Best Dog Hard-Sided Carriers in 2022

Last update: November 18, 2022

Are soft or hard dog carriers better?

There isn't necessarily one answer to this question as it depends on what you and your dog prefer. Some dogs may feel more comfortable in a soft carrier because it's more cozy and familiar feeling. Others may prefer a hard carrier because it feels sturdier and more secure. Ultimately, it's important to choose a carrier that your dog feels comfortable in so that they can relax and enjoy the ride.

Can emotional support dogs sit on passenger's lap?

Yes, emotional support dogs are allowed to sit on their owner's lap during a flight. The dog must be well-behaved and cannot disturb other passengers.

Do airlines actually measure pet carriers?

There's no definitive answer, but it's generally accepted that airlines do measure pet carriers. The most common method is to use a ruler or tape measure to get the length, width, and height of the carrier, then add those numbers together. Some airlines may also weigh the carrier, but this isn't as common.

Do airlines check if dog can stand in carrier?

No, airlines do not check if dogs can stand in their carriers. The only time they may check is if the dog is excessively barking or if the carrier is blocking the aisle.


Petmate Two Door Top Load Dog Kennel - Assorted Colors Review:


My partner and I adopted a six-month-old kitten around a year ago, and of course we wanted to transport her, so we purchased a smaller Petmate carrier. We became aware that it was becoming too tiny for her as she grew. She could lay down perfectly well in it when we carried her to Florida, but there was no room at all for her to stand. We knew we wanted to acquire something bigger when we adopted our second kitten in September of last year so we could fit both cats in it if necessary.We planned to take the cats to Minnesota for Christmas at the end of November, so I went on Amazon and started searching at carriers. Because it was a larger version of our previous one, we were torn between choosing it and the Aspen Pet Taxi Fashion Kennel, also manufactured by Petmate. Both of the carriers that we examined were NOT tiny, but rather larger. This carrier's dimensions were 24". Even though the Aspen Pet Taxi had two compartments on top for holding goodies, which was a fantastic feature, we ultimately chose this carrier since it has two doors. I have to admit that this was definitely the right decision. The top door lets in more light and creates the impression that the carrier is more spacious than it actually is. Additionally, the two door option gives us two different approaches for bringing the kitties inside, and we've discovered that using the top door makes life much simpler (there's less fumbling around!). The major benefit is that both of our cats fit comfortably and have enough of room to walk around in it, in addition to being able to sit up in this carrier. The cats spent the majority of the ride to Minnesota in the carrier, but I believe that was because they felt more secure there than in the open car because at home, we would leave the container open and let the cats roam around as they pleased.It would be good for each cat to have her own carrier, but I am waiting for the price to drop closer to $30 before purchasing another one. I paid only $28 for this carrier, which in my opinion was an excellent value. The cat can walk around freely since it is so big, but carrying it is quite unstable because the cat shifts her weight back and forth from the front to the back. The fact that this is such a little issue does not change how I feel about this carrier. In terms of price, Amazon is about the same everywhere I checked, possibly a bit less expensive than other stores (PetSmart, PetCo, Walmart, etc.). Overall, I would STRONGLY advise purchasing this carrier, not just for cats but also for small dogs. It is still a terrific price even at $36.UPDATE: After receiving some feedback about packing two cats in a single carrier, I thought I'd add some clarification to my assessment. The older cat was a year and a half old, while the younger cat was a six-month-old kitten. When getting in and out of the car and when we were in busy locations, we simply had the carrier doors closed. The cats had access to a litter box and were free to roam the rest of the vehicle, but they preferred to sleep in the carrier together most of the time. We purchased a second one of these carriers once our kitten had grown to adult size, and we now use both while traveling or bringing the cats to the vet. When traveling short distances, such to the vet's office, we could probably get away with using just one carrier for both cats, but the carrier may get extremely heavy and difficult to carry when two cats are inside.



