Scottish Deerhound cargo crate advice

Scottish Deerhounds are one of the hardest breeds to crate for cargo travel — that combination of extreme length, deep chest, and tall withers means standard giant-breed crates often fall short on internal length even when they're technically labelled 'XXL'. Travel crates have very specific requirements depending on whether a dog is going by car, in a plane cabin, or in the hold, and airline regulations vary significantly — getting the wrong crate can mean your dog is refused at check-in. To point you in the right direction: what are your dog's current measurements (length from nose to tail base, height at withers, and weight)? And which airline are you flying with?

Those are big numbers — 95cm body length is exceptional even for a Deerhound. For IATA-compliant cargo travel with British Airways, the crate needs to be large enough that she can stand without her head touching the roof, turn around, and lie down in a natural position. With 95cm length and 76cm height at the withers, you're looking at a minimum internal crate length of around 115–120cm (body length plus about 20–25cm), and internal height of at least 86cm. That rules out most off-the-shelf XXL crates. Can you confirm — is her head height when standing taller than her withers height? And do you have a rough head-to-floor measurement when she's standing naturally?

That confirms what I suspected — you need internal height of at least 100cm to give her the required clearance, which eliminates most branded pet crates entirely. The one product that genuinely works for dogs with her profile is the Ferplast Atlas 100 Professional. It has internal dimensions of approximately 122cm long × 81cm wide × 101cm high, which clears your needs on length and very nearly on height — and Ferplast publish their internal measurements clearly, which many brands don't. It's constructed from IATA-approved materials, has the required ventilation on at least three sides, and uses the correct bolt-closure door system that British Airways cargo requires. It also ships with the food and water bowls that need to be fixed to the door, which BA will check. The 'Professional' variant is the one to get — the standard Atlas 100 has slightly different door hardware that can cause issues at check-in.

Yes — IATA guidelines require the dog to be able to stand without touching the roof, and 101cm internal height against a 90cm head height gives you 11cm clearance, which comfortably satisfies that requirement. British Airways follow IATA Live Animals Regulations, so if the crate meets IATA standards and the internal dimensions match your dog's measurements on the documentation, you won't have a problem. What I'd recommend doing before you book: measure her precisely on the day you complete the booking form, note all three measurements on the crate documentation, and attach the measurements sheet to the outside of the crate on travel day as BA cargo handlers will want to see it. The Ferplast Atlas 100 Professional is the right call here — it's one of very few genuinely large crates with honest published specs and proven cargo compliance.

Glad that's clear. One final thing worth knowing: crate-train her in it well before travel day. Deerhounds can be sensitive to confinement if it's unfamiliar, and a dog that's calm and settled in the crate before the journey makes the whole process smoother — for her and for the handlers. Safe travels.