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Deciding the method of containing your pet is never easy. The choices on the market are varied and many. The choice you make will make the difference between a happy, versus an unhappy pet.
Whatever your reason for purchasing a pet containment device there are several things you should take into consideration.
If choosing a crate or carrier for a traveling pet first look at the size of your pet. Your pet must have room to move about yet not so much they are being jostled about. A good rule of thumb is that your pet must be able to turn around in the crate or carrier. Another important feature is to look at ventilation. If there is not at least three sides open for air to circulate, then this would be a bad choice in a containment device.
If your mode of travel happens to be an automobile there are several options for you to choose from. First you must determine the space that is available in your vehicle. If you have a larger cargo area available the best bet for containing your pet is a crate. Crates come in many sizes and shapes . The proper crate for vehicle travel would be the hard plastic or metal style crate. These crates offer more ventilation and afford the animal the best view.
When choosing the crate make sure that it fits securly into the cargo area of your vehicle and also allows plenty of space on three sides for ventilation. Offer a blanket, pillow, or familiar toy to the crated animal for a feeling of security as you travel. Most of these type crates come with a water dish secured to the side, so make sure your pet has water for the road. Keeping an animal crated while traveling by car will lessen the chance for car sickness.
If you have a smaller animal you may want to choose a soft sided animal carrier. These resemble a long tote bag and are often lined with fleece or sherpa. These carriers are safe and efficient and have great ventilation. Many small dogs and even cats have a tough time traveling due to motion sickness. These soft sided carriers are a wonderful way for an agitated traveling pet to feel more secure. They offer warmth and allow plenty of air and light and also provide a sense of coziness and well being.
There are several containment systems to use at home.
The gate serves the purpose of keeping the pet contained to a certain room. It also serves to keep a pet out of a particular room such as a kitchen or bathroom. Gates are not reliable when you have a larger dog who can jump the gate. These gates should be used for puppies and smaller dogs.
Another way to keep you pet confined at home without much expense is a house crate. A house crate is much like a travel crate although it resembles a dog house. These crates have adequate ventilation although not as good as a travel crate. House crates are generally made of hard plastic and are more rounded on the corners.
By adding toys, familiar blankets to the crate makes it homier for the animal and soon your pet will spend much time in his or her crate by their own choice.
A good thing to keep in mind is that when traveling your pet carrier must function with your mode of travel. Airlines require that your pet carrier for smaller animals meet certain requirements. First the carriers must be able to fit under your seat. These carriers also must adapt to the size of the airplane you will be traveling on. A smaller jet or propeller plane will have less space under the seat so of course our carrier will need to be smaller than one you would take on a larger jet. You should always consult the airlines for regulations before traveling with your pet.
Before making a decision concerning a carrier or containment system ask yourself several questions.
"What would be safest for my pet"
"Will the weight of the carrier be hard for me to move or carry"
" Is my pet able to move about freely inside and have plenty of ventilation"
Once you have made a decision about these questions you will then be able to purchase the carrier or crate containment system best suited for your pet.
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