How to travel with your dog: car, train, ferry and plane

This is the guide we would have liked to find: all four means of transport together, each with its own section, with the rules updated to August 2026, and written with medium and large dogs in mind, the ones that run into the most problems when travelling. Operators change their conditions often; we checked their websites and recent press, but always confirm with your own operator before booking.

Can a dog travel loose in the car?What the DGT says and what the fine is

No. Article 18.1 of Spain's General Traffic Regulations requires the driver to keep freedom of movement, field of vision and permanent attention, and to take care of "the proper placement of objects or animals". It does not impose a specific system, and Spain has no official approval scheme for dog restraints, but a loose dog is an offence and, if it interferes with the driver, it can amount to negligent driving. Nothing changed in 2026, whatever the headlines say.

A dog may ride in the front seat with a harness: it is legal, but the DGT and RACE advise against it because of the airbag. On your lap, never.

Neighbouring countries apply the same rule (the dog must be restrained, no specific system required) and similar fines: France, Germany and Italy impose fines ranging from 35 to several hundred euros, with a licence point in Germany and Italy if there is danger, and Portugal between 60 and 600 euros. If you cross a border with a strapped-down crate you will normally meet the requirements in all of them, but check the local rules before you travel.

Carrier, crate, harness or divider?What the DGT and the crash tests say

The DGT sums it up by size: small dogs, a carrier on the floor behind the front seats; medium and large dogs, a crate or carrier in the boot, placed crosswise, with a divider if possible. A harness only counts if it has a double anchor and a short connection; single-anchor harnesses break at the buckle under hard braking, and a lead clipped to the seat belt does nothing at all.

The reason is physics: in a collision at 50 km/h a dog "weighs" 35 times more. A 30 kg Labrador becomes a tonne flying towards the front seats. That is why the independent crash tests are so clear:

• ADAC (the German automobile club) and Switzerland's TCS concluded that only rigid metal crates, properly fixed in the boot and pushed up against the seat backs, kept the dog inside and protected the occupants; fabric and plastic crates and most harnesses failed.
• Stiftung Warentest (2018) tested 21 systems, 15 crates and 6 harnesses: only the well-built metal crates passed.
• The Center for Pet Safety (USA) tested eleven harnesses in 2013: only one passed.

Robust crates belong to that category: a rigid aluminium structure, metal latches and anchor points to strap it down in the boot exactly as the DGT and those tests recommend. For a medium or large dog, it is the type of system that makes sense.

How do you position and secure the crate in the boot?

1. Crosswise and against the back of the rear seats. Under hard braking the crate pushes against the seat backs, not the tailgate.
2. Strapped to the boot's tie-down rings, tensioned so it cannot slide or tip. If the car has a divider grille, even better.
3. Door facing a side or the tailgate, never the seat backs: you need to open it without taking the crate out.
4. Free ventilation. Nothing resting against the perforated sides; in summer, a 12 V crate fan and air conditioning reaching the boot (open the rear vents if your car has them).
5. Dry floor. For dogs that get car sick, or puppies, a raised DryFloor with an absorbent pad underneath keeps the dog off anything wet.
6. Measure the boot before buying: length, width and height up to the parcel shelf or closed tailgate, and compare with the crate's outer dimensions (ours: M 76×51×56, L 86×58×71, XL 102×58×73, XXL 122×66×84 cm). In many mid-size cars the XL and XXL need part of the rear seats folded.

A collapsible crate has a practical advantage here: when you get to the hotel or apartment it folds flat in half a minute and the dog has the same "room" at the destination, which takes a lot of the anxiety out of the first days away from home.

How often should you stop, and how do you avoid heat and car sickness?

