Do you find traveling with your dog challenging? Are the endless delays and security checks wearing both you and your puppy out? To avoid frustration and anxiety, it’s essential to choose a high-quality dog carrier. Carries are more than just a style statement. They are essential transport vessels that need to keep your pet contained, relaxed, and happy. Whether you are going on a long holiday, departing for a short weekend trip, taking a walk in the park, or going to the vet, the carrier you choose can make or break your trip.

From practical dog backpacks to hard-shelled carriers, the options are endless and, honestly, extremely overwhelming for beginner pet parents. You want your puppy to be content and enjoy your outing, stress-free and excited to do it all over again. On the other hand, you also want a design that supports your comfort and saves energy. To calm your nerves, help you on this road of puppy parenthood, and provide a stress-free shopping experience, we’ll break down the most popular dog carriers, their characteristics, and their shortcomings.

Types of Dog Carriers and Their Features

Dog carriers are one of the best inventions of the 20th century. These lightweight bags allow you to carry your puppy everywhere with minimal storage space required and minimal muscle strength. Carriers come in a wide range of shapes and sizes. From small purses to large trolleys, dog carriers are made with every breed, size, and personality in mind. This beautifully designed invention simplifies travel, vet visits, and even walks in the park.

However, just as every carrier is different, so is every puppy. Whether your puppy gets overly excited on outings or extremely anxious when leaving the house, there is a carrier that supports every dog and every owner; you just have to find the right one for your needs. For that, we’ve gathered a list of the most popular carrier styles, their helpful pros and their disappointing cons, to aid you on your journey as a new dog parent.

1. Dog Backpacks 

These items are quite the word on the street. This relatively new invention allows you to carry your dog on your back, while you remain hand-free and your puppy stays contained and curious to look at their surroundings from an entirely new viewpoint.

These unique carriers offer your pet a whole new way to experience sounds, sights and smells, making them enjoy every step of the journey. If you are an active person who has a lazy puppy, dog backpacks are a great way for your pup to explore the great outdoors without taking a step.

One of the best reasons to buy a dog backpack is the convenient storage space it provides. A backpack not only fits your pup but their food, water, waste bags and even your equipment, allowing you to travel hands-free and fully prepared for anything that might stop you in your tracks.

If your doggy is not yet vaccinated, but you’d still like to take them on walks around the neighbourhood or the park, a dog backpack is a great way for your puppy to interact with other pets while remaining safe and secure.

However, even with all these advantages, dog backpacks sadly have a couple of disadvantages as well. If your pooch is an anxious pup or has never received crate training, there is a chance they will be uncomfortable sitting in a small space, in an upright position, for a longer period of time. A backpack can also sometimes be heavy, depending on what you pack and how much your pet weighs, and can cause muscle strain and even fatigue.

A dog backpack is the best choice for small puppies who haven’t adapted to their surroundings yet or senior dogs who can’t walk for long periods; however, they aren’t suitable or recommended for large or easily agitated pooches.

2. Dog Trolley 

Trolleys take the term dog parent to a whole new level, allowing you to push your pet around as if they were a baby. They’re basically carts with wheels that allow you to easily take your dog to various urban spaces with little to no muscle strength needed. These forms of carriers truly come in handy on shorter trips, such as town outings and vet visits.

Trolleys are a perfect transport vessel for senior canines with minimal endurance for walking and exercise, and they are a great way for them to get some fresh air without the need for a leash and heavy exercise. They also increase your puppy’s independence, allowing them to sniff and observe their surroundings while you keep an eye on them at all times.

The best possible characteristic of trolleys is that they come in various sizes. Unlike dog backpacks, trolleys are fit to carry even larger breeds, without putting strain on your arms and jeopardising your pet’s health.

However, trolleys aren’t without any disadvantages. Because they are a form of wheeled transport, they can easily tip over if you run into a stray object in your way, injuring yourself and your pup in the process. It’s also quite tricky to get the right size trolley, and an inadequate size can cause discomfort and strain your dog’s legs. Trolleys also aren’t suitable for rougher terrain and can be quite difficult to push uphill.

3. Portable Dog Crates

Traveling with a larger dog can be tricky, but portable crates can make it so much easier. Secure, stable, and safe for your pet, they allow you to travel with your pup stress-free and fully prepared.

A crate must have proper ventilation and be large enough for your pup to stand and turn around comfortably. They are the perfect safe environment for traveling with your pet.

You can find dog crates made from various materials, such as metal, plastic, and even regular mesh. The material you get heavily depends on your pet’s personality and their ability to stay still.

If you have a more active pooch that likes to move around, a metal crate is more likely to keep them contained and secure, while a fabric crate is easier for dogs to chew through. The best characteristic of these crates is their versatility. They are made for every breed and size in mind, from large German shepherds to small chihuahuas.

Although crates are universal carriers and have a generous amount of advantages, they don’t escape from the list without a disadvantage or two. Plastic or fabric crates tend to have low visibility, which can make some canines feel anxious and even reluctant to go inside. They also aren’t ideal for warmer weather, as the heat can obstruct ventilation and even lead to your dog overheating.

Finishing Thoughts

In conclusion, an ideal dog carrier doesn’t exist. Every modern and even old-fashioned carrier you can find in a store or online has its cons. While some carriers might be well-suited for your pet, they could be ill-advised for others. Backpacks, trolleys and crates are great ways to carry your pooches on road trips, visits or regular walks while remaining practical and agile. You just have to choose the one that best suits your lifestyle, character and your dog’s size and personality.