Travel Crates: Sizing, Fitting and Training
Getting the perfect crate size for your pet is very important. Correct crate sizing ensures your pets are safely comfortable and avoids paying excess airfreight fees.
You can ensure a correct fit by visiting us at Auckland Airport for a proper cage fitting. If you are unable to attend a cage sizing here, we can come to you within the Auckland area.
In cases where you are out of the region, the next best thing is to measure your pet yourself. We know that this can be a tricky process, as dogs always assume it’s a big game!
You can ensure a correct fit by visiting us at Auckland Airport for a proper cage fitting. If you are unable to attend a cage sizing here, we can come to you within the Auckland area.
In cases where you are out of the region, the next best thing is to measure your pet yourself. We know that this can be a tricky process, as dogs always assume it’s a big game!
Measuring dogs for a crate is more easily done with someone else assisting (assistance not usually required for measuring cats!):
Measuring dogs for a crate is more easily done with someone else assisting (assistance not usually required for measuring cats!):
- Back your pet into the corner of a room with one of their sides running down one wall (treat that as a side of their cage) and their bottom just touching the rear wall (treat that as the rear of their cage).
- The person with whom they are most relaxed should hold their muzzle to prevent them from moving around too much.
LengthA - Put a finger mark on the wall where the tip of their nose comes to. Ignore their tail - that's meant to tuck under
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Leg HeightB - From the ground to the top of the leg where it joins the torso
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WidthC - Finally, looking down on the pet from above, measure directly across from one outside shoulder edge to the other
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HeightD - Put a finger mark on the wall where the top of their head comes to. Ignore their ears - they are meant to fold down.
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A - rear to nose finger mark on the wall is the pet’s length.
B - floor to shoulder joint is leg height
C - is their width
D - floor to head finger mark on the wall is their height.
B - floor to shoulder joint is leg height
C - is their width
D - floor to head finger mark on the wall is their height.
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Travel Crate Training
Travel crate fitting or measuring done? Once we have sized your pet to the correct IATA approved transport cage, you are welcome to take it home with you from Auckland Airport, otherwise we will send it to your nearest regional airport. Please enquire about our free Auckland Metro Courier service, or our free regional airport dispatch
Once you have your crate at home, your goal is to make your pet's travel crate their special place, a sanctuary, a private room or playpen that is all their own. Start by placing it in the living room and incorporating their travel crate into playtime. Don't pressure them to go inside yet, let them discover and get comfortable with their new crate in their own time.
Closer to departure date you can place a favourite blanket, cushion or pillow inside if they are used to sleeping on a bed. Dirty socks and unwashed t-shirts and nighties are perfect for creating lots of comforting smells inside and gradually you want to introduce closing the crate door while they are inside. Don't be afraid to use treats if your pet is feeling shy or obstinate! We always keep a stash of treats on hand here too, for any tricky customers or pre-flight peckishness.
Eventually your pet's travel crate should replace their current kennel, cat bed or dog bed and ideally, become their preferred place to sleep at night. If not, you should at least try to encourage them to sleep there at least 1 or 2 nights pre-flight. This will go a long, long way to reducing any anxiety your pet might feel during their journey to be reunited with you in a new country.
If you feel your pet still requires something more than cage training to prepare them for flight, please speak to us first so we can recommend some tried and trusted, safe and natural homeopathic solutions that can help.
Once you have your crate at home, your goal is to make your pet's travel crate their special place, a sanctuary, a private room or playpen that is all their own. Start by placing it in the living room and incorporating their travel crate into playtime. Don't pressure them to go inside yet, let them discover and get comfortable with their new crate in their own time.
Closer to departure date you can place a favourite blanket, cushion or pillow inside if they are used to sleeping on a bed. Dirty socks and unwashed t-shirts and nighties are perfect for creating lots of comforting smells inside and gradually you want to introduce closing the crate door while they are inside. Don't be afraid to use treats if your pet is feeling shy or obstinate! We always keep a stash of treats on hand here too, for any tricky customers or pre-flight peckishness.
Eventually your pet's travel crate should replace their current kennel, cat bed or dog bed and ideally, become their preferred place to sleep at night. If not, you should at least try to encourage them to sleep there at least 1 or 2 nights pre-flight. This will go a long, long way to reducing any anxiety your pet might feel during their journey to be reunited with you in a new country.
If you feel your pet still requires something more than cage training to prepare them for flight, please speak to us first so we can recommend some tried and trusted, safe and natural homeopathic solutions that can help.
