Dog Crate For Car Travel Buyer’s Guide
What are dog crates or carriers and why do you need one? Some dogs are easily excitable and quite unpredictable. They can even jump out of a moving car at the sight of a squirrel on the roadside. You need a comfortable and secure dog travel crate to hold the dog when traveling with it in your car.
Dog crates are secure, portable, and comfortable soft-sided crates or carriers that help to keep your dog safe and comfortable when traveling. The soft sided crates are easy to set up and dismantle after use. They are made from a strong durable metal frame with fabric or mesh linings. The dog crate makes it extremely easy to carry along your dog while ensuring that the dog enjoys fresh air inside the travel crate.
Why do you need a dog crate? Many dogs today are already crate trained and will comfortably sit inside the travel crate while traveling. The soft sided crates are comfortable for the dog and provide an easy and convenient, manageable way to handle your dog in the car. A travel crate is a perfect option for a family that never leaves the dog behind when going out for picnics or vacations.
Benefits Of A Dog Crate Or Carrier For Car Travel
Here are some of the advantages and benefits of purchasing a car crate or carrier for your dog.
- The travel crate provides a secure and comfortable way to travel with your dog. Most dogs enjoy lounging inside the soft-sided comfortable crate. It is also designed to provide plenty of air for the dog.
- Less stress for you. When you invest in a good travel carrier or dog crate, you eliminate all the worries you would otherwise have about the comfort and safety of your pooch. You can concentrate on driving without stressing about your dog.
- Great experience for pets. The comfortable crates have soft sides and come with mesh or fabric lining. The design allows your dog to enjoy the scenic views you drive past in a secure and comfortable containment crate.
- A solution for dog’s potty accidents while traveling. There are those times when your dog cannot hold it until you get to your next stop. Dogs have small bladders and may not hold pee for a long time. A dog crate is easy to clean if the dog has a potty accident before you get to the next stop.
How Safe Are Dog Crates And Carriers?
Safety is an important factor in any crate or carrier used to carry your dog when traveling. There are numerous dog crate products in the market which makes it difficult to claim with a degree of certainty that all dog carriers and creates are 100% safe for your dog. Fortunately, you can always check for CPS certification on the travel crate to ensure that it has been tested for safety before you buy the product. When you don’t trust the manufacturer, you can always check for a safety mark from the Center for Pet Safety (CPS). This is a non-profit organization that provides independent safety testing for harnesses, crates, carriers, and other pet products.
A 2015 crate study test by the CPS found that many dog crates cannot protect your dog in a collision. The CPS study even discovered that some dog crates that are being marketed as crash-tested have doors that easily fly off, cages that instantly cave in and straps that snap easily on impact.
Fortunately, there are reputable brands that manufacture strong, safe, and secure dog crates for car travel. These are products that you can count on to provide real protection for the dog and other human passengers inside the car in case of an accident.
Factors To Consider When Looking For The Best Dog Crate And Carrier For Cars
How do you find the perfect crate for your dog when you want to bring the dog along in your vacation or outing?
Here are a few important things to look for in the right travel crate for your dog.
Size Does Matter a Lot Here
The first and most important thing to consider in a dog carrier is size. Your choice will depend on the breed and size of dog you own. You need a crate or carrier that has enough room for the dog to turn around and stand up without scrapping on the sides. If your dog is still a puppy, go for a larger model that will continue serving you as the dog grows bigger.
Heavy Duty Construction Materials
The carrier has to be durable and strong. It should preferably be made from a good mixture of heavy-duty metal and plastic materials. Look for crates made of lightweight and durable frame materials such as steel or aluminum which are light enough to carry around easily. The materials are also strong enough to withstand wear and tear. If your dog likes to chew, then get a carrier that’s specially designed with strong and durable fabric or mesh. Get a product made with heavy-duty soft-sided materials such as luggage-grade nylon.
Comfort & Bedding
Your dog’s comfort is an important factor to consider when buying a traveling crate or carrier. The whole purpose of carrying the dog along is to make it enjoy the trip not to punish the poor animal in an uncomfortable containment crate. Make sure the travel crate has soft-sided materials and more importantly ensure that the travel crate has a soft bed pad or mattress. If the travel crate doesn’t come with the mattress or bedding then make plans to buy one separately. Make sure your pet will always rest on soft bedding every time it’s inside the travel crate.
Proper Strapping
The strength and durability will also depend on the type of strapping it comes with. Look for travel carriers with strong and durable straps. If you want a smaller crate, make sure it has straps that allow you to attach it to the car’s seatbelts. Larger models should allow you to strap or tie them down securely inside the car.
5-Star CPS Certification
There are hardly any regulations on the pet safety market when it comes to dog crates and carriers, which leaves you at the mercy of the manufacturer’s claims. Your best option is to look for a dog crate that has passed crash tests. The results are in most cases publicly available or indicated on the product. The best models are those that have a 5-star CPS certification for crash tests.
The Question Of Cost And Quality
Cost is important too but avoid going for the cheapest model you can find at the expense of your dog’s comfort or the travel crate’s durability. Look for a model that falls within your budget but that is not made of cheap insecure and uncomfortable materials. Most of the products we have reviewed in this dog crate and carriers for cars review article are high-quality products with affordable price tags.
