This may seem like a rather strange question, but I think there may be someone in the breed show world who can help me out.

I am looking to organise coach travel from the UK to northern Spain for quite a large party of agility handlers, their dogs and helpers. To make everything go as smoothly as possible, it would be a real help if someone could give me the name of a UK coach company that is used to dealing with dogs going to, for example, breed shows. Although coaches travel from all over the country to the major UK champ shows, I have no idea whether any coach operator also takes dogs and passengers abroad. Please help!

Why dont you contact the current or previous team agility managers as they may be able to advise who they used (if they did).

they used to print the coaches pick ups in some schedules like SKC. You could always ring those numbers for dog friendly coaches.The ones I used to use have all changed now  so  no good giving you  names.

If only things were that easy! The previous management only served for one year, and the competition was in England so we all just made our own way to the venue! I'm part of the new management, hence the query. No point in reinventing the wheel if there's someone out there with useful info.

Thanks for the suggestions, Stevensonsign. I'll check out the online catalogues and see what I can find. I'm particularly interested in a coach company that has transported dogs abroad, though, to ensure that their drivers are used to the PETS scheme and maybe know of suitable places to stop for doggy toilet breaks on the French/Spanish motorway network.

Look in the dog papers - Dog World and Our Dogs.  They often have adverts with coach trips taking people and dogs to foreign shows.  You may even give Our Dogs a ring as they have stands at most of the big European shows and probably know who organises the coach trips.

That's a great suggestion - will do! :-)

When Pet Passports first started I travelled with Johnsyl travel (based in south Wales) to the World show in Holland, prior to that without dogs to Poland. 

They always did coaches to St Patrick's and the Irish Circuit.

Don't know if they are still going.

This would seem to show they are not: http://www.ourdogs.co.uk/News/2005/January2005/News070105/coaches.htm  this shwo the business disolved: http://www.cdrex.com/johnsyl-travel-uk-limited-5172905.html

Johnsyl were great , done Amsterdam and the Irish circuit with them....

Can't help you about the coaches but there are many many motorway/picnic area stops along the French motorways so you wouldn't have a problem with that side of the journey. All have good grass areas and most have water taps outside of the toilet blocks so easy to fill your dog containers.