The 5 Best Dog Kennels To Use For Training And Traveling (2021)

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Taking your dog on a journey can be stressful for both you and your furry friend. Whether you’re going to the vets, groomers, or moving to a new house, you will most likely need a dog kennel (or carrier) to transport your dog safely. This is particularly true with small breeds. Being loose in a car, even with a doggy seatbelt, can be dangerous.

Traveling on an airplane or driving over bumpy roads in a car could knock your dog around and potentially injure them. That’s why it’s best to use a dog kennel. Your dog will be much safer, more comfortable, and extra secure inside a dog kennel. You could even put your dog’s favorite blanket and toy inside so they can snuggle up and play during your trip.

As well as being great for traveling, dog kennels are also beneficial for housetraining your pooch. Dogs don’t typically want to make a mess where they sleep, which means they are forced to wait until they are given the opportunity to go outside to use the bathroom. By using a kennel, your dog will eventually begin to learn that outside is where they need to go to relieve themselves.

What Makes A Good Kennel?

Looking for a high-quality and durable kennel can be a bit of a pain as there are a lot of different options and varieties. The best dog kennels are sturdy, secure, waterproof/easy to clean (in case of accidents), and are spacious enough for your dog to move around in. They don’t have to be the size of a castle, but your dog should be able to sit and lay down comfortably without their head hitting the top or sides. In addition to these aspects, the best types of dog kennels should have enough ventilation to provide your four-legged friend with enough fresh air, especially when they are inside a stuffy vehicle.

The Best Rated Dog Kennels – Top 5!

To take out some of the research for you, here are five of the best dog kennels you can provide for your dog to keep them safe and comfortable.

Petmate Two Door Top Load Pet Kennel

This kennel by Petmate is available in both medium and large sizes and comes in rose, blue, white, and tan finishes. The kennel is made out of steel wire and plastic to ensure it is strong and robust.

There are two doors located on the front and the top of the kennel to make it easy to lift your dog in and out of it. There is also a durable handle you can use to carry the kennel when you need to transport your dog. This dog kennel is suitable for pets that are between 5 and 20 pounds.

The only issues with this dog kennel from Petmate are its sizes and top loading door. The medium size of the kennel is fairly small and seems to be unsuitable for dogs who are actually a medium build. The top loading door also isn’t overly secure and cannot be opened the entire way. This means that the door does not stay open by itself very easily, so you may need to hold it up when using it.

IRIS Deluxe Pet Carrier

The Deluxe Pet Carrier from IRIS comes in colors blue or red, and sizes ranging from X-small to medium. The kennel has plenty of ventilation so your dog is able to get enough air, as well as a foldable handle that you can use for carrying. The main material of the kennel is hard-wearing plastic.

This dog kennel is extremely easy to assemble. Dogs up to 11 pounds are suitable for the X-small size, whilst the standard small size holds pooches up to 25 pounds. The medium size is ideal for dogs up to 44 pounds. One of the best features of this kennel is the detachable food/water tray so your four-legged friend can say hydrated and nourished.

However, this dog kennel can be hard to disassemble once it’s put together. This could make it a little more difficult to take apart to clean. Additionally, the kennel is quite a heavyweight so it might not be ideal for you to carry for long periods of time.

Sherpa Original Deluxe Pet Carrier

This dog kennel from Sherpa is a great choice for your adventures! The carrier is available in sizes small, medium, and large, as well as three attractive colors: black, tan, and plum. Approved for use by most major airlines, you can rest easy knowing your pooch will be cozy and safe on a flight.

The kennel has a spring wire frame that makes it easy to fit under seats due to its flexibility. There are also mesh windows for good ventilation, as well as a top and side door that can be secured with a zipper. The carrying strap is non-slip, padded, and can be adjusted to make it more comfortable for you to carry.

The interior of the kennel is lined with faux lambskin for added comfort, and it is machine-washable to make cleaning simple. You can use the handy back pocket on the kennel for storage and the seatbelt strap to increase your dog’s safety.

