The 11 Best Pet Products for Flying with Your Dog of 2023

Collage of Away The Pet Carrier on blue background — The Spruce Pets / Kristin Kempa

We combed through the hundreds of pet products we've tested to find the most useful airline travel essentials—carriers, toys, snacks, and other tools that will put your pet at ease, streamline travel, and take the headache out of that next cross-country flight with your small dog.

The first step to flying with your dog is having a firm sense of the specific pet policies of your chosen airline and flight. The maximum weight allowed for in-cabin pets varies among airlines but is usually around 20 pounds. Your dog must also be up-to-date on their vaccinations and be capable of remaining in a pet carrier for the duration of the flight.

If you have acertified service and/or therapy dog, these rules and guidelines can vary significantly, so it's crucial to inform your airline of a service animal in advance. Typically, your airline will ask for a completed Department of Transportation form, filed in advance of your flight. As one example,here's Delta's version of that form.

But flying with your pet isn't just about knowing airline regulations. Instead, your primary focus should be on minimizing stress for both you and your dog. Having all the right tools at your disposal can make the trip a lot less stressful. And staying calm will help keep your dog calm too.

Our Top Picks

Best Carrier:

Away The Pet Carrier at Awaytravel.com

Jump to Review

Best Travel Bowl:

Prima Pets Collapsible Bowl with Carabiner at Chewy

Jump to Review

Best Pee Pads:

Bulldogology Premium Puppy Pee Pads at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best Travel Wipes:

Pogi’s Grooming Wipes Travel Pack at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best Rawhide Treats:

Better Belly Original Chicken Liver Knotted Bones at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best Toy:

KONG Classic Dog Toy at Chewy

Jump to Review

Best Calming Chew:

Zesty Paws Advanced Calming Bites at Chewy

Jump to Review

Best Blankets:

Cloud Island Cloud Island Swaddle Blankets at Target

Jump to Review

Best Treat Pouch:

Wild One Treat Pouch Kit in Black at Wildone.com

Jump to Review

Best Reusable Bags:

Stasher Silicone Reusable Storage Snack Bag at Amazon

Jump to Review

In This Article

Our Picks
What To Consider When Flying With a Dog
FAQ
Why Trust The Spruce Pets?

Away

View On Awaytravel.com

Wetested 13 airline-approved pet carrierson commercial flights with real pets, and our Best Overall choice is the Pet Carrier from Away. It meets the requirements of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), so it’s suitable for in-cabin use on most major airlines (you should still always check with your flight provider). It’s made to support small pets weighing up to 18 pounds, and its leather and nylon exterior offers structure and stability with enough flexibility to slide into under-seat spaces.

When booking your pet, you will often need to provide the dimensions of your pet carrier. Those limitations typically make soft-sided carriers the more flexible option, since they can more easily fit the allotted under-seat space. Our favorite is The Pet Carrier from Away, because it's got a removable bed, a trolley sleeve for easy carrying, and it's crash test certified by the Center for Pet Safety, so it guard your dog against the bumps and jolts of travel.

The carrier’s shape is similar to a gym bag and comes equipped with a shoulder strap and handles for carrying. There are internal and external pockets for stashing documents you might be asked to show, like your dog’s latest vaccine record, along with essentials, like wipes and a collapsible bowl for water.

Price at time of publish:$225

Prima Pets Collapsible Travel Bowl with Carabiner

Amazon

View On Chewy View On Amazon

Your pet carrier counts as a carry-on item, so reducing the weight and bulk of other items you need will keep you streamlined. The Prima Collapsible Travel Bowl in a size small easily slides into a pocket of a pet carrier or jacket, and it also comes with a carabiner clip for placement on a leash. It expands to hold up to 1.5 cups which is more than enough at one time for most small dogs who will likely only take a few sips at a time. Before you board you can give your dog water and then find a place that’s suitable for them to tinkle. But it’s recommended that you limit the amount of water you give a dog on the plane to reduce their need to pee.

