FlixBus is one of the main low-cost coach operators crossing into and around Germany, and its own customer-support page is direct about pets: its stated policy is that for safety reasons, it cannot transport any pets on its buses. This isn't a size, breed or carrier-based restriction that a small dog could work around — it's a blanket rule covering the whole network, including routes into and within Germany.

The single exception is a certified service dog, covered under FlixBus's reduced-mobility provisions rather than its pets policy, with its own requirements and advance arrangements through the company's support channels.

Because this catches many travellers off guard — bus travel is pet-friendly in several other countries covered in this guide — it's worth planning around early. Deutsche Bahn's trains, covered elsewhere in this section, are the realistic alternative for a pet owner who would otherwise have booked a coach between German cities or in from a neighbouring country.