Travelling with a Greyhound Internationally

Greyhounds are gentle, adaptable dogs, and many Greyhound owners successfully travel internationally with them. The main considerations are the size of the crate, the depth of the chest, and the breed’s sensitivity to temperature extremes during transit.

Crate requirements for Greyhounds

Greyhounds are tall and have a distinctive deep chest and narrow waist. Standard sizing charts do not always serve them well: a dog that appears to fit in a medium crate by weight may need a much larger crate due to its height and body shape.

Measure your Greyhound from the tip of the nose to the base of the tail (length), and from the top of the head to the ground (height). Add 10 cm to both measurements to get the minimum crate dimensions. For most adult Greyhounds, IATA size 4 or 5 is appropriate.

The crate must be IATA Live Animal Regulations (LAR) compliant: solid base, ventilated sides and rear, secure door, and a water container accessible from outside.

Temperature sensitivity

Greyhounds have very little body fat and a thin coat, which makes them sensitive to cold. Airlines apply temperature restrictions to live animal transport: most will not accept dogs if the temperature at any point on the journey drops below 10 degrees Celsius or exceeds 29 degrees Celsius. Plan your travel timing accordingly to avoid winter cargo holds in cold climates.

Conversely, Greyhounds in crates can overheat in hot cargo areas. Avoid booking routes with long ground times in hot destinations.

Country-specific rules

Greyhounds are not a restricted breed in most destination countries. However, if you are moving to a country with breed-specific legislation (such as the UAE’s list of restricted breeds), confirm that Greyhounds are explicitly permitted. Some destinations restrict dog imports to companion animals only and have separate pathways for racing or sports dogs.

Anxiety management

Greyhounds, particularly retired racing dogs, may have had very little exposure to domestic home life before you adopted them. Some are calm travellers. Others find confinement in a crate stressful. Crate training over several weeks before the journey is strongly recommended.

Speak to your vet about whether an anxiety aid is appropriate. Most vets do not recommend sedation for air travel, as sedatives can affect respiratory and cardiovascular function at altitude.