• Stop every 2 hours or 200 km (DGT and RACE): toilet, water and five minutes' walk.
• Heat. Never leave the dog in a car in the sun: at 29 °C outside, the interior reaches 40 °C in 15 minutes and 60 °C in an hour and a half (ADAC test). Besides being dangerous, since 2023 it is an offence under Spain's Animal Welfare Law. On the road, use the air conditioning and a crate fan; park in the shade at stops.
• Car sickness. The dog should travel on a nearly empty stomach (last meal 2-3 hours before), ventilate, drive smoothly and build up with short, pleasant trips. If the dog vomits or drools on every trip, your vet can prescribe an anti-emetic. A crate the dog already sleeps in at home helps more than you would think: it is a familiar place inside a moving car.
• What to bring. Water and a bowl, vaccination record or passport, lead and muzzle (compulsory on many trains and ferries), absorbent pads, bags, a blanket or toy, and a crate the dog is already used to: if it isn't, spend the week before the trip getting it used to the crate.

Can you take a large dog on the train?Renfe, Ouigo and Iryo

Yes, and it is the big news of 2026. Since 21 July 2026 Renfe accepts dogs up to 40 kg on AVE, Avlo, Alvia, Euromed, Intercity, Avant and Media Distancia services, without a carrier. The conditions:

As there are only two large-dog places per train, book early (sales close 24 hours before departure). Iryo ran a trial with dogs over 10 kg in summer 2024; as of August 2026 we have not seen it confirmed as a permanent service, so ask before counting on it. On Cercanías commuter trains the dog travels on a lead with a muzzle, with no weight limit on most networks.

How do you travel by ferry with a dog?

Ferries are the most comfortable option for large dogs: there is no weight limit and the dog can travel with you in a pet-friendly cabin or in an on-board kennel. What it cannot do, on almost every line, is stay in the car on the vehicle deck.

Bring your own crate or carrier even if the ferry has kennels: in the cabin the dog rests better in its familiar crate, and in a shared kennel it will appreciate a door that reduces what it sees. A muzzle and lead are compulsory when moving around the ship on every line.

Flying with a large dog:what decides the trip

A dog over 8 kg (carrier included) cannot fly in the cabin with any European airline: it travels in the climate-controlled hold, inside a rigid container that meets IATA CR1 requirements. What decides whether the trip goes well is not the ticket: it is the right crate, paperwork in order and several weeks of preparation. How to measure the dog, the size formula and the container requirements are in our IATA size calculator and guide; everything else is here.

Cabin, hold or cargo?The three ways to fly with a dog

• Cabin (PETC). Only dogs up to 8 kg including the carrier (roughly 45×35×25 cm, soft), under the seat in front. Vueling lowered it from 10 to 8 kg in 2023 and the other European airlines are at that figure. A medium dog does not fit, by weight or by size.
• Hold as checked baggage (AVIH). The dog flies on the same plane as you, in a pressurised, climate-controlled part of the hold, inside an IATA container. This is the normal option for dogs from 8 to 45-75 kg depending on the airline. It is booked together with the ticket, with limited places per flight.
• Cargo. The dog travels as freight, through a cargo agent or an animal transport company, sometimes on a different flight. It is compulsory on many intercontinental routes and in countries with quarantine, and it is the route for dogs above the checked-baggage weight limit.

For most trips within Europe and to destinations with a direct flight, the hold as checked baggage is the option: cheaper, on your own flight and with the dog in your care right up to the check-in desk.

Which airlines accept large dogs in the hold?

For very large dogs (mastiffs, Great Danes, Newfoundlands) in practice airlines such as KLM and Air France carry them up to 75 kg, and above the baggage limits they travel as cargo. Always ask for the combined weight limit of dog and crate and the maximum container dimensions the specific aircraft on your route can take: narrow-body aircraft (A320, B737) cannot load containers as tall as long-haul aircraft can.

How much does it cost to fly a dog in the hold?

It depends on the airline, the route and, increasingly, the weight: Iberia introduced weight-band fares in March 2026 (up to 10 kg, 11 to 25, 26 to 45) with different prices for direct and connecting flights. As a reference, in 2026:

• Domestic and European flights: from a few tens of euros up to €100-150 per journey and dog, depending on airline and weight.
• Long haul: €150 to €400 per journey.
• Cargo: from several hundred to over a thousand euros, depending on destination, weight and agent.