A couple of negatives with this kennel are the zippers and the material it is made out of. The zippers can be difficult to zip up as the teeth can get caught when you’re pulling. Additionally, the zipper isn’t very secure once it is closed and can come undone quite easily. This kennel might not work for your dog if they are accident prone.

Even though the dog kennel is machine-washable, it is not leak-proof. If your dog has an accident, then it could seep through the fabric. You could always work around this by placing a puppy training pad on the bottom of the kennel to soak up any potential spillages.

K&H Pet Products Travel Safety Pet Carrier

Available in small, medium, and large sizes, this kennel from K&H Pet Products is ideal for traveling with your pet. The kennel can be attached to a car seat to make journeys safe for your dog. There are large doors to allow for easy access to your dog for well-deserved head scratches! The sides are made out of mesh to let your pooch have full visibility of their environment.

The kennel is simple to assemble and can be folded down to put away when it’s not in use. There is also a soft pad that can be easily cleaned to give your dog some extra comfort. The kennel is spacious enough for most dog breeds, as well as cats!

However, the opening on the side of the kennel is quite small, which might make it a bit difficult to access for large dogs. Additionally, due to the lightweight material this dog kennel is made out of, it can be a bit flimsy. It is also important to note that the sizes of this kennel are rather large (in other words, the large size is pretty big!).

Suncast Deluxe Tan Pet Carrier

The Deluxe Tan Pet Carrier from Suncast is targeted at small to medium dogs that are up to 11.5 inches tall. It is made of resin and wire to make it durable and strong. There is a handle that you can attach to a shoulder strap to make carrying it simple, as well as a compartment with a lid on the top for you to store small items (like treats!) in.

There is a handy tray on the front door that you can put both food and water in to keep your pooch hydrated and well-fed. You can also personalize the kennel using the letters it includes. This dog kennel is easy to assemble and disassemble for cleaning as all the pieces simply click together.

As this kennel is made out of lightweight material, it can be quite flimsy. This could make it unsuitable for heavier dogs. The latches to keep the kennel together can also be difficult to fit into the slots. Additionally, the food and water tray included cannot be locked into place so it could be easily knocked around on a journey. You could make the tray more secure by tying it to the front door with a zip-tie or piece of rope.

Final Thoughts

Whether you need to keep your pooch safe and secure during a journey or housetraining session, dog kennels are a great and important enclosure to have around. They keep your dog comfortable and protected on a car, train, or airplane so you can relax knowing your companion can sit back and enjoy the ride.

Also, housetraining your dog can be made much simpler with a kennel. No one wants a dirty bed, so by putting your dog in a kennel, they are more likely to “hold it” until you let them outside. In time, your pooch will begin to associate the outside as their toilet instead of your house!

The dog kennels listed above are some of the best and highest rated kennels currently available. They’re easy to use and clean, secure, hard-wearing, and make training and traveling with your dog simple and stress-free. You can find these dog kennels online at places like Chewy.com. As these dog kennels are all highly rated and some of the best you can find, one of them is sure to be the right match for you and your dog!

Top Picks For Our Dogs

1. BEST PUPPY TOY
   We Like: Calmeroos Puppy Toy w/ Heartbeat and Heat Packs - Perfect for new puppies. Helps ease anxiety in their new home.
2. BEST DOG CHEW
   We Like: Bones & Chews Bully Sticks - All of our puppies love to bite, nip, and chew. We love using Bully Sticks to help divert these unwanted behaviors.
3. BEST DOG TREATS
   We Like: Crazy Dog Train Me Treats - One of our favorite treats for training our service dog puppies.
4. BEST FRESH DOG FOOD
   We Like: The Farmer's Dog - A couple months ago we started feeding Raven fresh dog food and she loves it! Get 50% off your first order of The Farmer's Dog.

For a list of all the supplies we get for our new service dog puppies check out our New Puppy Checklist on the PuppyInTraining.com blog.