The dog carrier was one of the other essentials the breeder told us we needed for our puppy. The carrier will be needed to comfortably transport the dog in the car and on the train, as well as to attend dog shows, she told us.
We quickly found out that our dog loves to ride, so he sits comfortably on the floor (fortunately, our family is small and the car is roomy), and to attend shows at first we did not plan at all. It is for these reasons we ignored this wish and did not buy a carrier for the dog.
Our dog is a small breed, a Jack Russell Terrier, so it was easy for us to choose a carrier for him. Today I want to give you some tips on how to choose a carrier for your dog, as well as tell you how to properly train your dog to the carrier.
How to choose a carrier for your dog?
Dog carriers come in soft (like cloth ones in a bag format) and hard (like plastic ones shaped like “trunks”).
If you have a small dog and you’re looking for a carrier to take him on the bus, for example, you’ll probably prefer a soft carrier. First, it’s lighter, second, the dog will be more comfortable in it, and third, an empty padded carrier is very compact.
If the dog is larger and heavier, and travel is planned for long distances, a hard carrier will be more convenient. Once again I would like to draw your attention to the fact – hard plastic carrier is a must not only when taking the dog in the car abroad, but also on the train or by plane! Without one, your dog will not be allowed on the train or on the plane.
If you have to carry your dog in the carrier, it’s better to choose one on castors, with an extendable handle (similar to a suitcase), in order to make it easier to roll it, and/or a shoulder strap (so that you can carry the dog without having to use your arms).
The carrier should be chosen according to the size of the dog. The dog must be able to stand upright inside the carrier without bending over. However it is not necessary to make big additions on the width and length of the animal. If the carrier has too much room, the dog will “wiggle” in the carrier when braking or turning while driving. In a properly selected carrier, the dog, settling down, occupies the main volume of the “room” leaving no space for unnecessary “maneuvers,” but only so that it can turn around inside.
How good and convenient is a carrier?
As it turned out in practice, the carrier has nothing to do with prison and isolation (of course, with reasonable use and observance of measure).
For the dog and the owners, the carrier has a lot of advantages, I’ll try to list them briefly:
- The dog is allowed to travel on trains, planes and ships only in the carrier;
- Many hotels (especially overseas) require the carrier when checking in pets;
- In an apartment the dog gets an extra “corner of privacy” in which it has a genetic need;
- During dog shows, the carrier allows the dog to calm down and the owner to get a little distraction from his dog and even to leave if necessary, which cannot be done without the carrier;
- The carrier is easier and more convenient to accustom the dog to travel in the car – it will not “flail” on the cabin during the movement, it will not dirty you the cabin with their dirty paws (you can throw in a special “duty” bedding);
- In the carrier you can isolate the dog when necessary – for example, if you have a visit from people who do not like or are afraid of the dog, etc.
