Car: Safety Standards and Crash Test Winners
StVO §22 – The Law
The legal basis is clear: §22 of the German Road Traffic Regulations (StVO) stipulates that cargo “must be secured in such a way that it cannot slip, overturn, roll back and forth, fall down or create avoidable noise even during emergency braking or sudden evasive manoeuvres.” Legally, dogs are classified as cargo – full stop. Fines are tiered: €35 for incorrect securing, €60 plus a point if danger arises, €75 plus a point in case of property damage.
ADAC and Stiftung Warentest Results
Stiftung Warentest examined 21 securing systems in a crash test – from metal boxes to harness systems. The result was clear-cut: Permanently installed aluminium transport crates directly behind the rear seat performed best. Brands such as Schmidt, 4pets and Kleinmetall Alustar held up. Fabric crates, on the other hand, tore open during emergency braking, and the crash test dummies shot through them. Even clearer was the verdict on harness systems: All six models tested failed. All of them. They give a sense of security – but in an emergency, they are worthless.
The ADAC recommends a transport crate in the footwell of the rear seats or in the boot directly behind the seat backs, combined with a divider grille. This combination protects the dog and passengers most effectively. Plastic crates are inferior to metal ones, but still better than no securing at all.
How to transport your dog safely and in compliance with regulations
- Step 1: Buy or rent a high-quality aluminium transport crate (acquisition costs: €200–600)
- Step 2: Install the crate securely in the boot directly behind the rear seat or secure it in the footwell area
- Step 3: Gently accustom the dog to short journeys – 5 to 10 minutes, with rewards, never under pressure
- Step 4: On long journeys, stop every 2–3 hours – let the dog out, allow it to drink briefly, sniff around a bit and stretch its legs
- Step 5: Place familiar items in the crate – a known blanket or toy makes the difference
- Step 6: Offer water, but not immediately before the journey – this promotes nausea
- Step 7: In hot weather: leave windows open by at least 2 cm, never park in direct sunlight
Train: DB, ÖBB, SBB – three systems, three logics
Deutsche Bahn (DB)
Small dogs in a transport crate travel free of charge as hand luggage – like a backpack that barks. Large dogs require a dog ticket at half the price of a regular ticket, calculated based on the distance travelled. Those travelling without a crate must keep their dog on a lead and fitted with a muzzle. The dog then sits in front of, under or next to your own seat. There is no reservation requirement – but dogs may be refused entry on full trains. This happens. Better to plan well in advance.
Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB)
The ÖBB calculates differently: Up to 98 kilometres, you pay a flat rate of €2; from 99 kilometres onwards, it is 10 per cent of the full price. A muzzle is mandatory – exception: guide dogs for the blind. Those travelling with the ÖBB Nightjet need their own compartment for the dog, which incurs an extra charge of €29. As dog compartments are limited, advance booking is absolutely necessary.
Swiss Federal Railways (SBB)
The SBB makes it straightforward with the Dog Day Ticket: CHF 35, and the dog can travel all day on all trains, trams, buses and boats. Small dogs up to 30 cm at the withers travel free of charge in a transport crate as hand luggage anyway. For longer journeys across Switzerland, the day ticket is usually the most cost-effective option.
Checklist before the train journey
- Which railway? (DB / ÖBB / SBB) – prices and rules differ significantly
- Determine the size and weight of the dog – determines which ticket is required
- Buy a muzzle and train calmly 2–4 weeks in advance – without pressure, without haste
- Choose a transport crate of the correct size: the dog must be able to stand, lie down and turn around
- For ÖBB Nightjet: book a dog compartment early, as they fill up quickly
- Pack familiar items
- Offer water in small portions
- Plan toilet breaks – nervous dogs need to go more often than at home
Aeroplane: Limits and risks for your dog
Cabin and cargo limits
Small dogs up to approximately 8 kg may fly in a transport bag under the front seat. The bag must have maximum overall dimensions of 118 cm (55 × 40 × 23 cm) and must be IATA-compliant. Larger dogs can only travel in the cargo hold – and this is not a pleasant alternative. There, pressure changes, temperature fluctuations and little control over how the animals are handled await them.
Brachycephalic breeds are particularly at risk
Pugs, French and English Bulldogs, Boxers, Pekingese – all these breeds have anatomically restricted airways; experts refer to this as brachycephaly. In an aeroplane, they react particularly sensitively to pressure changes and heat. Lufthansa and other airlines explicitly advise against flying with these dogs once the temperature at the departure airport rises above 27 degrees Celsius. Most airlines completely exclude brachycephalic breeds from the cargo hold. Some countries even have their own import bans for them in air transport – because the risk of death is simply too high.
Sedation is not a solution
Owners repeatedly ask whether they can give their dog something to calm it down for the flight. The clear answer from veterinarians: No. Sedatives reduce oxygen uptake and destabilise circulation – precisely at the moment when the dog needs both the most. The risk of respiratory arrest, circulatory collapse and death increases with calming agents; it does not decrease.
Alternatives to flying
- Travelling by car – even longer distances are significantly safer than cargo transport
- Combining train and car – there are many options in Europe
- Leaving the dog with a trusted person – family, friends or a reputable kennel
- Only sending the dog on ahead if a long-distance journey is truly unavoidable
If air travel is unavoidable
- Call the airline directly, do not book online – every airline has its own rules, which may also change
- Specify the breed: Some are excluded across the board
- Get a health certificate from the vet – it may typically be no older than 10 days
- Only buy an IATA-compliant transport crate – no cheap alternatives
- Thoroughly accustom the dog to the crate in advance
- Book flights during cooler times of day – early morning, not midday
- Only book non-stop flights – every layover is additional stress with no benefit
Stress during transport: Why acclimatisation is crucial
For a dog, transport is a deeply unpredictable situation. Vibrations, noise, temperature fluctuations, loss of control, confined spaces – all of this activates its stress system. A dog that has never been in a car can literally panic: panting, howling, trembling, sometimes even getting diarrhoea. Some refuse to get in altogether.
Early, gentle acclimatisation makes the crucial difference here. Puppies should associate short trips with positive experiences from the start – never under pressure, never as punishment. With adult dogs, more patience is needed, but it still works: short car rides several times a week, getting out again shortly after, always with a reward. After 4 to 8 weeks, the stress noticeably subsides.
Which mode of transport is safe and legal for your dog?
The crash test results and the laws speak clearly: Anyone who secures their dog properly protects it – and simultaneously meets the requirements of the Road Traffic Act. No compromise worth making.