"Those are the types of questions you should ask when deciding on an airline to use to fly with your dog," suggested Hillestad. "You want to know if the area where the dog will be secured is pressurized and temperature-controlled.

"We also discourage people from sedating their dogs before flights," the vet added. "The medication can impair the dog's ability to respond to even minor changes in temperature and air pressure, which can be dangerous to a dog's health."

All major commercial airlines require passengers flying with dogs to show a health certificate documenting that the pet has been checked, its vaccinations updated, and given a clean bill of health by a veterinarian no more than 10 days before the departure date.

The certificates typically are valid for 30 days, so the same document may be used for the return flight. A current rabies vaccination certificate may also be required.

"Each airline has its own rules regarding pet travel," advised Hillestad. "It's very important that you study the fine print and know what is required before you select the airline, let alone before you arrive at the ticket counter."

For example, in most cases the crate must offer cross ventilation, be large enough to allow the pet to stand and turn around, be clearly labeled with your name, address and telephone number, and extra food and water must be available to be given to the dog if needed.

Whether traveling by land or air, it's a good idea not to feed or water a dog immediately before a trip. Some airlines ask that you leave at least four hours between feeding the dog and the flight. While traveling by car or truck, it's important to allow the dog to get out and exercise and relieve itself at regular intervals.

CAR TRAVEL TRAINING
As with all other types of training, it's important to be patient when introducing a dog to auto travel. A dog's first experiences riding in a car or truck will affect how well it travels on hunting trips in the future.

For a few days in a row, introduce the dog to the vehicle with the engine off, putting it in its crate in the car, truck or SUV for a few minutes at a time, praising the dog and offering it a treat. Once the dog appears comfortable about being put in the vehicle, turn the engine on while it eats, chews on a rawhide bone, plays with a new toy or just sits in the cargo area or in its crate. After the dog seems comfortable about being in the car while the engine is running, begin taking it for short car rides around the block or down the street and back.

Gradually increase the distance of your rides over the following few weeks. The entire process and duration of time needed to properly acclimate a dog to auto travel varies according to each animal. Some dogs will enjoy going for rides immediately, while others may take a few weeks of being introduced to riding in a car before they feel comfortable.

Remember that your mood and the attitude you project, as well as the destination of each ride, will influence the dog's experience. Handle each driving situation calmly and choose a destination that your dog enjoys, such as a nearby park, woods or fields, so that it associates car rides with going somewhere pleasant.

The bottom line in hunting dog travel is that you want to make each trip to and from your hunting grounds as enjoyable and comfortable as possible, so that the next time you pop open the tailgate and say "Hup," your dog literally "jumps" at the opportunity!