Proper Kennel

I am looking for the right kennel to use for my dog's travel to the UK later this year.  I came across this requirement on United's website:
Include food and water dishes (both empty) secured inside the kennel and accessible from outside

They mean they want a kennel with empty dishes that can be filled without opening the kennel!?  Is this possible?

I think what they mean is that they need to be attached to a wire door, or similar.  Hypothetically, the water dish could be filled through the holes in the wire.  I don't know if they actually do that, or if they try to open the doors.  I believe that the type that comes with the kennel will be fine.

Then I guess they could throw the food in one kibble at a time from the outside

I think what they mean is that they need to be attached to a wire door, or similar.  Hypothetically, the water dish could be filled through the holes in the wire.  I don't know if they actually do that, or if they try to open the doors.  I believe that the type that comes with the kennel will be fine.

We flew Virgin with our cats, but they had the same guideline.  We used anti-spill plastic dishes that clipped on the door, and started filling them with food/water a few weeks in advance for the cats to sniff out.  They had a bit of a lip on them to keep sloshing and spilling to a minimum.  I bought them separate from the kennel itself, because the ones that came with my particular kennels were pretty flimsy.  Before departure, we filled the food one with food and the water one about halfway.  Virgin "seals" the kennel doors with zip ties at check in, so unless there's some sort of emergency (and I have no idea what would constitute such an emergency), they should not open the kennel doors until the animals arrive at the Animal Reception Centre. 

Then I guess they could throw the food in one kibble at a time from the outside

Yeah--I've had similar amusing visions.  Big, burly airline workers trying to get the kibble into the bowl just right, piece by piece.  I think in practice they don't usually feed the animals unless there is some sort of major delay--there's some concern that motion sickness will cause pets to throw up if they have food in their stomachs.

Mirrajay, when you get the kennel, make sure your dog can stand up and turn around comfortably.  And make sure your dog can demonstrate it!

My dog was a bit overwhelmed and just sat in the kennel at Virgin Cargo.  I could not get her to stand up, even though she had plenty of room.  And because she was already sealed up by the USDA, I could not take her out and walk her in again to show she was comfortable.  The cargo staff made me go out and buy a new one right then and there.  Cost me $200 for the new kennel, plus the additional cargo space.

Mirrajay, when you get the kennel, make sure your dog can stand up and turn around comfortably.  And make sure your dog can demonstrate it!

Oh great, my dog needs to learn a trick too??   Ugh!  She is not going to want to stand up and certainly not going to want to turn in a circle.   I plan on buying the kennel as soon as possible so that she can get a little familiar with it, but I am certain she is going to go stiff as soon as she is inside the airport. Thanks for the warning, though, Karrit!

Mirrajay, when you get the kennel, make sure your dog can stand up and turn around comfortably.  And make sure your dog can demonstrate it!

Most airlines have requirements about the size of the crate/kennel. You'll have to look on your airline's website and measure your dog according to their instructions before you buy your kennel. My cat is so big that I had to get a dog crate for him! 

I realize that my experience has made me overly paranoid.  My dog borders on the medium-large size and I think she looks taller when she is sitting up than she does when she is standing.  If you have a smaller dog...like a cocker spaniel, they might not have such a hard time judging size.

If you want to make sure the cargo people are comfortable with the size,  perhaps a couple of days before you fly, you might want to go by there first with your dog and kennel, have them check it out for you.  It could save you a lot of stress and money!

They have good reason for being cautious.  If the Animal Control people at Heathrow (or wherever you are landing) feel that the kennel is too small, the airline gets fined a huge amount of money...like $10,000.  And they get only 3 chances (I think that is the number) and after that, they are not licensed to fly animals on that route again!

It looks like United just wants to make sure she can stand and turn around, I cant find specific requirements (like I have seen someone was told their cat had to have 3 inches of space between their ears and the top of the kennel??)  Thats a good point, Karrit, I think I may take the kennel and dog to have it "pre-approved" before I actually travel. I am so thankful to be a planner - we still have 6 months to get it all sorted. Oh and I do have a cocker spaniel!

It looks like United just wants to make sure she can stand and turn around, I cant find specific requirements (like I have seen someone was told their cat had to have 3 inches of space between their ears and the top of the kennel??) 

They must all be different. I flew BA and they did have specific measurement requirements.

I think I remember reading somewhere that the 3" headroom requirement was something that was imposed on the airlines by some kind of law or regulation, which is why they are so crazy about enforcing it.  I would definitely check with United well in advance of flying, just to be sure!