Price at time of publish:$9

4.8

Bulldogology Premium Puppy Training Pads

Amazon

View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Bulldogology.net

Many airports in the United States have designated pet relief areas where dogs are allowed to exit their carrier and “freshen up”. We recommend packing a few slim puppy pee pads just in case you are at an airport that doesn’t offer this amenity or your gate is too far away from the designated pet pee zone. The Bulldoglogy Puppy Training Pads are a reliable choice that quickly absorbs and contains dog pee, making it easy to pick up and dispose of in a nearby trash can. We tested 20 puppy pads in our New York lab and for several months in homes with real dogs, and these pads consistently scored high marks for durability, effectiveness, and ease of use.

Price at time of publish:$44for 100-pack

Amazon

View On Amazon

保持一个便携式Pogi的包Grooming Wipes in the pocket of your pet carrier to quickly clean up any spills—like vomit from motion sickness or a conspicuous dingleberry—and to wipe down paws after they’ve walked all over the pee-friendly pet relief area. Pogi’s Grooming Wipes are free of parabens, sulfates, and alcohol, and gentle enough to use on the face. Each resealable travel-ready pouch contains 20 wipes.

Price at time of publish:$25 for 240 wipes

Better Belly Original Chicken Liver Knotted Bones

Amazon

View On Amazon

Giving your dog a Better Belly Original Chicken Liver Knotted Bone will keep them focused on a tasty treat. The knotted bones in the mini size are each around two inches long so they won’t take up a lot of space in the carrier with your dog. The rawhide used to make Better Belly treats has been processed to be easily digestible and they contain no gluten, grain, or artificial colors.

Price at time of publish:$15 for 26-pack

4.7

Amazon

View On Chewy View On Chewy View On Amazon

Give your dog a treat and a puzzle game all in one by placing a Kong Classic Dog Toy in their carrier. The x-small size version of this rubber toy is 2.5 inches long and 1.4 inches at its widest point. It can be filled with bite-sized dog treats, your dog’s favorite kibble, and a variety of dog-friendly foods, but we suggest avoiding peanut butter on a plane just in case someone on board has a severe peanut allergy.

Price at time of publish:$8(extra small)

Amazon

View On Chewy View On Amazon View On Petcarerx.com

What We Like

Made with organic ingredients
Soft texture
No artificial flavors, preservatives, synthetic colors, grain, corn, or soy

What We Don't Like

Response to calming ingredients varies among dogs

The Advanced Calming Chews from Zesty Paws are made with organic ingredients and come in three dog-friendly flavors–turkey, peanut butter, and bison. Each soft chew contains chamomile, melatonin, hemp seed powder, and forms of L-theanine and ashwagandha, all of which are believed to have calming properties and will help keep a dog relaxed.

We recommend giving your dog half a chew several weeks before your flight to see how they react. If there are no adverse reactions, you can gradually increase to one full treat, which is the maximum recommended for dogs under 25 pounds.

Price at time of publish:$34 (90 chews)

_{Flavors:土耳其、花生酱、野牛、培根|Quantity:90 chews |Active Ingredients:hemp seed powder, chamomile, valerian root, passionflower, L-theanine, ginger root, ashwagandha, L-tryptophan, magnesium citrate}

Target

View On Target

What We Like

100 percent cotton
Machine washable
Thin and breathable

What We Don't Like

Only sold in packs of three

If you want to make your dog’s carrier more comfortable, we recommend adding a Muslin Swaddle Blanket from Cloud Island. These blankets are made out of soft woven cotton that’s breathable and machine washable. The dimensions are only 47 by 47 inches and the thin blanket can easily be folded up without adding too much bulk to the limited space within a carrier.

Price at time of publish:$20

_{Dimensions:47 x 47 inches| Fabric:Cotton}

Wild One

View On Wildone.com

What We Like

Carried as a shoulder bag, cross body, or fanny pack
Internal divider and compartment for poop bags
The exterior is made with recycled nylon

What We Don't Like

Color availability varies from retailer to retailer

The Dog Treat Pouch from Wild One has a compartment for poop bags and divided space inside to carry treats, your phone, and a few other small essentials, like hand sanitizer and your ID. It can be carried in three styles: crossbody, shoulder, and fanny pack, to suit your traveling setup and keep you hands-free. It can also be clipped to your pet carrier or placed inside your second carry-on item (like the State Kane Double Pocket Large Backpack) to keep you and your pet within the confines of your two-item carry-on limit.

The exterior is made with recycled nylon and comes in a variety of colors with seasonal releases occurring throughout the year. The bag can be spot cleaned with soap and water and features a magnetic closure for easy access.

