See: Travelling with Animals

To paraphrase the RENFE link I posted: you cannot travel on a Spanish train with a dog weighing over 10kg (22lbs) unless it is a guide dog. Dogs under that weight must be caged. (See link for details.)

According to the seat61 link the same is true of Spanish buses. Not clear whether that only applies to long distance buses or to city transport as well.

Thanks again to everyone!
I didn't mention our dog is a service dog because at certain point it is irreverent this information since in Europe our dog is not accepted as a service dog. Based on that fact I asked for advice taking just a family dog.

"IMO leave the dog home - for its sake if nothing else - a complete hassle, especially if taking trains." Pal, on what personal experience do you base this comment? How much have you traveled on trains with your dog?

We frequently traveled on trains with our English cocker Raisin and it was the oppositeof a "complete hassle". We had NO problems riding the rails with her on a regular basis in Belgium, the Netherlands, France, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. She loved exploring new places, we always picked destinations that were dog friendly (which covers pretty much all of the countries I listed) with interesting walks.
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...8ef368ddb5.jpg

On our way to Brugge...

Raisin looks adorable.

Some European train companies will accept any dog, provided you buy it a ticket, others have size/weight restrictions unless it is a certified and recognised guide/hearing/service dog. It depends on the country and to some extent on the company. Most countries have only one train company. The UK is an exception.
SInce you have already found out your dog's training is not recognised in Europe you need to check the rules of each rail provider to find out which will accept your dog and which won't.
It would appear that your dog will not be allowed on Spanish railways.
Why not rent a car instead?

Yes, at least to the French border. You should have no problem with your dog on a train once you're in France, other than buying a ticket (your dog isn't small enough to go for free) and the Paris transit system. Raisin traveled on TGVs, regional and local trains all over France. Once in Switzerland, the default is that your dog is allowed on whatever mode of transport you're on, unless expressly indicated otherwise. I recall Raisin riding virtually every form of transport in Switzerland except chairlifts :)

It would appear that your dog will not be allowed on Spanish railways.>

But French TGVs run Barcelona-Paris too so that probably is not a problem. Nearly 7 hours on train - maybe consider first class where you can get a solo seat- an aisle and a window seat both rather than two-by-two seats where a dog may be more of a bother to others.

And according to SNCF the dog must be muzzled the whole trip:

https://www.sncf.com/sncv1/en/services/pets

@PQ - if you read the seat61 link you will see that the dog WILL NOT be allowed on the train in Spain, regardless of its final destination. Don't assume.

"Unfortunately, larger dogs aren't allowed at all on these TGVs beyond the French border or on any Spanish trains, so if you have such a dog you'll have to get off somewhere like Perpignan and perhaps hire a car."

PalQ: "And according to SNCF the dog must be muzzled the whole trip"
Guide/service/therapy dogs are exempt from this rule, as clearly noted on the link you supplied.
Does your animal usually go without a muzzle? That's fine aboard your train, too. Simply bring the papers documenting his training as a guide or service dog.

FWIW, I have never seen a dog on a French train wearing a muzzle.

Well I guess flying is the only realistic option?

I travel often on French trains and have seen a number of muzzled dogs. Not that uncommon at all.

At any rate, reading the RENFE rules, no dog of this size is going to end up on a Spanish train.

The OP has already told us that this dog does not meet the European definition of a service dog.

Thus technically the dog must be muzzled though seemingly that is not enforced (putting SNCF at great liability it seems if dog does bite someone one would think!)

If a large dog was sitting near me I'd want it to be muzzled!

This is different. That was not referring to regular European trains that have dogs riding in them as a matter of routine. In my many years of riding European trains with a dog (unlike pretty much everyone else on this thread), I have found that the French train staff are quite reasonable about people who have well-trained, polite dogs. And this is a medical alert dog, which IS recognized as providing a valuable medical service. Medical detection dogs for endocrine disorders DO meet the standards of a service dog in some categories if not all.

I would agree with that, but not about dogs on Spanish trains.

30 pounds is a medium size dog. Raisin weighed 28 pounds. I'm curious, though: why do you have such a compelling interest in repeatedly telling this poster what she should do when you don't travel in Europe with a dog, have never taken a dog on a European train and probably never will?

Dogs on trains
 

Can't ever remember seeing a dog on a Spanish train, not in the last 40 years or so, not even a real service dog. Of course pet dogs in Spain have been a rarity until recently. Most dogs I've encountered were working dogs; hearding animals, search and rescue, etc., not your normal family pet, or "service dog".

>>And this is a medical alert dog, which IS recognized as providing a valuable medical service.<<

Unfortunately one of the two OPs said the dog in not a service/medical alert dog as recognized in the EU -- by European standards, it is just a pet.

>>I'm curious, though: why do you have such a compelling interest in repeatedly telling this poster what she should do when you don't travel in Europe with a dog, have never taken a dog on a European train and probably never will?<<

The same reason(s) he posts on every other topic.

I have traveled in the UK and Europe with two dogs and these OP's will have to proceed as though it is a pet and not a 'service dog'

I'm curious, though: why do you have such a compelling interest in repeatedly telling this poster what she should do when you don't travel in Europe with a dog, have never taken a dog on a European train and probably never will?>

Uh- it's the French Railways official policy about muzzling and other folks have concerns too - why do you advocate breaking the rules?