Cocker Spaniel dogs are the best companion ever in any situation. They are good friends and ideal service dogs to accompany you on all your trips. When it comes to traveling by air, Cocker Spaniel will make your trip easier. Thus, don’t hesitate to take your cocker Spaniel service dog with you anywhere.
The Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) is the law you should abide by when it comes to traveling with service dogs. This law applies to national flights within the USA and flights to or from the USA on American airlines. The US Department of Transportation enacted the general law whereas each specific airline has its own procedures and guidelines. So, it is always recommended to check the airline you are traveling on.
Generally, here are the expectations and guidelines most airlines will require to travel with a Cocker Spaniel service dog.
What is Service Dog
Service dogs are those who perform tasks that their owner cannot do because of a disability. On the other side, animals that accompany their owners for emotional support or any other reasons are not considered service animals.
Essentials Guidelines for Air Travel with A Cocker Spaniel Service Dog
This guide aims to outline essential guidelines and considerations tailored specifically for individuals flying with a Cocker Spaniel service dog.
Get Approval as Service animals
US airlines are required to acknowledge Cocker Spaniel service dogs as animals to travel with their owner in the cabin, not pets. This means you don’t have to check them or pay a ticket for your service dog. However, you need to contact the travel airline to acknowledge your Cocker Spaniel as a service dog.
The airline will ask you several questions to determine if your Cocker Spaniel is a service dog or not. Upon accepting your dog, you need to go through the process of issuing a service dog ID for your Cocker Spaniel.
Follow Basic Airlines Requirements
The first thing to do when traveling with a Cocker Spaniel service dog is to check the specific airline requirements. You can simply contact them or check their website to get these requirements.
Next, you have to fill in the needed documents for your service dog. Basically, it is a form issued by the Department of Transportation. This document should include all the information about your Cocker Spaniel including its general health, behavior, vaccination, and all of this stuff. Once you filled in this document, submitted it to the airline you are traveling on. Make sure to submit it 48 hours prior to your trip as verification takes time.
Once approved, the airline will send you a service animal ID (SVAN ID). This informs the booking agent and all employees at the airport that your Cocker Spaniel is a service animal, not a pet. You need to keep this ID with you all the time of the flight. Also, this ID is valid for 1 year or when your dog’s vaccination expires. So, you don’t need to redo the same procedures if you are traveling again during the same year.
One important note here is to do the same procedures if you are traveling outside the USA on another partner airline. You have to check their requirements as well in case there are any differences.
Maintain Certain Travel Guidelines
Even if you already have this SVAN ID, the final approval for your Cocker Spaniel won’t be issued until the time of the flight. The airport agents should see your dog first before they allow it on the plane. They need to make sure that your animal size is acceptable and can sit on your lap or under your seat. Even if you will take it in a kennel, the kennel should have a certain size to fit under the seat.
As for the dog itself, it should be totally clean and its behavior is normal. In addition, you should have it harnessed or leashed for the safety of other passengers on the plane. Another important guideline is that you can’t take more than 2 Cocker Spaniels or any other service animal on the same flight.
During the flight, there are some other guidelines you should follow all the time. For example, the dog must not take an individual seat. It should always sit on your lap or under your feet. Also, it must not block the plan aisles or exit rows. Further, it shouldn’t eat from the tables.
If there is a problem with one or more of these guidelines, you may not be able to take your cocker Spaniel as a service dog. Service dogs should be older than 4 months and their size is as mentioned above. Other than that, your Spaniel Cocker will travel as a pet. In this case, you have to check it as a pet and pay the required fees. Pet animals have other requirements and guidelines.
Other Guidelines
Sometimes, there are special circumstances that need further evaluation and procedures. One of these situations is if you are traveling with a passenger who is allergic to dogs. In such a case, the airline should either relocate you or the passenger. Whatever the best solution is, there is no way that the airline will prevent your Cocker Spaniel from traveling with you as long as you have satisfied all the other requirements.
Another situation you may face is that if you are traveling on a long trip. Certainly, your dog needs to relieve itself throughout this flight. So, the airline will require you to fill another form prior to the flight named the Animal Relief Attestation form. This is also a standard form issued by the Department of Transportation for all airlines. Upon filing the form, the airline is required to give you a way of how your dog should relive itself without causing any sanitation problems or discomfort to other passengers.
Cocker Spaniel is a great companion and service dog. The national flight policies have done a lot to allow for these service dogs on flights knowing that their owners cannot do without them. Although the process needs several procedures and requirements, it is a must for you and other passengers’ safety. Generally, the process is not hectic and most people should be able to travel with their Cocker Spaniel service dog.
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