Your German shepherd is set to fly out in three days. But you still need a crate. You hope you will be able to run up to PetSmart the night before the flight, throw a towel in and hope Bosco will hop in happily the next morning.

And then, it's 5 AM on the day of the flight. Bosco is sulking in the bathroom and won't even so much as set a whisker in his crate.

This is a common hang up that people have when trying to relocate their pet. While direct flights and quick routes are great, the best thing you can do for your dog or cat when relocating is get him adjusted to his crate before you leave.

There are many steps you will need to take in order to prepare your dog for shipping.

Purchasing the Crate

When purchasing a crate, you first want to make sure you have measured your dog. If you are unsure how to measure, use PetRelocation's Crate Measurement Guide.

Once you know the size you need, you'll need to consider the following:

• Where are you moving?

If you are moving within the United States, you will only need an Airline Approved Travel Crate. This means it's hard-shelled plastic with ventilation (holes) on the front and two sides.
If you are relocating international, you will need an International Airline Approved Travel Crate. This means you will need a hard shelled plastic crate with ventilation (holes) on all four sides (including the back). We also recommend purchasing a size larger than your pet needs for some international moves during the summer. This makes sure they have plenty of ventilation during their 12-14 hour flights.

• What is your budget?

Like everything else that is for sale, there are the Cadillacs of the travel crate world and then the less-expensive versions. We like Sky Vari Kennels (which can be purchase from FuturePets, a link in the sidebar) for international travel. However if you're on a budget, shop around and find a sturdy, airline-approved crate for your pet that also won't break the bank.