About Certified Service Dog Air Travel Training Program

Is it hard to fly with a service dog? 

How do airlines verify service animals?

What can airlines ask about service animals?

What documentation do I need to fly with a service dog?

If you plan to fly with your service dog in the aircraft cabin, this is the right course for you! Our online Certified Service Dog Flying Training Certificate Program is developed by the SDTSI team of trusted, experienced behavioral experts, including certified trainers and board-certified veterinary behaviorists. It will help you to achieve small goals that you and your dog can benefit from in a short amount of time - our professional specialist will make sure you follow all requirements and provide these certifications beforehand, to allow for more stress-free travel. The course is spread over 3 distinct modules, covering everything you need to learn about training a service dog for the air travel context. 

Joining the Service Dog Flying Training is only a 3-step process: Enroll, Study, and Get onboard. 

Sign up and get started today; you'll be amazed at what you and your dog can achieve!

Who should enroll in this program?

This program is NOT a certified service dog training program. If you are looking for training your dog to become a fully qualified service animal or assistance dog to help your daily life, please check our Certified Intensive Service Dog Training Program, Psychiatric Service Dog Training Program, and Diabetic Alert Dog Training Program.

This course is designed for dogs who:

    ⊛ already finished SDTSI Intensive Service Dog Training Course

    ⊛ already finished SDTSI Psychiatric Service Dog Training

    ⊛ already finished SDTSI Diabetic Alert Service Dog Training

or the service dog handlers who:

    ⊛ plan to fly with their trained service dogs in the aircraft cabin for the first time

FAQs about Flying with Service Dogs

1. Which service animal species are airlines required to recognize and transport?

Airlines are required to recognize dogs as service animals and accept them for transport on flights to, within, and from the United States.  Airlines, though not required, are free to transport other species for passengers if they choose to do so.

2. How do airlines Verify service animals?

Airlines can determine whether an animal is a service animal or pet by:

⊛ Asking an individual with a disability if the animal is required to accompany the passenger because of a disability and what work or task the animal has been trained to perform;

⊛ Looking for physical indicators such as the presence of a harness or vests;

⊛ Looking to see if the animal is harnessed, leashed, or otherwise tethered; and

⊛ Observing the behavior of the animal.

3. What questions can the airline team ask about your service dog?

(1) is the dog a service animal required because of a disability? 

(2) what work or task has the dog been trained to perform?

4. What kind of documentation can be required of persons travelling with service animals?

U.S. Airlines may require:

(1) a U.S. DOT form attesting to the animal’s health, behavior, and training; and

(2) a U.S. DOT form attesting that the animal can either not relieve itself or can relieve itself in a sanitary manner, if the animal will be on a flight that is 8 or more hours. 

Airlines are not permitted to require other documentation from service animal users except to comply with requirements on transport of animals by a Federal agency, a U.S. territory, or a foreign jurisdiction.

Canada Airlines may require:

(1) Airline Service Animal Form;

(2) Might need a Canadian International Health Certificate and proof of vaccination for the animal, and you should always carry its training certificate with you.

U.K. Airlines may require:

Airlines may accept your Guide Dogs or assistance dog ID book as pre-flight booking documentary evidence that your dog is trained by a recognised training organisation, with the ID tag on the dog’s collar, harness or jacket, helping to confirm the dog’s status as being trained by a recognised organisation.

5. Under what circumstances may airlines deny transport to a service dog?

⊛ Airlines may also deny transport to a service dog if the airline requires completed service animal forms and the service animal user does not provide the airline these forms.

⊛ Airlines are permitted to deny transport to a service dog if it violates safety or other requirements. Find out more at Session 3 in this training program.