Petmate Two Door Top Load Dog Kennel - Assorted Colors Review:


My partner and I adopted a six-month-old kitten around a year ago, and of course we wanted to transport her, so we purchased a smaller Petmate carrier. We became aware that it was becoming too tiny for her as she grew. She could lay down perfectly well in it when we carried her to Florida, but there was no room at all for her to stand. We knew we wanted to acquire something bigger when we adopted our second kitten in September of last year so we could fit both cats in it if necessary.We planned to take the cats to Minnesota for Christmas at the end of November, so I went on Amazon and started searching at carriers. Because it was a larger version of our previous one, we were torn between choosing it and the Aspen Pet Taxi Fashion Kennel, also manufactured by Petmate. Both of the carriers that we examined were NOT tiny, but rather larger. This carrier's dimensions were 24". Even though the Aspen Pet Taxi had two compartments on top for holding goodies, which was a fantastic feature, we ultimately chose this carrier since it has two doors. I have to admit that this was definitely the right decision. The top door lets in more light and creates the impression that the carrier is more spacious than it actually is. Additionally, the two door option gives us two different approaches for bringing the kitties inside, and we've discovered that using the top door makes life much simpler (there's less fumbling around!). The major benefit is that both of our cats fit comfortably and have enough of room to walk around in it, in addition to being able to sit up in this carrier. The cats spent the majority of the ride to Minnesota in the carrier, but I believe that was because they felt more secure there than in the open car because at home, we would leave the container open and let the cats roam around as they pleased.It would be good for each cat to have her own carrier, but I am waiting for the price to drop closer to $30 before purchasing another one. I paid only $28 for this carrier, which in my opinion was an excellent value. The cat can walk around freely since it is so big, but carrying it is quite unstable because the cat shifts her weight back and forth from the front to the back. The fact that this is such a little issue does not change how I feel about this carrier. In terms of price, Amazon is about the same everywhere I checked, possibly a bit less expensive than other stores (PetSmart, PetCo, Walmart, etc.). Overall, I would STRONGLY advise purchasing this carrier, not just for cats but also for small dogs. It is still a terrific price even at $36.UPDATE: After receiving some feedback about packing two cats in a single carrier, I thought I'd add some clarification to my assessment. The older cat was a year and a half old, while the younger cat was a six-month-old kitten. When getting in and out of the car and when we were in busy locations, we simply had the carrier doors closed. The cats had access to a litter box and were free to roam the rest of the vehicle, but they preferred to sleep in the carrier together most of the time. We purchased a second one of these carriers once our kitten had grown to adult size, and we now use both while traveling or bringing the cats to the vet. When traveling short distances, such to the vet's office, we could probably get away with using just one carrier for both cats, but the carrier may get extremely heavy and difficult to carry when two cats are inside.



AmazonBasics Two-Door Top-Load Pet Kennel Review:


This is in place of an older soft-sided carrier that my cat is almost too big for. For the possibility of taking her on longer road trips, I wanted something more durable with room for her inside. This carrier comes with alternative nuts and bolts for those who prefer a more permanent construction and is simple to put together. However, they are not actually necessary because the four side clips, which each appear to have a nice, strong grip and click firmly into place once in position, suffice. In case storage becomes necessary, the crate may still be readily disassembled and transported. I additionally purchased the AmazonBasics Padded Pet Bolster Bed - 22 x 15 inches to make this carrier more cozy for my cat. Given that it appears to be slightly larger than stated, the bed just barely fits into the crate. Although it takes some force to push it into the bottom of the carrier, my cat seems to like it just well, so there are no concerns there.The door can be installed by simply inserting a peg into a hole and stretching the opening to accommodate the opposite peg. I don't understand why some of these reviews claim it was difficult to put the door on because I was able to put together the entire carrier, including the door, in under ten seconds (without using the extra hardware). The top door also operates without a hitch. There is enough room to reach in and flip the release tabs up. The struts that lock it into place are each tensioned with a powerful spring. One reviewer here described having to use a knife or another instrument to flip up the tabs, but I am a grown man, and I have no trouble doing it with my fingers. That person must have extremely thick fingers. When securely fastened shut, the door also appears to be sufficiently secure. In the video I've included, you can see how both doors operate.Overall, I'm happy with my purchase and relieved that I saved money by not spending twice as much at my neighborhood PetSmart on a subpar item. I only hope that my cat won't completely shun her nice new "hideout" after her first trip to the vet in it. My cat has determined that she truly enjoys taking naps there.



