Simulated Program Teaches Dogs How to Handle Flights

Pet lovers may want to bring their pooch on board, but not all dogs are quite flight ready. To help change that, a Hollywood film studio is using simulators to help prepare dogs for a safe and calm flight.

For $349, dog owners can take their dog to an Air Hollywood class which includes a real fuselage on a sound stage with a simulator that recreates takeoffs, turbulence and landings. Hollywood extras are also available to create the crowds and chaos that go on in airport terminals, News.com.au reports.

Talaat Captan, president and CEO of Air Hollywood, the world's largest aviation-themed film studio, came up with the idea for a dog flight program after noticing a dog owner having trouble getting their dog through airport security.

"The owner was stressed out, and the dog was freaking out,'' Captan said according to News.com.au. "I figured, 'Why don't I train those people?'"

Captan hired his friend and former actress, Megan Blake, to create a program and teach the class with three other instructors. Blake has also incorporated her own dog, Super Smily, into the program. Blake isn't just an actress. She's also an animal trainer and lifestyle coach with a psychology degree.

Heidi Heubner, who directs volunteers and airport therapy dogs and los Angeles World Airport, says this training program is a good idea as more and more dogs are on planes nowadays.

Dog guidelines vary by airline. There is usually a fee for pets in the cabin but working dogs or trained service animals fly free. However these pets require the owners to give the airline documentation and advance notice. The animals sit at their owner's feet during flights. There is no training for animals that are placed in cargo.

The class takes place in the same studio where Bridesmaids, Kill Bill and 500 other movies were made. A test class was held last year which includes 60 puppies from Guide Dogs for the Blind.

"Some of the handlers were more nervous than the dogs because they don't like to fly,'' said Rick Wilcox, who oversees puppy-training in Southern California."It was amazing how realistic it was.''

The studio includes everything from a private jet to a 747, as well as props and supplies. During the rest, dogs sit at their owner's feet in the cabin. The test includes features such as engine sounds, the captain speaking, cabin lights being dimmed overhead bins being shut and warm-up vibrations.

Blake says that she can tell when a dog gets nervous by it clamping its jaw, licking its lips or getting wide-eyed. However she says petting usually relaxes the dogs.

''If a dog gets nervous, don't coddle them.' That's the same thing we use to raise confident, well-balanced dogs,'' Wilcox said.