Rottweiler puppy cabin flight: is it too late?

Travel crates have very specific requirements depending on whether your dog is going by car, in the plane cabin, or in the hold — and airline rules vary so much that the wrong crate, or a dog that's just slightly over the limit, can mean they're turned away at the gate. I need to know the breed and size of your dog, how you're travelling, and if flying, which airline. What have you got?

I have to be straight with you here: both British Airways and Lufthansa do not allow pets in the cabin at all — only assistance dogs. But even if you switched to an airline that does allow cabin pets, like certain routes on Vueling or TAP, a 5-month-old Rottweiler is almost certainly already over the typical cabin limit of around 8kg total weight including the carrier. Rottweiler puppies hit 15–20kg by 5 months easily. Can you tell me how much your puppy weighs right now?

Yes, cabin is off the table — both because of the airline policy and because at 14kg he's already well above any carrier's cabin weight limit. Your realistic option is hold travel, and for that you'll need an IATA-approved hard crate. For a Rottweiler puppy at 14kg who will still be growing, you need to think ahead: he'll likely be 35–45kg as an adult, so buying a crate he fits now but outgrows in weeks isn't practical. Are you planning just this one trip, or is this going to be a dog that flies regularly?

In that case, I'd go with the Ferplast Atlas 60 Giant — it's a robust, IATA-compliant hard plastic crate with secure metal bolts, good ventilation on all sides, and a metal door that meets hold travel requirements. At his current size and projected adult size, the Giant gives him room to stand, turn, and lie down comfortably, which is what airlines require. It's widely available on Amazon UK, and you'll want to add a water bottle that clips to the door and cable ties through the bolt holes — airlines often require those as a secondary security measure. One thing to sort before booking: contact the airline directly to confirm their specific crate dimensions and breed acceptance, as some airlines restrict brachycephalic and large breeds on certain routes. Rottweilers are generally fine, but confirmation in writing protects you.

Glad it saves you the hassle. One last thing — start crate training him in it now, well before the flight. A dog that's relaxed in his crate handles the hold journey much better, and for a puppy this is also the easiest time to build that association. Good luck with the move.