AmazonBasics Two-Door Top-Load Pet Kennel Review:


This is in place of an older soft-sided carrier that my cat is almost too big for. For the possibility of taking her on longer road trips, I wanted something more durable with room for her inside. This carrier comes with alternative nuts and bolts for those who prefer a more permanent construction and is simple to put together. However, they are not actually necessary because the four side clips, which each appear to have a nice, strong grip and click firmly into place once in position, suffice. In case storage becomes necessary, the crate may still be readily disassembled and transported. I additionally purchased the AmazonBasics Padded Pet Bolster Bed - 22 x 15 inches to make this carrier more cozy for my cat. Given that it appears to be slightly larger than stated, the bed just barely fits into the crate. Although it takes some force to push it into the bottom of the carrier, my cat seems to like it just well, so there are no concerns there.The door can be installed by simply inserting a peg into a hole and stretching the opening to accommodate the opposite peg. I don't understand why some of these reviews claim it was difficult to put the door on because I was able to put together the entire carrier, including the door, in under ten seconds (without using the extra hardware). The top door also operates without a hitch. There is enough room to reach in and flip the release tabs up. The struts that lock it into place are each tensioned with a powerful spring. One reviewer here described having to use a knife or another instrument to flip up the tabs, but I am a grown man, and I have no trouble doing it with my fingers. That person must have extremely thick fingers. When securely fastened shut, the door also appears to be sufficiently secure. In the video I've included, you can see how both doors operate.Overall, I'm happy with my purchase and relieved that I saved money by not spending twice as much at my neighborhood PetSmart on a subpar item. I only hope that my cat's first trip to the vet in it doesn't scare her completely away from it since she has decided she really enjoys snoozing in her nice new "hideout." :P



MidWest Homes for Pets Spree Travel Carrier Review:


This is more than suitable for my cat's excursions to the vet, for which I got it. I overheard someone grousing about the door. You don't have to remove the entire grate; just unlock the lock on the side you wish to open the door on (one from the top, one from the bottom), and the door swings open. I called customer service because I believed I was missing two components for the two holes in the back of the carrier, and she informed me that those holes were already predrilled by the manufacturer because some airlines demand the use of real metal bolts when transporting. So it appears that I don't have any missing pieces. Although a sticker partially obscured the directions, there were no issues throughout the carrier's assembly. I only rated it 4 stars because I had to take the effort to phone customer service, who was really quite friendly, and check to make sure I hadn't accidentally thrown away 2 parts for the holes in the rear of the carrier (which don't exist). I believe that it would be more efficient for everyone if they created a label to clarify the holes and the lack of screws for those holes on the instructions or the carrier itself. The item's description includes their phone number. This carrier is a terrific buy for the money, unless you plan to drop kick it all the way to your destination—hopefully without any animals inside.



MidWest Homes for Pets Spree Travel Carrier Review:


This is more than suitable for my cat's excursions to the vet, for which I got it. I overheard someone grousing about the door. You don't have to remove the entire grate; just unlock the lock on the side you wish to open the door on (one from the top, one from the bottom), and the door swings open. I called customer service because I believed I was missing two components for the two holes in the back of the carrier, and she informed me that those holes were already predrilled by the manufacturer because some airlines demand the use of real metal bolts when transporting. So it appears that I don't have any missing pieces. Although a sticker partially obscured the directions, there were no issues throughout the carrier's assembly. I only rated it 4 stars because I had to take the effort to phone customer service, who was really quite friendly, and check to make sure I hadn't accidentally thrown away 2 parts for the holes in the rear of the carrier (which don't exist). I believe that it would be more efficient for everyone if they created a label to clarify the holes and the lack of screws for those holes on the instructions or the carrier itself. The item's description includes their phone number. This carrier is a terrific buy for the money, unless you plan to drop kick it all the way to your destination—hopefully without any animals inside.



