Purchase the moving crate for your pet 2/3 weeks before the move to enable them to get used to it.   Encourage your pet to get comfortable around and in the crate before the trip.  A good idea is to put all their toys and their treats in the crate and let them go in and out and get accustomed to it and essentially get their “smell” on it.

Another tip is to put a towel or t-shirt which belongs to their owner as pets are more comfortable around familiar smells. A dog’s brain is only one-tenth the size of a human brain however, the part that controls smell is 40 times larger than in humans. A dog’s sense of smell is about 1,000 to 10,000,000 times more sensitive than a human’s (depending on the breed).  Having familiar smells around a dog on his/her first international trip is very important as it gives him or her a sense of comfort and makes them less stressed and anxious.