Pet Travel Scheme « Defra
(1) is the animal already adult , or is it still juvenile & growing ?
(2) if is adult & no longer growing then get a good kennel sized as described in post above
(3) do this NOW. too often I have seen dogs put in a kennel when the owner comes to the airport & meets up with the kennel supplier. the dog is scared to death because it has no experience of this and can't understand why it is being forced into a (relatively) small room.
(4) when you've got your kennel leave it, with door open in an area frequented by the dog for a couple of days, leave the door open.
(5) after a few days put one of the dog's blankets in the kennel, leave the door open.
(6) don't do anything to "make" the dog go in the kennel. just leave it a few days and occasionally, during the day and when someone is around & about, put in a toy, or a water bowl, or a feed bowl with a "treat" in it. eventually dog will make it's own mind up to explore. never shut the door at this stage.
(7) once dog starts to use kennel itself (and it will, usualy during the day) move any remaining items of bedding from the dog's bed into the kennel it will then voluntarily use the kennel at night. don't close the door at this stage.
(8) once the dog is using the kennel as it's night-time sleeping HDQ on a regular basis you know the dog is quite happy with it's new 'home in the house'
(9) tricky bit might be the next stage, which is to get the dog used to the idea of travelling whilst in its 'home'. In full sight of dog, take kennel (with its bedding, toys etc but not food & water bowls) & put in the car, hope you've got a station-wagon or 'hatchback' ... leave all doors open (car & kennel) arrange kennel so dog has easy access into car and from car into kennel. leave dog to puzzle over this wierd behaviour by the dog's "gods". if dog doesn't react encourage dog to get into car next to the kennel. then encourage dog into the kennel. If dog doesn't seem keen don;t force it, just give up for the day and try it again tomorrow. (or try in the morning and again in the afternoon); eventually dog will get in the kennel in the car.
(10) once dog in kennel in car, close kennel door & go for a short drive around the block and back again. let dog out of kennel & car and make a big fuss of him when he leaps out. Put kennel back in house in the usual position for night-time sleeping.
(11) at this stage you can start to drive longer distances, making a point to go to lot's of interesting places for "walkies" - dog will start to associate "kennel in car = funtime walkies"
(12) you can also start to shut the kennel door overnight, at first just leave it ajar, but eventually leave it shut overnight. it is also important to associate dog with being enclosed. Also toilet training, before shutting dog in kennel associate this with last thing at night wee & sniff about.
after this you're a bit on your own, read all the bunf you can get hold of regarding dogs & long journeys, especially the IATA stuff
hope all this helps.... I have instructed clients in this way for 30 years & never had any bad feedback. 14 year-old to Jakarta, 12-year old to B.A. etc etc.