Best travel crate for Basset Hounds

Travel crates have very specific requirements depending on whether your dog is travelling by car, in a plane cabin, or in the hold — and airline regulations vary significantly by carrier, so getting the wrong crate can mean your dog simply isn't allowed to travel. Before I point you in the right direction: what breed and size is your dog, how are you planning to travel (car, cabin, or hold), and if you're flying, which airline?

Good — car travel makes this simpler, but a 30kg Basset Hound with a wide chest and low ground clearance does have specific needs. The low entry point is important: Bassets have short legs relative to their body weight, so a high sill means they end up scrambling in awkwardly, which puts strain on their joints. A wide door matters too because of that broad chest and those ears — you don't want him catching them on a narrow frame. Can I ask: will he be in the boot of an estate or SUV, or are you thinking of a back seat setup? And is he comfortable in a crate generally, or is this fairly new for him?

Perfect setup for him, and good that he's already crate-trained. For a heavy-bodied, low-slung dog like a Basset who leans into the walls, I'd recommend the Ferplast Atlas 60 Classic. It's a hard-shell plastic carrier sized for dogs up to 30kg, with a wide front door that opens fully so there's no awkward sill to negotiate, and the door aperture is generous enough that his ears won't drag on the frame going in. The walls are thick and rigid — it won't flex when he leans — and there are ventilation grilles on the sides so he won't overheat on longer drives. It sits flat and stable in an estate boot without sliding. The two halves clip together securely but also come apart for storage. At around 30kg he'll be at the upper limit of the size, so measure his length from nose to tail base and his shoulder height before ordering — he should be able to stand and turn comfortably. The Ferplast Atlas 60 is widely available on Amazon UK and typically ships fast.

For safety it's worth securing it — an unsecured crate can become a projectile in a sharp stop. The Atlas 60 has attachment points on the base that work with a boot cargo net or tie-down straps, which most estate cars already have anchor loops for. A simple set of boot straps threaded through the base handles keeps it firmly in place. It's a quick addition and makes a real difference if you ever have to brake hard.