Top 10 Best Dog Travel Crates

Crate training your dog can be a game-changer for both you and your dog. Crates are useful training tools for puppies, safe havens for senior dogs, lifesavers for emergencies, and not forgetting a great tool when travelling. They not only benefit you as the owner of the dog but also the dog itself.

Dogs occasionally seek small spaces as it gives them a sense of security and privacy to rest and relax. If you are reading this article and you’ve already dog trained your pet, you probably know that not all crates serve the same purpose. There are those made for home-based use and those made for travelling.

A travelling crate not only provides you with ample time while driving knowing your dog is safely confined in its shelter but also gives your dog a safe haven where it can seek privacy. In this article, you will learn 10 of the best travelling crates that will help you narrow down your search.

Let’s delve in.

1. Gulliver sturdy dog travel kennel

Gulliver sturdy is a kennel specifically made for traveling ranging from sizes 70cm to 1.4m in length. They are made of hard plastic with an average weight of a dog it can carry ranging from 18kg to 50kg. Due to its high quality of construction, it is both crash-certified and airline-approved.

Special features;

• Comes with two bowls for food and water that can be attached to the cage door.
• Handle for easy transport.
• A caged door made of strong steel for stability and extra ventilation.
• Storage compartments at the top.

Short-coming;

• Although it is designed to be light, the heavy steel bars used on the door can make it quite heavy, especially the larger sizes.

2. RuffMax Kennel for dogs

Ruffmax is an airline-approved single-door dog crate made of medium weight durable plastic. It is ideal for dogs weighing between 13kg to 41kg. It also comes with an attached handle at the top for easy lifting.

Special features;

• Has excellent ventilation on the sides and door.
• It is easy to assemble and set up
• Has tie-down holes in the corners for easy attachment of straps for retention in the truck bed.
• Comes with a warranty in case it gets damaged prematurely.
• It is made of camouflage colour that suits outdoor activities.

Short-comings;

• Has no feeding bowls
• It is not advisable for those with dogs larger than 41kg.

3. Amazon Basic Two-Door Hard-Sided Pet kennel

Amazon’s basic two-door hard-sided pet crate is a small breed crate made for vets and park visits, and any other short outings. It is made of plastic with two steel doors for maximum ventilation.

Special features;

• Spring-loaded for the latch for smooth opening.
• Made of plastic and steel for durability.
• It is relatively cheap compared to other crates models.
• Easy to assemble and disassemble.

Short-comings;

• It is not-crash rated hence not guaranteed to protect your pet in case of a crash.
• It is only for small breeds of dogs.

4. Sleepypod mobile pet bed

This mobile pet carrier combines features of hard-sided and soft-sided crates that allow a pet to travel safely in the comfort of its bed. It is both dog and car-friendly hence reducing travel-related stress. Let not the material it’s made of fool you, Sleepypod has passed crash safety testing. You don’t need to worry about your pet getting hurt in case of an accident.

Special features;

• It is made from luggage-grade nylon that’s been tested for strength and safety.
• It is tall enough and dome-shaped to allow your dog to stand freely.
• You can remove the dome zips to use it at home as a regular bed.
• Has Velcro positioning points for secure seat belt attachment for maximum safety while travelling in the car.

Short-comings;

• It gets dirty easily due to the material it is made of and therefore requires regular washing.

5. Sleepypod Air In-Cabin Pet Carrier

This is a bag-like custom-made small breed dog carrier for air travel as it can fit in the space below airlines seats with ease. It is expandable to give dogs more room with zipped doors at the top and ends for easy access.

Special features;

• It is soft and comfortable, giving your dog a nice and cosy journey.
• It has a pass-through pocket that allows you to attach it to your roller luggage as you walk through the airport.
• It has two large zipped pockets on both ends plus a top open end for easy access to your pet.

Short-comings;

Due to its bag-like style, it doesn’t give room for proper ventilation hence one needs to open at least one end for maximum ventilation. Just like the Sleepypod mobile bed, it gets dirty easily. Only made for small breeds of dogs.

6. Gen7 Commuter

Gen7 commuter dog carriers are more like Sleepypod dog carriers with some slight differences in the design. It is soft-sided (made of industrial-grade nylon) with steel at the edges to attain its bag-like shape. It also has latches that are strapped on the car’s seat belt to keep it stable. The fact that it can be used for both cars and planes makes it stand out from other carriers like Sleepypod Air.

Special features;

• It has a five-star crash rating.
• Mesh windows and a machine-washable pad to keep your dog comfy throughout the journey.
• It is approved for use by most airlines.
• It folds for storage easily.

Short-coming;

• It gets dirty easily.
• Made only for smaller breeds of dogs.

7. Sherpa Deluxe Pet Carrier

Sherpa deluxe pet carrier is a stylish, lightweight pet carrier designed for pets on the go. it is made from durable quilted nylon giving it a classic and simple look. It also has mesh panels on three sides for comfort, ventilation, and visibility.

Special features;

• Has a spring wireframe that allows flexibility to fit under the plane’s seat.
• Has mesh windows on three sides with locking zips for safety.
• The rear pocket holds lead, treats, and other travel necessities.
• It is a padded, adjustable, no-slip strap for easy lifting.

Short-comings;

• It is only made for small breeds of dogs.

8. EliteField 3-door folding soft dog crate

EliteField dog travel crate is the perfect choice when it comes to comfort. It is the softest and most flexible compared to others initially stated though the soft design doesn’t make it a good option for air travel with a large dog.

Special features;

• Lightweight but still quite durable.
• They emphasize purchasing the correct fit, with five available sizes.
• Over a dozen colors to choose from.
• Has three entry doors with sturdy zips.

Short-comings;

• If you have a dog that likes to chew on crates, this will probably not be the best fit for you for it can easily be chewed damaging it.
• Easily gets dirty and hence requires regular washing.

9. PetNation Port-A-Crate

PetNation is the perfect indoor or outdoor soft-sided but sturdy dog crate ideal for puppies on the go. It is made of heavy-duty fabric over a steel frame that offers extra strength and support. This crate is ideal for small breeds of puppies less than 12kg in weight.

Special features;

• Made of heavy-duty fabric.
• Reinforced by a steel frame that offers extra strength
• Has padded and mesh windows.
• Has openings at the top and one of the sides for easy accessibility of the pet.

Short-comings;

• Only for puppies, not full-grown dogs.
• Durable but can easily be destructible when chewed on by your puppy.

10. Beeztees Sky Kennel

Beeztees is another one-of-a-kind heavy-duty made out of recycled durable plastic and extra-strong steel wire. Just like any other crate made of plastic, it is hard-sided with a grilled door and side ventilation made of strong steel. This crate is approved by most airlines due to its hard sides and interlocking door.

Special features;

• 360-degree ventilation.
• Strong carrying handle for easy lifting.
• It also comes with travel necessities including two ‘’live animal’’ stickers.
• Comes with clip-on bowls for feeding and ID stickers.

Short-comings;

• It is quite expensive compared to other crates initially listed.

Finding the right travelling crate can be a daunting task especially when you have never used a crate for your dog. This can alternatively be very easy if you put into consideration the main factors that will determine the suitable crate for your dog. Going for a Gen7 Commuter for a German Shepherd would be a waste of your time and resources as it is built for smaller breeds.

Gulliver or RuffMax would probably be the best fit for a large dog. Some of these crates are extremely expensive due to high production costs but they serve the same purpose. Getting a good crate that best fits your pet’s needs and is within your budget, why not go for it?