MidWest Homes for Pets Spree Travel Carrier Review:


This is more than suitable for my cat's excursions to the vet, for which I got it. I overheard someone grousing about the door. You don't have to remove the entire grate; just unlock the lock on the side you wish to open the door on (one from the top, one from the bottom), and the door swings open. I called customer service because I believed I was missing two components for the two holes in the back of the carrier, and she informed me that those holes were already predrilled by the manufacturer because some airlines demand the use of real metal bolts when transporting. So it appears that I don't have any missing pieces. Although a sticker partially obscured the directions, there were no issues throughout the carrier's assembly. I only rated it 4 stars because I had to take the effort to phone customer service, who was really quite friendly, and check to make sure I hadn't accidentally thrown away 2 parts for the holes in the rear of the carrier (which don't exist). I believe that it would be more efficient for everyone if they created a label to clarify the holes and the lack of screws for those holes on the instructions or the carrier itself. The item's description includes their phone number. This carrier is a terrific buy for the money, unless you plan to drop kick it all the way to your destination—hopefully without any animals inside.



MidWest Homes for Pets Spree Travel Carrier Review:


This is more than adequate for my cat's trips to the vet, for which I ordered it. I overheard someone grousing about the door. You don't have to remove the entire grate; just unlock the lock on the side you want to open the door on (one from the top, one from the bottom), and the door swings open. I called customer service because I thought I was missing two pieces for the two holes in the back of the carrier, and she informed me that those holes were already predrilled by the manufacturer because some airlines demand the use of real metal bolts when transporting. So it appears that I don't have any missing pieces. Although a sticker partially obscured the instructions, there were no issues during the carrier's assembly. I only gave it 4 stars because I had to take the time to call customer service, who was actually very pleasant, and check to make sure I hadn't accidentally thrown away 2 pieces for the holes in the back of the carrier (which don't exist). I believe that it would be more efficient for everyone if they created a sticker to explain the holes and the lack of screws for said holes on the instructions or the carrier itself. The item's description includes their phone number. This carrier is a good buy for the money, unless you plan to drop kick it all the way to your destination—hopefully without any animals inside.



MidWest Homes for Pets Spree Travel Carrier Review:


This is more than suitable for my cat's excursions to the vet, for which I got it. I overheard someone grousing about the door. You don't have to remove the entire grate; just unlock the lock on the side you wish to open the door on (one from the top, one from the bottom), and the door swings open. I called customer service because I believed I was missing two components for the two holes in the back of the carrier, and she informed me that those holes were already predrilled by the manufacturer because some airlines demand the use of real metal bolts when transporting. So it appears that I don't have any missing pieces. Although a sticker partially obscured the directions, there were no issues throughout the carrier's assembly. I only rated it 4 stars because I had to take the effort to phone customer service, who was really quite friendly, and check to make sure I hadn't accidentally thrown away 2 parts for the holes in the rear of the carrier (which don't exist). I believe that it would be more efficient for everyone if they created a label to clarify the holes and the lack of screws for those holes on the instructions or the carrier itself. The item's description includes their phone number. This carrier is a terrific buy for the money, unless you plan to drop kick it all the way to your destination—hopefully without any animals inside.



Petmate Sky Kennel Review:


