Travelling with a Basset Hound: car, crate and rules
Basset Hound : Too heavy to lift safely, a Basset should board the car via a folding ramp. A harness cut for broad chests holds better than a collar on that powerful neck, and a crate or crash-tested harness secures every trip.
In our shop, for this use: USB-C rechargeable LED light-up dog collar (€22.90) · the whole shop
In our shop, for this use: Folding wire dog crate 24 in (61 cm), single door, with tray ($62.90, ships from the US) · the US shop
Our products don’t ship to you yet, but the PDF practical guide is instant: Raising Your Puppy: The First Six Months (€19)
In short: Low, heavy dog of 20 to 30 kg, dense short coat, moderate energy with a very active nose. A placid, stubborn, low-slung dog whose nose often overrules its obedience. A chondrodystrophic breed: 20 to 30 kg on very short legs, too heavy to lift safely — a folding ramp for the car and sofa is its key accessory.
In the car with a Basset Hound
For its 20 to 30 kg, two serious options: a rigid crate of about 70 cm strapped in the boot, or a crash-tested safety harness clipped to ISOFIX. An unrestrained dog of this weight becomes a projectile under braking — and a possible fine for distracted driving.
Trains, planes, holidays
Too big for the cabin, the Basset Hound flies in the pressurised hold in an IATA-approved crate — an ordeal to reserve for unavoidable trips. On trains, a muzzle and lead meet the rules. Tame the crate weeks ahead — open in the living room, seeded with treats — so that on the day, your Basset Hound walks in by itself.
Identification and good habits
A Basset Hound travels chipped and vaccinated — EU passport and rabies shot whenever a border or boarding kennel is involved. And in summer, the absolute rule: never alone in the car, where temperatures turn lethal within minutes.
Frequently asked questions
What crate size for a Basset Hound?
The rule: roughly 70 cm, i.e. room to stand and turn without contortion. For air travel, check the specific model’s IATA approval.
Can a Basset Hound fly in the cabin?
No, it exceeds the cabin limit (8 kg including the bag): it travels in the pressurised hold in an IATA crate — avoid it when you can.
The guides that apply to you
- Dog safety gate: securing the stairs and rooms of the house
Pressure-mounted or screw-fitted, height, adjustable width: how to choose a dog safety gate to protect the stairs, kitchen or bedroom.
- Flying with your dog: anti-stress products remain underused, a study finds
Among 635 owners whose dog had flown, most animals coped well, but the anti-stress options available to owners remain little used, a study finds.
- Dog ramp or stairs: reaching the car and the sofa without injury
Incline, non-slip surface, maximum load: how to choose a dog ramp or steps suited to the car, the bed or the sofa.
- Boarding your dog for the holidays: kennel, foster family or pet-sitter?
Going away without your dog: comparing boarding kennels, foster families and home pet-sitters to choose the calmest option for your dog's temperament and your budget.