Add the container (a crate that meets CR1 will serve you for years in the car and at home, so it is an investment rather than a trip expense), the vet and, in some countries, quarantine or entry fees. Prices change often: the valid figure is the one your airline gives you when booking.

Which breeds cannot fly in the hold?

• Brachycephalic breeds (English and French bulldogs, pugs, boxers, shih tzus, Pekingese, Boston terriers and their crosses): most European airlines do not accept them in the hold because of the risk of breathing problems in heat and under stress, and those that do require a container 10 % larger and exclude the summer months. In the cabin they may be accepted, if they weigh under 8 kg.
• Breeds classed as dangerous at origin or destination (pit bull, rottweiler, dogo argentino, fila, tosa…): several airlines do not carry them, others require a reinforced container (CR82). It depends on the breed, the airline and the route: check before booking, and assume neither that the dog cannot fly nor that any crate will do.
• Puppies under 15 weeks (the EU travel rule) and, for the USA, under 6 months.

Which crate does it need, and what goes inside?

A crate that does not comply is the main reason dogs are denied boarding, especially since 2026: IATA limits ventilation openings to 25 × 25 mm, requires rigid construction (wire crates are not acceptable), a solid, leak-proof floor, a full welded metal mesh front, metal fasteners (no plastic clips), ventilation on all four sides, external spacers and handles. Airlines such as Lufthansa are turning away plastic carriers with long slots at the desk. The full requirements and the size formula (length ≥ A + ½ B, width ≥ C × 2, height ≥ D + bedding) are in the IATA guide and calculator.

What goes inside, and what you prepare:

• A water bowl fixed to the door, open at the top and refillable from outside. Compulsory. A bottle or dispenser does not replace it. Freeze the water the night before so it does not spill during loading and the dog has it in sips during the flight.
• A food bowl if the airline requires it (long flights) and a small bag of kibble taped on top of the crate for stopovers.
• Absorbent bedding: a pad or absorbent blanket. In Robust crates, the raised DryFloor lets you put the pad underneath, where the dog cannot tear it or get dirty on it.
• Nothing that could be dangerous: no hard toys, no collar (it can snag; use a harness or nothing), no lead inside.
• An item of clothing with your scent and, if the dog gets worked up by what it sees, an anti-stress door that reduces visual stimuli without reducing ventilation.
• Labels: "Live Animal" and "This Way Up" (arrows), your name, phone number and destination address, and the dog's name on the crate. Most airlines provide them at the desk; bring your own just in case.
• Safety cable ties on the door corners (in addition to the latch), which some airlines require.

How do you prepare the dog before the flight?

A dog that goes into the crate for the first time at the airport has a bad time. One that has been sleeping in it for a month is far more likely to settle and sleep through the flight. The plan:

1. 4-6 weeks before: the crate at home, door open, meals inside, naps inside. Follow our 7-day plan and then keep it up.
2. 3 weeks before: short car trips inside the crate, strapped down in the boot, with noise and movement. Gradually longer.
3. 2 weeks before: 2-4 hour stretches closed in the crate at home, with the travel bowl fitted so it learns to drink from it.
4. Vet: check-up, vaccinations, certificate. Ask about motion sickness; sedation is not recommended: most airlines prohibit it and IATA advises against it because sedatives affect breathing and temperature regulation at altitude.
5. The day before: a long walk, last meal 4-6 hours before the flight, water right up to hand-over.

What happens on the day of the flight?

• Arrive early: 2-3 hours before on European flights, more on intercontinental ones. Walk the dog and let it relieve itself just before you go into the terminal.
• Check-in desk: they check the paperwork, weigh and measure the crate, confirm the dog can stand, turn and lie down inside, and that the bowl, floor and labels are correct. This is where unsuitable carriers are rejected: with a CR1-compliant crate and the right size, the formality takes ten minutes.
• Hand-over: usually at the special baggage desk. Say goodbye calmly, no drama. The dog goes into the climate-controlled hold in the last phase of loading and comes out among the first.
• Stopovers: on long connections the airline takes it to an animal area; on short ones it stays in the crate. Avoid connections if you can, and never with extreme temperatures in the connecting city.
• Arrival: collect it at special baggage or an animal area. Get it out to a green area as soon as possible, offer water and keep everything calm. That day, nothing else: let it rest.

