If you own a Greyhound, you already know the problem.
They have long bodies and even longer noodle legs.
Most Greyhounds don't sit when they settle - they lie down instead.
When I started looking for a travel mat for my Greyhound, I couldn't find one that was long enough and provided enough cushioning.
A travel mat can look perfectly reasonable online, then you put your Greyhound on it and realise their front legs are hanging off one end, their bum is off the other, and at least one elbow is still on the floor.
So, what size travel mat does a Greyhound actually need?
Measure them lying down - not standing up
Most dog mats are simply labelled small, medium or large.
The problem is that Greyhounds aren't shaped like most large dogs.
They're long through the body, have long legs and often stretch out when they settle.
Ideally, you want to get these three things onto the mat:
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elbows
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hips
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back legs
If half of your dog is still on the floor, the mat probably isn't big enough.
Why I made ours 110cm x 75cm
When I started looking for a travel mat for my Greyhound, Trixi, I kept finding the same problem.
The portable ones were easy to carry but too small.
The larger ones tended to roll up like sleeping bags, and that's not really my vibe when I'm heading to a coffee shop in the city.
I wanted something large enough for a Greyhound to properly lie down on, whether we were at my favourite coffee spot, the pub or away on holiday.
That's why the large Noodle Dog travel mat measures 110cm x 75cm.
For reference, Trixi is a large female Greyhound weighing around 29–30kg.
The mat gives her enough room to properly settle rather than trying to balance herself on a tiny rectangle of fabric.
Bigger isn't always more practical
You could, of course, take their entire bed out with you.
Trixi would probably vote for this option.
Unfortunately, carrying a giant dog bed into a coffee shop isn't particularly practical.
A useful travel mat needs to strike a balance.
It should be:
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large enough for your dog
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comfortable enough for them to stay on it
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easy to pack away and carry
Because if something is awkward or bulky, eventually you stop bringing it with you.
Size is only one part of the equation
A big, thin mat can still leave your Greyhound effectively lying on concrete.
Greyhounds have bony elbows and very little natural padding, so comfort matters — especially if they're going to be lying down for a while.
For me, the ideal travel mat had to solve both problems:
Big enough and comfortable enough.
Not one or the other.
The Noodle Dog large travel mat
I created the Noodle Dog travel mat because I couldn't find one that did everything I wanted.
It's 110cm x 75cm, made with dense wool fleece on top and an anti-slip base underneath.
It folds down and fits into its own tote bag, so you can take it to cafés, pubs, holidays and days out without carrying what looks like a spare mattress.
Because if you're taking your Greyhound somewhere, suitable seating arrangements are part of the deal.