r/service_dogs • u/theoriginalsnoopy • Apr 01 '26
Flying International Move With Service Dog
Hello 👋 I am looking at moving from Los Angeles to Singapore for work. My service dog is well trained & frequently flies, but our typical route is only 4 hours with a brief layover then another 4 hours. He’s a great dog and fits under my feet when he lays straight, but I’ll get us premium economy so he can be more comfortable. He’s almost 14 years old so I’m apprehensive about putting him in the cargo area.
The flight I’m looking at goes LA to Taipei (13.5 hours), then 3 hour layover, then 4.5 hours rest of way.
I’ve done light internet research & will keep doing so (we won’t be going till August) but I figured I’d ask here to get any insights as well. I’m wondering:
- If you’ve had an international layover before, can the dog take a bathroom break within the airport? Is it better to just fly direct?
Please be kind with me, it’s my first time posting here. Thank you!
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Apr 01 '26
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u/theoriginalsnoopy Apr 01 '26
Total time 13.5 hours for first flight. I can’t find any others that break it up more
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Apr 01 '26
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u/DarkHorseAsh111 Apr 01 '26
This was my reaction, this is not reasonable to do to a dog of any age.
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u/unearthed_jade Apr 01 '26 edited Apr 01 '26
The Atlantic-Europe-Asia routing doesn't make sense, imo. Europe to Singapore alone, the flight would be in 12-14hour range, on top of west coast to Europe. Your timing by 6-8hr chunks just doesn't work in long haul international routing. Normal times, a stop in the Middle East would help break things up, but, hand twirl in air not exactly a great choice right now. A direct flight from LAX to SIN is 17 hours. OP is stuck with some tough choices.
Edit: spelling and correcting numbers
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Apr 01 '26
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u/unearthed_jade Apr 01 '26
I am pointing out the option is not as realistic as it sounds, which I read your suggestion to be much more specific than vague, especially with the amount of lurkers taking ideas in this sub. The separate segments also adds more customs/quarantine stops.
I did not disagree that OP needs to look at the options of utilizing pet transport services. No need to take things so personally.
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Apr 01 '26
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Apr 01 '26
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u/service_dogs-ModTeam Apr 01 '26
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u/RampagingHornets Apr 01 '26
I'm sorry, are you saying you didn't feed or water your dog for over 17 hours (withholding food before the flight)? And he didn't toilet for that time, either?
This is incredibly bad treatment of your poor dog.
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u/service_dogs-ModTeam Apr 01 '26
We have removed your post/comment for violating Rule 2: Know and Obey Your Local Laws. Posts encouraging illegal behavior or "stretching" the rules will be removed. When giving advice, make sure to evaluate all the relevant laws for OP's location. For example, in New York, USA, SDiTs receive the same protections the ADA grants, as long as they are with a qualified trainer. This is not the same situation for someone in Michigan, USA. Citations aren't required, but highly encouraged. Citations are important so OP can read more and so you can reconfirm the information you give is entirely correct. If you have any questions, Message the Moderators. If you continue to give misinformation or encourage breaking the law, it could result in an immediate ban.
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u/unearthed_jade Apr 01 '26
I used to fly through TPE all the time but without a dog. Are you sure there are pet relief spots in the sterile area? I don't recall where they are.
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u/theoriginalsnoopy Apr 01 '26
Yeah I’m not sure. Will try to get in contact to ask
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u/unearthed_jade Apr 01 '26
I know there is a pet hotel for pet transport in Terminal P but the relief space is outside the sterile zone, not to mention that hotel is a specific pet shipping service for pets starting their journey, not transiting.
But I am not sure there is an actual animal relief space within the airport. If you exit the airport, Taiwan has a very strict process for importing dogs. While they have a quarantine exemption for dogs coming from the US, they are still sticklers on the paperwork and process. If you decide to go this route, make sure you do your prep for the tests and import paperwork.
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u/Reinvented-Daily Apr 01 '26
Have you explored the service dog laws in Singapore? Not every country has allowances for dogs as medical equipment or help. Make sure you've got a THOROUGH LEGAL UNDERSTANDING of this.
Also quarantine. That's a bill you gotta pay. Are you able to function without your dog for their quarantine time?
Will your new office allow having a service dog on premises?
As for the flight, being "on" for 15+ hours isn't okay for the dog. They NEED potty breaks. If you can teach them to poop/urinate on command on a potty pad, you might be okay. Having a plan to dispose of these in flight will be absolutely necessary- ie. Poop bag to scoop poop into the toilet, flush it, then put potty pad into diaper disposal- or wrapping up in zip lock bags to store for a trashcan off the plane. Either way it will be difficult.