When is flying not a good idea?

• With over 30 °C or under 0 °C forecast at origin, destination or stopover: many airlines suspend hold transport (heat embargoes), and even if they do not, waiting on the apron is the hardest moment for the dog.
• Older dogs, or dogs with heart or breathing problems, or very anxious dogs: ask your vet and consider the car, the train (Renfe accepts up to 40 kg since July 2026) or the ferry; we explain it in the car, train and ferry guide.
• Short trips: for a weekend, a large dog is better off in the car than on two flights in the hold.

What paperwork does your dog need to leave Spain?

• Within the European Union: microchip, valid rabies vaccination (the first one at least 21 days before travel), an EU pet passport, and the dog must be at least 15 weeks old. A new EU framework has applied since 22 April 2026, but the updated passport requirements do not become compulsory until 1 January 2028: passports already issued remain valid.
• Ireland, Northern Ireland, Malta, Finland and Norway also require a tapeworm treatment (praziquantel) given by a vet 24 to 120 hours before arrival, recorded in the passport.
• United Kingdom: the EU pet passport is still valid. To enter Great Britain from Spain the dog needs one of these documents: an EU pet passport issued in an EU country, an Animal Health Certificate, or a Great Britain pet health certificate. On top of that: a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination, the 24-120 hour tapeworm treatment, and entry via an approved route. And note: the UK does not accept dogs in the cabin or as checked baggage on inbound flights, only as cargo or by ferry; for a large dog, the ferry from Santander or Bilbao is the usual option.
• If flying: on top of the above, many airlines require a fit-to-fly certificate issued by your vet within the previous 10 days. Carry everything on paper, in duplicate, and a photo of each document on your phone.
• Outside the EU: each country has its own certificate; the United States, for example, does not accept dogs under 6 months. Check the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture (MAPA) website or your vet at least a month ahead.

Which crate works for each means of transport?

Checklist before you leave

1. Crate introduced at home at least a week before (never use it for the first time on the trip).
2. Boot and crate measurements checked; straps in the car.
3. Pet booking made (train, ferry or plane): places are limited.
4. Vaccination record or passport, microchip read by the vet, third-party liability insurance (Renfe asks for it).
5. Parasite treatment and certificate if leaving the EU or going to Ireland, Malta, Finland, Norway or the UK.
6. Short non-extendable lead and muzzle (compulsory in stations and on ferries).
7. Water, bowl, absorbent pads, bags, blanket or toy, and the usual food.
8. Stops planned every 2 hours and dog-friendly accommodation confirmed in writing.

Frequently asked questions

Updated 22 August 2026 by the Robust team. Robust designs and distributes collapsible aluminium dog crates from Europe; our crates travel every day in cars, vans, ferries and planes with hunters, exhibitors and families.

Sources: DGT, Travel safely with your pet and press release of 06/06/2025 · Spanish General Traffic Regulations, art. 18.1 · RACE, 2025 guides on pets in cars and penalties · ADAC and TCS, crash tests of dog restraint systems · Stiftung Warentest, Hundeboxen im Test (2018) · Center for Pet Safety, harness safety test (2013) · Law 7/2023 on animal welfare, arts. 24 and 76 · Renfe, new conditions for dogs up to 40 kg (July 2026) · Ouigo, Iryo, Baleària, Trasmed, Armas Trasmediterránea, Fred. Olsen and Brittany Ferries, pet transport conditions · Iberia, Air Europa, Lufthansa, KLM, Air France, TAP, Vueling, Ryanair, easyJet and Wizz Air, animal transport conditions (2026) · Spanish government and MAPA, Travelling with pets · gov.uk, Bringing your pet to Great Britain · IATA Live Animals Regulations, 52nd edition (2026), CR1.