Best Dog Travel Crate For Your Next Adventure

A dog travel crate may not look like the most obvious purchase when you and your pup spent most of your time at home. But if the two of you prefer to explore other destinations, a travel dog crate can be both simply necessary for the safety of your pup and downright mandatory if you are traveling in a train or plane. Navigating through the variety of travel crates for dogs can be a challenge, but with the help of our guide, you will find the best travel dog crate for any situation.

Top 5 Travel Crates For Dogs

This is a foldable dog crate that is a multifunctional device. It can be used at home as a regular crate or taken with you on a flight or bus journey. When not in use, it can be easily folded for storage. It’s a metallic wire dog crate with a plastic floor, which means it’s durable, practical, and will protect your floors against unexpected spills or wet accidents. There are seven different sizes available ranging from XX-Small to X-Large, and there is a divider that allows you to use the same crate from the time your dog is a puppy and through adulthood.

As a responsible dog owner, you want your travel crate for dogs to be safe, durable, and easily portable in case you need to carry it with you or store in limited space when it’s not in use. This is everything you get with the MidWest iCrate. Made from tough metal wires and with a leak-proof plastic floor, this dog crate can be successfully used at home and while traveling when you need to keep your pup safe and secure. You can choose from 7 different sizes, and if you have a small puppy who will grow up into a medium or large adult dog, you can use the same crate during all of his growing stages thanks to the divider that comes with the purchase.

If you have a well-behaved pup who doesn’t need to use a crate at home but who often goes to other places with you and needs a safe, comfy way to travel, the Go Pet Club soft sided dog crate is exactly what you need. It’s made from waterproof fabric for easy cleaning but has a removable fleece pad on the floor, which is perfect when your pup wants to lie down. There are four ventilated windows on all sides, and when this item claims to be a portable dog crate, it really means it — when folded, it’s just 2 inches thick! You can get the Go Pet Club crate in 3 different sizes.

Small dogs don’t need a lot of space to travel, but they need a comfy and safe crate to feel confident in a stressful situation away from home. The Petmate small dog travel crate is perfect for dogs weighing up to 20lbs. It has an attractive design and is available in two versatile colors. It’s made of durable plastic and metal wire, which means it combines the best from both worlds. There is an option of top or front entry plus ventilation on all sides to expose your pup to fresh air no matter where he is.

If you enjoy the look and functionality of the previous carrier but have a bigger dog and therefore need a large dog traveling crate, here is a product to consider. This Petmate career is possibly the best plastic dog crate for large dog we’ve ever seen. The combination of plastic and metal makes it both durable and practical. The metal side vents will ensure a steady supply of fresh air, and the floor moat will keep your pup cosy and dry even on long journeys. This crate is designed for dogs up to 70lbs, but if that’s not enough, you can go up a size and get a device that will accommodate even a 90lbs dog.

Features To Consider When Buying A Dog Travel Crate

When looking for a new dog carrier crate, here are the most important features to take into account:

• Size. On one hand, the crate should be spacious enough for your pup. On the other hand, you don’t want the crate to occupy more space than it absolutely needs to. You need to be able to easily carry the crate with you anywhere and quickly find a good spot for it when you are traveling, so there is no need to go for the biggest size possible thinking it will be more comfy for your pooch.
• Material. The majority of dog travel crates right now are made from fabric, metal, or plastic, and the choice largely depends on how you’ll use the crate and how your pup behaves when inside. If your dog tends to display destructive behavior, then a metal crate is a must, while calmer dogs will feel more comfortable in a soft fabric crate. In case your dog will travel in the hold of the panel, you will need a hard-sided crate, while soft crates are mostly used for cabin travel.
• Ventilation. When your pup is traveling in a confined space for hours, he at least needs to be able to breathe freely. When traveling on a bus or by car, the temperature inside the crate can increase very quickly. It’s best to go for a crate that is ventilated on 3-4 sides to avoid overheating and suffocation.
• Practicality. A dog travel crate should be not only comfortable, but also practical. Ideally, you should be able to carry your crate with your dog inside anywhere, which means it should have convenient handles on the top. If you don’t travel too often or want to be able to easily carry the crate while on vacation, consider a collapsible soft dog crate that can be folded for easy storage.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are travel dog crates?

A travel dog crate is a carrier for dogs that allows you to keep the pup in one place for an extended period of time. Dog travel crates are commonly used for planes, trains, and cars, but they can also be used in other situations when you need to temporarily restrict your dog’s movement. In some situations, special crates are required by airlines or train companies, but their use is often voluntary and is dictated by the dog’s safety needs.

How to determine the size of the dog crate you need?

Dog travel crates come in every size imaginable, but there is an easy way to determine which size you need. To find it, ask your dog to lie down, sit, and stand on all fours. Measure the amount of space the pup takes on the floor when sitting or lying down, as well as your dog’s height when he is standing up. To determine the minimal height, length and width of the right travel crate, take the measurements from the previous step and add 6 inches to each of them. A crate of this size will comfortably accommodate your pup and allow him to turn, lie down, and take any position he wants.

What size dog crate do you need to fly with your pet?

When traveling by plane, an airline dog crate is more of a necessity than a whim — in most cases, the airline won’t even let your pooch board the plane unless there is a special travel crate. At the same time, you want to go for the smallest possible size to avoid overpaying for using extra space you don’t really need. For hold flights, there are no particular size guidelines, but cabin travel is a different story. In most airlines, your dog travel crate needs to be 18 inches long, 11 inches wide, and 11 inches tall or smaller to fit in the cabin.

