Hi Cesar,

My name is Rhian, and my dog is called Taz. She is a seven-year-old Lab/Collie mix. My partner and I have decided to move to Australia, and I am so worried about her going. Will she make the flight?

Is she too old to fly? They say not to feed her for 24 hours before the flight, and the flight is 24 hours on top of that... won't she starve? I know you have millions of people e-mailing, but I really respect your thoughts and decisions. I will be taking her to a couple of vets to make sure she is healthy before the flight. But I am scared I will be doing the wrong thing by taking her. Please help.

Many Thanks,
Rhian and Taz

Rhian and Taz,

If your dog has already been living with you for several months or years, taking her on your new journey is the right thing to do in my opinion. The dog has already bonded with you. Adapting to a new family is a big change, especially if that family didn't know how to help her through the transition. The dog may feel lost or abandoned. Twenty-four hours is not much compared to what she would go through to adjust to a new human.

As for starvation, generally dogs, and even humans, can last more than 72 hours without food. However, that greatly depends on your dog's health. Consult your veterinarian to find out if your dog can handle the trip and what precautions you can take to make the trip safer for her.

I recommend that you think of your dog as an astronaut. Before they blast off, astronauts practice spending time in a confined space with limited food options. That way they are able to control the anxiety of being behind walls for such a long period of time in space -- sometimes for months! Do the same for your dog. Have her spend time in the crate she will be using on the journey. Gradually increase the time that she is in there. Help her to associate the crate with positive things.

Above all, don't feel bad! Embrace this new adventure you are embarking on. Think about all the great things you are about to accomplish. Your dog will sense how you feel about a situation and then put two and two together while you arrive at the airport. If you are feeling anxious or upset, then the dog will pick up on that and worry too. Oh no, you're sad because we were coming here, so this must be a bad decision! And I can't help you, because I am stuck in this crate and strangers are taking me away from you! Instead, let your dog know that this is an exciting and happy event, and that's how she'll see it too.

I highly recommend that you look into Australia's regulations about quarantine. It has some of the toughest quarantine regulations in the world. That is something your dog will have to go through. The twenty-four hour flight will be a piece of cake -- it's when your dog arrives in Australia that's going to be another challenge.

When your dog is in quarantine, I recommend that you visit her every day. If you can, take her for a nice long walk. If they don't allow you to take the dog outside, see if you can donate a treadmill in the name of your dog. Make a little card that says this treadmill is help the dogs from around the world drain energy, so they can spend their time in quarantine relaxed!

Stay calm and assertive,
Cesar Millan

Click here for more information about Australian Quarantine.