies from Auckland Airport in New Zealand to Australia for Guide Dog Training.  These lovable pups were calm as can be during MPI vet checks before jetting off to Aussie to complete their learning with the Blind Foundation.

We also just organised the end-to-end delivery of Eudora a very special guide dog from New York City, USA to NZ and back again.  Eudora is a unique guide dog with a special set of skills for assisting the blind.  She flew to New Zealand to share her talents with kiwi guide dogs in training at various NZ locations, before flying back to NYC in the states.

Whether it's puppies training to be guide dogs or experienced guides for the blind, we are proud to be the international pet transporter of choice for the Blind Foundation.  Our "Pets First" welfare policy draws like minded pet lovers and institutions to discover our services time and again.  

The time, care and attention to detail we spend on your pets means we can't often be the cheapest but we can be the best.  We've never had an accident or fatality in 50 years of international pet service. Contact one of our expert pet transport consultants to discover the Pet Transport difference and relax knowing you pets are in safe hands.

Every day as a pet courier at Pet Transport is different.  Most international pet shipments depart early from Auckland Airport.  Today we moved this beautiful golden retriever to Narita, Japan at 5am!  Lovely Lull was bright-eyed and bushy tailed for her international pet travel to Asia today.

Other factors in pet transport pricing include breed, weight, travel crates and whether you want to participate in your pet's vet prep or have us handle everything on your behalf.  This can really ease any travel-stress for humans by taking a few things off your to-do list before relocating overseas. Ask us about the sticky points on your pet relocation; any country, any pets - we would love to help you move!
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When taking a dog to Australia, everyone wants to know how much it costs.  Unlike relocating humans, with one-size-fits-all seat prices; airfares for moving pets to Australia vary greatly. How much it costs to fly your dog depends on their destination, the breed and the size of the dog you are transporting.  

For Baxter the Boxer, Pet Transport organised his travel cage and flights to Melbourne from Auckland Airport.  A male boxer costs more than a female fox terrier due to the volumetric weight calculation all airlines use to price flying your pet overseas.  This includes the height and weight of the dog you are taking to Australia.  It also measures the amount of space your pets travel cage will occupy on board.

The good news for any pet flights across the ditch: destinations in Australia are the cheapest.  We fly dogs from New Zealand to Australian airports multiple times a day, every day of the week. You'll be pleased to hear taking a dog to Australia is not too much more than human flights. Why not chat with one of our Pet Transport travel consultants to get a free quote tailored to your dogs measurements?