Dog Travel Carriers

It's summertime, and that means our family's going to be spending lots of time traveling. Between heading to the beach for two weeks and flying out to see the grandparents in Colorado, we're going to be logging a lot of miles on the road and in the air. Finding a way to do that with our 85 pound black lab in tow is always an adventure! The car may not present too big of a challenge, but the airlines are another thing entirely. In this day and age, trying to get your pooch onto a plane without the perfect dog travel carriers is an invitation to frustration and missed connections.

Shopping for dog travel carriers can be quite a job if you don't know what you're looking for. The first step is fairly obvious -- how are you planning to transport your pet? When you're traveling by plane, you've got two choices. If your pet and its carrier are less than 20 pounds, you can carry them in the cabin on most airlines. Larger animals need a rigid plastic airline crate, one that meets all the airline's specifications and is designed to keep your pet safe at all times while giving him a bit of room to move around. If you're just hopping in the car for a weekend, you've got a lot more wiggle room and don't have to worry about regulations.

It's the smaller breeds that have all the fun when it comes to fashionable dog travel carriers. You can choose a traditional, hard-sided kennel that's extremely functional, or you can go with a soft-sided carrier and breeze through the airport like Paris Hilton. There are dozens of websites that sell the most fabulous dog travel carriers imaginable -- they look more like accessories than they do pet gear! If you're so inclined, you can even match your furry friend's collar and sweater to his high-dollar home away from home.

The Internet's a great place to start for any kind of pet supplies, from beds and toys to dog travel carriers. Some sites offer just the basics, while others opt for the trendy route. My biggest challenge was just sticking to what I needed to drive or fly safely with my pet without spending a fortune. For those short car rides, you can get away with a pet harness -- sort of a doggy seat belt -- without any problems, and they're very reasonably priced. Airline-approved dog travel carriers are significantly more expensive, with prices starting around $100. But we found one that was the right size, and I'm glad to know my canine companion will be as comfortable on the plane as we will be!