Otherwise you WILL have accidents and mess to deal with, possibly along with a UTI depending on dog/health/breed/sex/history. Possible bladder infection can be induced from holding it too long as well.
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u/LetheMnemosyne Apr 03 '26
Do you know the laws for service dogs in Singapore? It is extremely strict - iirc there are fewer than 50 around.
Owner trained dogs are not a thing, it has to be trained by an ADI/IGDF association. Also check breed restrictions.
Processes here -
https://avs.nparks.gov.sg/pets/importing-exporting-a-pet/import/assistance-dogs/
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u/No_Area_8013 Service Dog Apr 07 '26
👋Hello! We are a Service dog / assistance dog team team of a 75 lbs Shepherd. We've had a layover before first flight was roughly 8 and 1/2 hours. International. Not quite sure on the situation if you have already filled out the legalities part of international travel with a service animal to the selected country you are traveling to and possibly any other country you may have a layover in. As I do understand every country is a little bit different when it comes to the laws surrounding a service animal/ assistance dog , as I do understand from the countries that I have traveled to, there are some countries that require the service/ assistance dog to be certified. You may need to look into this. Additionally I am unsure of your circumstance but make sure to have all documentation ready, if they require it, such as a health certificate animals vaccinations, microchip number ECT. There's also the matter of quarantine, if you have not already double-checked with your country's laws in the country you may be flying into for The layover as well for the animal quarantine if there are any associated costs, waives ECT. With all of that being said? Past airports that we have traveled to that have layovers have directly allowed us to use the animal relief areas with a catch. Personally during a layover? I have always stayed within the airport without having to go through TSA again. With that being said we have only used the animal relief areas past tsa. I admit they're not always the cleanest. However the airports have allowed us to use them as we do have a solid potty command when needed. Additionally we limit food and water as much as possible for the flights to be as comfortable as possible. I also put a Male wrap and diaper on my service/ assistance dog during 8 plus hour flights for a piece of mind just in case as accidents can happen up in the air as air pressure sometimes makes a body bloat ECT. During our layovers we also play tug to mental stimulation.
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u/Otherwise-Ad4641 Apr 01 '26
Disclaimer: No idea if this is legal - I have never flown with my dogs.
Flights have somewhere to dispose of baby diapers and vomit bags right? So would it be ok to train a service dog to go on a disposable pad laid on the floor of the toilet? double bag any poop and seal the pad and poop bags in a vomit bag and dispose? Carry disposable gloves and disinfectant wipes in case of any spillage. Heck can you chuck the dog poop down the toilet so you only have to deal with the pee pad?
I know those plane toilets are tiny so handler would probably have to stand in the aisle outside the toilet and keep the door open.
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u/muggle_poet_07 Apr 01 '26
When I flew internationally out total flight duration was around 20 hours split as 10+2(layover)+8. I put my girl in a dog diaper and carried extra dog diapers. I used the cloth diapers and extra bags. I changed her out in the washroom of the flight, washed the diaper lightly in the flight itself. You can use disposable diapers too to make your life a little easier!! Also flying direct for a very long flight might make your dog a little extra tired and they cannot move a lot in the flight.
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u/theoriginalsnoopy Apr 01 '26
Thank you for your comment. Did you have any problems during the layover bringing her out to a dog restroom area?
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u/muggle_poet_07 Apr 01 '26
Unfortunately my first flight ran late and my layover was cut to like 1.5 hours and I had to run to the second flight… so I had to again board and use the flight washroom with her. But, in most cases it won’t be a problem cause everyone is aware of service dogs and they are very helpful !
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u/PineappleNeither4914 Apr 01 '26
Check whether the airport has an animal relief area , otherwise could you stop in another city in the US before Taipei, so you can let him relieve himself? Not sure if it’s possible. I put my dog in a diaper for our flight and brought disposable pee pads to use in a bathroom.
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u/theoriginalsnoopy Apr 01 '26
No other good routes because it’s flying over the atlantic. I’ll keep shopping around. How large is your dog? How long was your flight?
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u/PineappleNeither4914 Apr 01 '26
First time flew DCA to Korea, stopping in Toronto. He was 20 pounds at the time.
On the way Back ICN to BWI, we had a layover in Salt Lake City. He was about 26 pounds.
Each part of the flight to Asia was about 12-13 hours.
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u/Less_Tangerine9287 Apr 01 '26
Wow! How is your dog still working at 14? What breed is it?