Irish Wolfhound cargo crate — IATA approved

Travel crates have very specific requirements depending on whether your dog is going by car, in a plane cabin, or in the hold — and airline cargo regulations vary significantly, so getting the dimensions or approval status wrong can mean your dog simply can't board. I need to know your dog's breed and size, how you're travelling, and if flying, which airline you're using. What have you got?

Right, so an Irish Wolfhound at 86cm at the shoulder is about as tall as domestic dogs get — you're almost certainly looking at a dog that's 100–110cm from nose to tail base, and will need to stand and turn comfortably in the crate. IATA regulations for cargo require the crate to be tall enough that your dog can stand naturally without his head touching the roof, and long enough that he can lie fully stretched out. Standard XXL crates often fall short on height for Wolfhounds. Before I point you to anything specific — how much does he weigh, and do you know his exact nose-to-tail length? That'll confirm which crate dimension you need.

Good — those measurements are what I needed. At 95cm standing height and 105cm body length, you need a crate with an internal height of at least 100–102cm and internal length of at least 115cm. That rules out most off-the-shelf options. The product I'd point you to is the Petmate Sky Kennel in size 700 (their largest standard unit), but I want to be straight with you: even the 700 has an internal height of around 96cm, which is right on the edge for your dog. For a Wolfhound of his stature, the more reliable route is a Ruff Land or Zinger Winger heavy-duty crate custom-ordered to IATA spec, or — and this is the most practical UK option — the Midwest iCrate or a purpose-built wooden/aluminium crate from a specialist like Dansk Design Dog. However, if you want a readily available Amazon UK option that meets IATA live animal regulations and gets close to the spec, the Petmate Sky Kennel 700 is the one to order. It's IATA compliant, has the required water and food dishes, ventilation on all four sides, and bolt-together construction. Just confirm the internal dimensions with Petmate directly and show them to British Airways cargo before you ship — BA will require pre-approval for a dog this size anyway.

Yes, and it matters. BA follows IATA Live Animal Regulations as a baseline, but they also set a maximum combined weight of dog-plus-crate for hold shipments — typically 75kg for a single unit, which your dog at 68kg plus a heavy crate could brush against. They also require a health certificate issued within 10 days of travel, a signed declaration of feeding and watering, and for giant breeds they often require a direct routing with no stopovers. You'll need to book through BA World Cargo, not through a standard ticket, and they may request photos of your dog in the proposed crate to confirm fit. I'd call BA World Cargo before you purchase anything — give them your dog's measurements and ask them to confirm the maximum crate dimensions they can accept for your specific flight routing. That call will save you buying the wrong thing.

The Petmate 700 comes with the clip-on water and food dishes, which is good — IATA requires those to be accessible from outside the crate without opening the door. Beyond what's included, you'll need to: attach a 'Live Animal' label on the top and at least one side (these are available from BA or printable), include a feeding and watering schedule in a waterproof pouch on top, line the floor with absorbent bedding (a familiar-smelling blanket is fine), and put your contact details, destination address, and a photo of your dog on the crate exterior. Some owners zip-tie the door as a secondary fastening — BA cargo staff usually appreciate it. Don't over-pad the inside; your dog needs airflow. The Petmate 700 is a solid, well-regarded crate for this job — you're making the right call.