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Who Needs a Dog Carrier?
A dog carrier offers a convenient way to transport your puppy or an adult dog. When traveling, it will keep your puppy safe and provide him with a sense of security.
Dog carries come is several types and styles.
Some are appropriate for smaller breeds only, while others can accommodate dogs of any size.
Some puppy carriers can double as car seats, making car travel safer. There is a dog carrier that allows you to ship your dog by plane...
But with so many different types of carriers, how do you choose the one that's right for your puppy?
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Let's take a quick look at a video demonstrating various dog carriers…
Learn more about dog behavior and obedience training
Dog Carriers For Smaller Dogs
If you own a smaller breed puppy, a bag-like dog carrier offers the most sense. This type of carrier is small enough for you to carry like a regular bag. Some models allow you to attach them to a car, making car travel a much safer experience for your puppy.
Here is an example of such carrier...
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Deluxe Medium Sherpa Bag Pet Carrier is made out of durable nylon, offers plenty of ventilation, and is approved for on-board use by most major airlines.
Note: Not all bag-like dog carriers are approved by airlines.
Another common type of puppy carrier comes in the form of a backpack. You can use backpack carriers with slightly larger dogs and some models can convert to car seats for dogs.
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Backpack Carrier from
Outward Hound is made with durable Denier nylon fiber and can accommodate dogs up to 20 lbs.
It's comfortable and durable.
Pet Sling, also from Outward Hound, features adjustable padded shoulder strap, storage pocket and comfortable padded bottom.
It's made out of tough nylon fabric and can accommodate dogs up to 20 lbs.
Personally, I find it less comfortable than duffle bag or backpack carriers, but many dog owners like them.
A Dog Carrier For A Larger Dog
For larger dogs, you have three options:
- Portable crate
- Wire crate
- Plastic crate (also known as airplane crate)
None of these dog carriers are designed to "carry" a large dog. Rather, they are used to transport your dog by car or plane. Your dog may also use them as a retreat whenever he needs some privacy.
Portable crates are made out of soft material and can accommodate dogs too big for duffle bags and backpack dog carriers. Some even have handles.
Because they are very light and, when folded, occupy very little room, portable crates are easy to take with you when traveling.
If you are looking for a large, soft crate, you can't go wrong with a
Portable Dog Home.
It comes in many colors and sizes and is constructed of heavy-duty polyester, making it perfect for outdoor use in all weather conditions.
It's ventilated on all sides and has a screen mesh door with a zipper. You can fold it to less than 2" thick.
A wire crate is not really a carrier, in a sense that you can easily pick it up and carry it with a dog inside, but it's invaluable when you need to transport a large dog by car. It provides safety not only to your dog, but also to the driver.
MIDWEST Side by Side Folding Van Crates are specifically designed to sit side-by-side in the rear compartments of vans or SUV's.
These crates have plastic handles for easy portability, fold quickly and are made in the U.S.A.
It's also a perfect tool for crate training puppies and adult dogs. This house training guide offers plenty of tips and advice if you are not familiar with this type of training.
For larger dogs, I prefer wire crates because they…
- Offer the most visibility and ventilation
- Are much easier to clean than portable and airplane crates
- Are more durable
Plastic crates are similar to portable crates, only they are made out of hard plastic. They comes in many sizes and unlike other dog carriers, may be used to transport dogs by plane.
Portable Kennel from
Petmate is easy to assemble and comes in many sizes.
Best of all, it meets airline regulations for domestic and international pet travel.
A dog carrier will keep your puppy or an adult dog safe in a dangerous situation. It will also provide him with a sense of security. Some carriers may even be used as valuable house training aids.
So, don't worry, your puppy won't mind being carried around!
If you are a new dog owner and want to learn more about dog behavior and obedience training, I highly recommend you read and follow this Secrets to Dog Training guide. It's written by a professional dog trainer and is full of techniques you can use to modify your dog's behavior.
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