Renfe vs Iryo vs Ouigo with a dog: which Spanish train to pick, by dog size
Quick answer
With a small pet (up to 10 kg in a carrier) the three work and Ouigo is usually cheapest: 10 EUR added up to 30 minutes before departure. With a dog over 10 kg your real options are Renfe and Iryo, both at 40 EUR per journey but with very different friction: Renfe sells the Dogs up to 40 kg extra online up to 24 hours before, while Iryo takes the booking by phone and requires a signed declaration delivered at its station office 1.5 hours before departure. Ouigo published no large-dog option as of our check date.
TL;DR
- Small pets (up to 10 kg, carrier 60x35x35 cm): all three admit them. Ouigo 10 EUR, Renfe free (Premium) or 10 EUR, Iryo with a pre-booked extra.
- Dogs over 10 kg: Renfe (up to 40 kg, online, 40 EUR) or Iryo (40 EUR, by phone, signed declaration 1.5 h before). Not Ouigo.
- Booking friction is the real difference: Renfe is self-service up to 24 h before, Iryo needs a call and paperwork at the station office.
- Renfe caps 2 large dogs per train in a set pet car and fixes the window-side spot. Iryo boards you last and off first, from 7 origin stations.
- Assistance dogs: free on Renfe and Ouigo, and exempt from weight and carrier limits on Iryo when accompanying their owner.
Everything in this comparison comes from the three official pet pages, read and verified on the date at the top: Renfe's pets page, Iryo's pet policy and Ouigo's pet page. Policies move, so if you are reading this months later, click the sources at the end before booking.
The comparison at a glance
| Renfe | Iryo | Ouigo | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small pet (carrier) | Up to 10 kg, 60x35x35 cm, free with Premium fares or 10 EUR with Basico and Elige | Up to 10 kg, 60x35x35 cm, paid extra booked before travel | Carrier up to 60x35x35 cm (no weight figure published), 10 EUR up to 30 min before, 25 EUR at boarding |
| Dog over 10 kg | Yes, up to 40 kg, 40 EUR extra, online up to 24 h before | Yes, 40 EUR, phone booking plus signed declaration 1.5 h before at the station office | Not published as of our check date |
| Fare condition | AVE and Larga Distancia: Elige Estandar. Avlo: over Basica | Adult travels on Inicial Superior fare | Add the Pet option at purchase or to your booking |
| Caps | 1 large dog per person, 2 per train, set pet car, window-side spot | 1 pet per person, 7 origin stations, last to board and first off | 2 pets per booking |
| Muzzle | Station and boarding, plus leash up to 1.5 m | No muzzle rule on its pets page. It publishes a traveler obligations document | Carrier only, no muzzle rule published |
How to choose in 30 seconds
1. Weigh the dog, not the ticket
Up to 10 kg with carrier: pick by price and schedule, the three work. Over 10 kg: your shortlist is Renfe and Iryo, full stop.
2. Decide how much friction you accept
Renfe is the self-service path: buy the extra online up to 24 hours before and show up with muzzle and papers, as our Renfe 40 kg guide details step by step. Iryo costs the same 40 EUR but adds a phone call, a printed signed declaration and being at its office 1.5 hours before departure: doable, just not spontaneous.
3. Check your station
Iryo's large-dog service departs from 7 origin stations (Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Sevilla, Malaga, Cordoba and Zaragoza). Renfe's scheme covers AVE, Avlo, Larga Distancia, Avant and Media Distancia, with the pet car marked at purchase.
What no operator changes
Identification and vaccination paperwork travels with the dog on all three, and assistance dogs travel free on Renfe and Ouigo, with Iryo exempting them from weight and carrier limits. The microchip and rabies vaccinations. It is the travel document for pets that RESIDE in the EU: travelers arriving from">EU pet passport or the vaccination record is the document Spanish operators expect.
Frequently asked questions
Which Spanish train is cheapest with a small dog?
Ouigo usually: 10 EUR for the pet option added up to 30 minutes before departure. If you regularize at boarding it rises to 25 EUR, so add it when you buy.
Can a 20 kg dog travel on Ouigo?
Ouigo's official page only covers pets in a carrier of up to 60x35x35 cm, with no large-dog option published as of our check date. For a 20 kg dog, look at Renfe or Iryo.
Renfe or Iryo for a large dog?
Same 40 EUR, different friction. Renfe sells its extra online up to 24 hours before. Iryo books by phone and requires a signed declaration at its station office 1.5 hours before departure, from 7 origin stations.
Do I need a specific fare to bring the dog?
Often yes: Renfe's large-dog extra pairs with Elige Estandar on AVE and Larga Distancia (Basica on Avlo), and Iryo requires the adult to travel on Inicial Superior.
What documents do the operators ask for?
An identified, vaccinated dog: microchip and the vaccination record or EU pet passport. Crew can ask for the paperwork at boarding on all three.
Sources
Who can help with this
Renfe Mascotas
Spain's national rail operator: official pet travel rules for every train type.
Baleària
Ferry operator connecting mainland Spain with the Balearic Islands, with published pet options per ship.
IPATA
The international association of professional animal transporters: the directory to find a licensed pet shipper.