Looking for pet transport in Newcastle? Whether it’s a dog taxi across the city or a booking on the DFDS ferry to Amsterdam, here’s a rating-sorted look at who actually operates locally, what the DFDS crossing genuinely involves, and what the DEFRA licensing tells you.
A note on the ratings below: these are Google’s, from real reviewers, not our own inspection.
The DFDS North Shields-IJmuiden crossing
This is the directory’s only east-coast Europe crossing, and it’s a genuinely useful option if you’re in Scotland or North East England, where Dover is a much longer drive than a local overnight ferry.
DFDS runs pet-friendly cabins and kennels on the North Shields-IJmuiden (Amsterdam) route. We checked DFDS’s own current pet-friendly cabins page directly, and it confirms: each pet-friendly cabin accommodates up to 2 medium-sized dogs and sleeps up to 4 people, with vinyl flooring specifically for pet use, and designated dog-friendly outdoor areas open for most of the crossing (with a short closing window early morning for cleaning). Pets aren’t permitted in other public areas on board.
One detail worth understanding clearly: dogs cannot simply stay in your vehicle on this route. The car deck closes at departure and doesn’t reopen until shortly before arrival, so a dog left in the car would have no access to anyone or anywhere for the full overnight crossing. Dogs travel instead in a pet-friendly cabin with you, or in the onboard kennels (sometimes referred to as the “Dog Hotel”), both of which give access to the outdoor relief area. Pre-booking is essential — pet-friendly cabins are limited and book up quickly, particularly in peak season.
Pet transport operators based in Newcastle
1. Pet Taxi Services Ltd
Swallow House, Parsons Road, Washington NE37 1EZ
★ 4.8 (12 reviews)
Phone: 07779 626020
Google Maps · Website
2. Home Or Away Pet Transport
50-52 Bensham Ave, Gateshead NE8 1XT
★ 4.3 (6 reviews)
Phone: 0191 421 0157
Google Maps · Website
Both are genuinely Tyne and Wear-based, verified with real addresses and independent websites — a small family-run business in each case, covering routine local jobs like vet and groomer trips, kennels and boarding drop-offs. Neither markets itself specifically around the DFDS Amsterdam crossing, so for that specific route, a national UK-Europe specialist or contacting them directly to ask about their experience of it is worth doing before booking.
National operators who also cover Newcastle
The same recurring UK-wide names show up here too — The Pet Bus, ExecPets, 101 Pet Express, SuperPetTravel and others among them. None of that makes them the wrong choice, particularly for the international leg of a journey, but they’re covering Newcastle from elsewhere rather than being based here.
Checking a DEFRA licence in Newcastle
Type 2 (long journey, over 8 hours) authorisations are published as open data by the Animal and Plant Health Agency and updated monthly. Type 1 (up to 8 hours) isn’t published anywhere public.
We checked the current register against Pet Taxi Services Ltd and Home Or Away Pet Transport, and neither currently appears under those names. That doesn’t mean either is unlicensed — both do the kind of shorter, local Tyne and Wear work that commonly sits under Type 1 authorisation, which simply isn’t published anywhere we or you can check independently, the same pattern found on Manchester, London and Edinburgh’s local operators. Ask any operator directly for their authorisation reference, particularly if you’re booking them for the longer international leg to or from the ferry terminal.
Getting around: Newcastle’s A1 position
Newcastle sits directly on the A1, the main north-south route linking Scotland to the rest of England, with the A19 and A69 giving further connections along the coast and west towards Cumbria. For pet transport specifically, this matters most for operators covering the wider North East and Scottish Borders area getting pets to and from the North Shields ferry terminal, rather than adding much to purely local, in-city jobs.
What to have ready before you travel
A DEFRA authorisation reference on request, confirmation of whether your pet travels alone or with others, and a written quote before booking are the same basics that apply everywhere in this directory — our pet transport hub covers the full list of questions worth asking and red flags to watch for. If you’re heading to mainland Europe via a different crossing, our guides to pet transport via Dover and the Eurotunnel and pet transport via Portsmouth cover the alternative southern crossing points, each with a genuinely different journey shape to this one.
For dogs that find travel or an overnight crossing stressful, some owners find a natural calming supplement helps take the edge off — worth having a look around Calmshops. It’s not a substitute for proper preparation, just something that can help alongside it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions dog owners may have about this topic.
Can I take my dog on the Newcastle to Amsterdam ferry?
Yes — DFDS runs pet-friendly cabins (up to 2 medium-sized dogs) and kennels on the North Shields-IJmuiden route, with dedicated outdoor relief areas. Dogs cannot stay in your vehicle for this crossing since the car deck is inaccessible for most of the journey; pre-booking a cabin or kennel is essential.
Is there a local Newcastle-based pet transport operator?
Yes — Pet Taxi Services Ltd (Washington) and Home Or Away Pet Transport (Gateshead) are both genuinely Tyne and Wear-based independents, verified with real addresses. Neither specialises specifically in the DFDS Amsterdam route, so ask directly about their experience of it if that’s what you need.
Does the DEFRA Type 2 register cover all licensed Newcastle operators?
No — it only covers Type 2 (long journey, over 8 hours) authorisations. Local operators doing shorter, everyday jobs commonly hold Type 1 authorisation instead, which isn’t published anywhere public. Not appearing on the Type 2 list doesn’t mean an operator is unlicensed.
Why would I use the Newcastle ferry instead of Dover or Portsmouth?
Mainly geography — if you’re in Scotland or North East England, North Shields is a much shorter drive than Dover or Portsmouth, and the overnight crossing to Amsterdam gets you into mainland Europe from a genuinely different starting point.
Do I need to book a pet-friendly cabin in advance for the DFDS route?
Yes, well in advance if possible — pet-friendly cabins on this route are limited in number and book up quickly, particularly during school holidays and peak summer months.
Written by Georgiana & Figo. Have a question about pet transport? Have a look around Calmshops or drop us a line — we answer everything.