It's available alone or in a "kit" that comes with a bag of organic, baked dog treats.

Price at time of publish:$52 (kit)

_{Dimensions:8.63 x 0.75 x 6.25 |Colors:Black, lilac, blush, moss, orchid, moonstone, spruce, cocoa, limeade}

Stasher Silicone Reusable Storage Snack Bag

Courtesy of Amazon

View On Amazon View On Walmart View On The Container Store

What We Like

Machine washable
Closes securely
Available in multiple sizes and colors

What We Don't Like

Not chew proof

Stasher Silicone Reusable Snack Bags are a convenient and eco-friendly choice for carrying snacks your dog enjoys. We recommend choosing one color that is dedicated to your dog to help keep you organized while traveling (and so you don't accidentally eat a dog treat).

These machine-washable bags are made out of food-safe silicone. They pinch together to easily seal closed and come in a variety of sizes. We recommend the snack size (7.5 x 4.5 inches) or theGo Stasher Bag with a carabiner(5 x 8.5 x 1.5 inches). The Stasher bags are durable and designed to last a long time without any punctures, but they cannot stand up to doggie teeth so be sure to keep them out of reach.

Price at time of publish:$10

_{Colors:Aqua, lavender, pink, raspberry, blueberry, clear}

Rifle Paper Co.

View On Riflepaperco.com

What We Like

Firm clasp
Colorful
Compact design

What We Don't Like

Easy to lose

Bringing a few binder clips (2-4) always comes in handy when traveling with a dog on a plane, and we have found that a colorful variety, like the Margaux Binder Clips from Rifle Paper Co., is easier to spot. While many treats come in resealable bags, they are often unreliable, especially when you are juggling several things at once and in a stressful airport situation.

A binder clip can help you keep things readily available, like your dog’s latest vaccination records and rabies tag, within an internal pocket of your backpack. And binder clips, as opposed to chip clips or clothesline pins, hold together more securely and have an efficient streamlined design.

Price at time of publish:$18 for 8-pack

_{Dimensions:2.5 inches |Colors:Multiple}

Carry On Limits

大多数航空公司允许两个每passeng随身物品er, and a pet carrier will count as one of those carry-on items. We recommend checking your luggage and using a backpack as your second item, like theState Kane Double Pocket Large Backpack.

Within the backpack, you can have a smaller bag inside, like theDog Treat Pouch from Wild One, with any essential items you might want handy while on the plane (earbuds, phone, snack, treats for your dog, etc.) that you can pull out and keep in the pocket compartment.

The pet carrier will take up the space you are allotted under the seat in front of you, and your second carry-on will go overhead. You can always pull stuff out of your overhead item during the flight, like a laptop or tablet.

Your Dog's Energy Level

如果你的狗是高能,那么你应该年代ure you have time to take them for a walk or have them play at a dog park before you make your way to the airport. Your dog will be pretty restricted to their carrier for the duration of your time at the airport and on the plane, so it’s best if they are ready for a nap.

FAQ

Can my dog sit on my lap on an airplane?

No, for most domestic flights a small dog traveling inside the main cabin must remain in their carrier and stowed under the seat in front of you. Should the plane encounter turbulence, having your dog on your lap could lead to injury.
Can I purchase a plane ticket to have my dog sit in a seat?

No, most domestic airlines have rules against purchasing a plane seat ticket with the intention of having a dog use the seat.
Do airports have dog-friendly areas?

Some airports are more accommodating to the needs of our canine friends. We recommend checking the official websites of the airports you and your dog will be visiting to see if they offer designated pet relief areas and where they are located.

The Spruce Pets has tested hundreds of pet products, using a combination of lab data, human volunteers, and animal testers, who are often happy to try out the latest toy or treat. This roundup of flight essentials pulls from a variety of product tests, including our thorough test ofairline-approved pet carriers.

This roundup was written byAnna Mejorada, a writer for The Spruce Pets, who shares her home with a happy pomeranian named Gidget. When Gidget was a puppy, a good friend gave them a light pinkKong Classic Dog Toy. It successfully helped redirect Gidget’s gnawing away from the wall molding. Mejorada is now delightfully devoted to helping humans discover and select the most favorable products for their pets.

The 17 Best Dog Toys of 2023