The only kennel I could find that came close to meeting airline criteria was this one. It has received USDA and IATA approval. This assessment is solely of the features and specifications of the international kennel because we were on a military move from the United States.Features of the kennel: The only criteria that this kennel does not meet is that it have 11 plastic bolt holes. Plastic nuts were included with it. All flights now require metal nuts and bolts. In addition to the 11 bolt holes, this carrier contains 4 tie down holes. My airline made it clear that there must be a bolt in every hole. Therefore, the carrier required 15 metal nuts and screws. Some airlines permit you to leave the four tie down holes unfilled, but make sure and order the bolts in advance to ensure you have the appropriate number. Due to shipping deadlines, we neglected to do this and were forced to purchase 3 kits. There was no Prime option for metal bolts on Amazon. But you require these. Metal Fasteners Nuts Bolts (1-1/4" Medium Bolts, 16 Pack) for Pet Carrier A 16 pack will ensure that it is better to be safe than sorry.Has Zip tie holes already drilled Finding kennels with this completed is difficult. Zip tying the kennel doors shut is required. Best are quick releases. Giving A Hand Various Rapid Release 8-inch nylon cable ties Make sure to demand that you zip tie your dogs by hand! I had to retake it after watching the security guard do it incorrectly. I'm so delighted the rapid release worked. A buddy also experienced the same event, but they failed to see that the attendant had just threaded it through the hole and not the door. Their dog tore off the door, escaping into the plane's belly. This leads me to the next feature.Has a metal door that is made in one piece. Make sure to abide with this rule. Plastic is not allowed! To make packing simpler, the middle of some larger kennel doors is folded. The sort of door required by some airlines is not specified, and some carriers restrict the fold. The door will collapse as a result of the dog's ability to pull it in, allowing escape. The door to the kennel is a sturdy one piece.complies with the criteria of "a spacer rim projecting at least 3/4 on all sides with ventilation apertures" by having protruding bar or side handles.This keeps dogs from being able to bite or come in contact with movers' hands and allows the airline to carry and move the kennel without utilizing the handle (which has been known to break on some kennels). According to this kennel, the rim is fashioned to serve as side handles.air holes must be "on all four sides at least halfway on each side" and have four sides. The metal grates at this kennel are even better! My friend's dog once nibbled the area between the plastic holes while they were in the air. Although some kennels appear to have air openings in the back in the picture, upon purchase, it was discovered that the smaller versions lacked these air holes. especially for carriers for cats. Note: Although domestic flights only need two vent sides, airflow will be constrained because they stack and pack kennels like luggage. Consider using all-around ventilation.These food dishes were truly deep enough to be used. Dishes cannot be fastened to the walls or inside of kennels. despite it is prohibited by law.


Do dogs forget about their previous owners?

Do dogs forget about their previous owners? It's a question that many dog owners have pondered: do our furry friends forget about us after they've been adopted by someone else? While we may never know the answer for sure, there are a few things that we do know about how dogs remember their previous owners. For starters, it's important to understand that dogs remember things differently than humans do. While we humans rely primarily on visual cues to remember people and things, dogs primarily use scent to recall memories. This is why your dog is always so excited to see you

Do dogs like being carried?

Do dogs like being carried? This is a difficult question to answer definitively because every dog is different. Some dogs may love the attention and physical closeness of being carried, while others may prefer to walk on their own. Ultimately, it depends on the individual dog's personality and preferences. If you're not sure whether your dog likes being carried, you can always ask your veterinarian or animal behaviorist for guidance.

Do dogs prefer wire or plastic crates?

There is no definitive answer to this question as every dog is different and will have different preferences. Some dogs may prefer wire crates because they offer more visibility and air circulation, while others may prefer plastic crates because they offer more privacy and security. Ultimately, it is up to the individual dog to decide which type of crate they prefer.

How big of a pet carrier do I need?

There is no definitive answer to this question as it depends on a number of factors, such as the size and breed of your pet, how many pets you have, and your personal preferences. However, as a general rule of thumb, you should choose a carrier that is large enough for your pet to stand up and turn around in comfortably. If you are unsure, it is always best to err on the side of caution and go for a larger size.

How can I make my dog carrier more comfortable?

If you're looking to make your dog carrier more comfortable, there are a few things you can do. First, make sure the carrier is the right size for your dog. It should be big enough for them to stand up and turn around in, but not too big that they can move around too much. Second, add a soft bed or blanket to the bottom of the carrier. This will give them a comfortable place to rest their head. Finally, consider adding a toy or chew to the carrier to keep your dog occupied.

How do I carry my dog around?

Assuming you would like tips on how to carry your dog around: -If your dog is small enough, you can carry them in your arms like a baby. -For medium sized dogs, you can hold them around the chest and under the front legs like a baby, or carry them like a sack with one arm under their hind legs and the other around their back. -For large dogs, it is best to get a doggie backpack or similar product designed to help you carry your dog. You can also try holding them around the chest like a baby,