What are the airline requirements for travel dog crates?

Along with size requirements, American airlines have special guidelines for the design and safety of airline crates for dogs. You can always find detailed information from your airline’s website or hotline, but here are some of the most common requirements:

• Only solid materials, including metal, fiberglass, or plastic are acceptable.
• Ventilation on two sides for domestic flights and four sizes on international flights is required.
• The door of the crate needs to be equipped with a secure lock system.
• The dog should be able to move freely inside the crate.
• The floor of the crate should be solid and leakproof.
• You should be able to refill the water and food bowl from the outside.
• In case the crate is equipped with wheels, they need to be locked during the flight.

Can a dog crate be used to train my dog?

If you are thinking of using a dog travel crate instead of a regular crate for home use, it’s probably not a good idea since travel crates allow minimal movement and can feel too restrictive for your pup over an extended period of time. However, training your dog to get used to the travel crate is definitely a good idea as it will save the pup the stress of being confined to a carrier for the first time while traveling. Start by inviting your dog into the crate for a couple of minutes and gradually extend his stay. Use encouraging words and treats to make the experience better.

How long can I leave my dog in his/her dog crate?

If you travel often and want your pup to tag along, there are no other options than to put your dog in a dog shipping crate for the duration of the journey. But how long can a dog stay inside the crate to avoid negative physical and mental effects? If your dog is well-trained to stay inside the crate, he can safely spend up to 8 hours in his carrier, which should be enough for most owners. However, whenever possible, it’s best to keep that time to 4 or 5 hours.

Which dog crate accessories are necessary for my dog’s comfort?

To make it easier for your beloved pooch to spend hours in a travel crate, possibly on his own, you can add some accessories. One of the must-haves is a comfy bedding that will give your pup an opportunity to rest during long travel. You can also keep the dog from getting bored with the help of his favorite toys. Ideally, those toys should be durable and possibly interactive to provide entertainment for a long time. A couple of small treats can also cheer your pup up. Additionally, you can keep a water bowl at hand to give your dog water when needed, but putting it inside the crate at all times is not advisable — the dog can easily knock it over and end up with wet bedding for hours.

Other Dog Travel Crates

In case soft crates for dogs feel too lightweight for your active pup and you are looking for something sturdier, consider the Lucky Dog crate. It’s made of metal wires, which ensure proper ventilation and unobstructed view while being perfectly secure even for the most restless dogs. There are five sizes available and a leak-proof pan on the bottom will keep your floors clean.

Dog crates for cars can be very fancy and packed with different features and design accents, but nothing is more practical than a no-frills metal wire dog crate like this one from Paws & Pals. It’s probably the most durable dog travel crate there is, it can be safely used at home, and it can be easily made more comfortable with an addition of soft bedding.

If you want your new dog crate to be not only practical, but also stylish, take a look at the New Age Pet furniture-style dog crate. This item will seamlessly fit even into the most elegant interior and can double as an end table for your bedroom. The crate is made from an innovative plastic-wood material called Ecoflex and features metal for extra security. It’s available in four sizes and four different color options, so you will always find the right one for your situation.

For a dog travel crate for car or plane that offers maximum versatility, consider the EliteField collapsible dog crate. It features steel tubing for extra durability, practical washable polyester fabric, mesh windows, and three entrances. There is also a soft washable mat for comfy travels, and you can easily fold and unfold the crate in a matter of seconds. You can choose from five sizes and eleven color options.

The Firstrax dog carrier is the ideal choice when you want a dog crate for car and home use. This is a crate that is designed both for indoor and outdoor use thanks to a water resistant base. There is a door for easy entrance and mesh windows on all sides that ensure constant ventilation. The crate features rounded corners for keeping your car and home interior safe. You can choose from four sizes.

There aren’t many pet products that can be called elegant along with practical, but this is a welcome exception. The Merry Products dog car crate can be used anywhere you need, but it will truly shine at home thanks to its sophisticated design. In addition to the wood panels, this crate uses metal wires for added security and comes with a detachable divider to accommodate multiple pets in the same carrier.

When thinking about an airline approved dog crate, this is probably a typical device that jumps to your mind. This is the perfect dog travel cart for airplane or car travel. It’s available in several sizes and accommodates dogs weighing from 5 to 75lbs. It features a secure lock system, wired windows on all sides for a constant influx of fresh air, and two handles on the top for easy transportation.

In case you are looking for the most basic dog car crate that can also be used on airplanes and doesn’t have any exquisite functionality that inevitably leads to a price increase, this is an item you should consider. It’s budget-friendly, practical, comfy for the pup, easily transportable, and is available in a variety of colors to suit every mood and aesthetic.

The EliteField dog travel crate is designed with both the dog’s and the owner’s comfort in mind. It features four doors for an unobstructed entrance, easily collapsible and installable system, a fleece mat for making the journey more comfortable for your pooch, and a carrying case for the time when you need to transport the crate without your dog inside.

The Ferplast dog travel crate is both practical and comfy. It can be put together in a few seconds, features a collapsible top handle for easy storage, and combines plastic and metal to make travel comfortable and safe for your dog. This is a crate that is perfect for small breeds, and with a choice between two color options, you will instantly find the one that fits your taste.