Ryanair carries no dogs. Not in the cabin, not in the hold, not as cargo. The rule is absolute, and knowing it now saves a wasted airport morning. The science here is simpler than it sounds: this airline is closed to pets, so the trip needs a different carrier from the start. Build the itinerary around one that actually accepts dogs, and the paperwork falls into place from there.

Ryanair's pet policy splits into cabin and cargo. This page summarizes the weight limits, fees, brachycephalic-breed restrictions, and carrier specifications for both modes — sourced from the airline's official pet pages.

How Ryanair handles your pet

Ryanair does not allow any pets on board — cabin or cargo. Only certified assistance dogs from ADI/ADUK/IGDF member organizations are accepted.

Each fact comes straight from the operator’s published policy. Tap the to read the exact wording; the opens the source page.

In the cabin Not accepted
In the hold / cargo Not accepted

Cabin policy

Pets accepted Not acceptedverified 2026-07-14

Hold & cargo policy

Hold: Pets accepted Not acceptedverified 2026-07-14
Cargo: Pets accepted Not acceptedverified 2026-07-14

Health & documents

Microchip · Required Yesverified 2026-07-15
Health certificate · Required Yesverified 2026-07-15

Other rules

Assistance animals accepted Noverified 2026-07-07

Service & assistance animals

Fee waived Yesverified 2026-07-15
Recognized Yesverified 2026-07-14
Cabin allowed Yesverified 2026-07-15
Esa recognized Noverified 2026-07-15
Max pets per passenger4verified 2026-07-15
Documentation required Yesverified 2026-07-15
Advance notice required Yesverified 2026-07-15
Recognized organizationsADIverified 2026-07-27

Frequently asked

What if my flight is delayed past my health certificate validity?
If the certificate window expires before you board, you'll need a re-issue. Build a 1-2 day buffer between the cert date and departure to absorb minor delays.
What happens if I forget a document?
At the destination airport: at best, an extended inspection while you produce backup; at worst, the pet is held in quarantine or returned to origin at your cost. Bring printed copies.
So Ryanair is off the table for travelling with a dog, but plenty of other routes work well. Pixel has boarded carriers that welcome pets without fuss, and the difference is picking the airline first. Feed your exact origin, destination, and dog into Pawgo's plan-builder for a personalized plan. It maps the accepting carriers, the microchip requirement, and every health certificate step, so the journey is settled before you ever book.
Get YOUR personalized plan for Ryanair →

Glossary

ISO chip
ISO 11784/11785 — the universal microchip standard.
FAVN
Fluorescent Antibody Virus Neutralization — a rabies serology test required by rabies-free destinations.
Brachycephalic
Snub-nosed breeds (French Bulldogs, Pugs, Persians, Himalayans) with restricted airline acceptance due to heat-stress risk.
AVIH
Animal Vehicle In Hold — IATA's term for cargo pet shipment, with fees that vary by carrier and route.