Get Carried Away: Fun and functional bags help keep your little dog close
“When you pull the soft-sided crate out of the closet she will go sit right on top of it,” says Todd Catlin, of his five-year old red, short-haired miniature Dachshund, Charlotte. Catlin, who with a partner runs an interior design firm in Washington, CT, bought the soft-sided carrier when they were all headed to Tennessee by plane because it was accepted by the airline industry.
Small dogs often live life on the go since, unlike big dogs, they are small enough to tote around. Today, there are many ways to bring your dog along besides at the end of a leash. Small dog carriers offer convenience, comfort - for both you and your dog - and protection while you are on the move. Most are designed to be lightweight so they are easy to carry, with or without the dog, no matter what you are doing: traveling, hiking, strolling, or shopping.
Although all are designed for small dogs, there are a variety of sizes of small dog carriers available, and it is important to find the one that best fits your dog. Weighing and measuring your dog will help assure a good fit. How to measure can vary. Check with the manufacturer's guidelines. Along with providing the measurements of the carrier, they often suggest a weight range for each of size of their products. Most small dog carriers are available for dogs up to 20- 25 lbs. Along with proper fit your dog needs to be comfortable. Ideally he should be able to turn around when inside his bag. It is potentially dangerous to squeeze a dog into a bag that is too small.
Your dog not only needs to be comfortable in the bag, but also with the bag. “Once we got one of those bags with a hole in the side that Charlotte's head could stick out of. You know the ones that cost a fortune? She hated it,” says Catlin.
If your dog is uncertain about being confined in his new space, start out slowly. Keep the bag open and place a treat or one of his favorite toys inside. Gradually work up until you can place your dog in the bag for a small duration of time. Then work your way up to longer stints. And no matter how comfortable your dog gets in his bag, never leave him unattended in any bag - even if he is zipped in.
So which small dog carrier should you buy? You have many choices, but they generally fit into four different categories: a front pack, a backpack, an over-the-shoulder carrier, and a bag with wheels.
Know your need. Do you want a carrier bag to fly with that fits underneath an airplane seat? Or do you want a chic tote to walk around town with?
Different styles are designed for different activities and some bags answer more than one need. For example, there are backpacks with wheels, and over-the shoulder totes that double as backpacks. Whatever you buy, make that the carrier is made from high quality materials - solid brass or nickel buckles and clips, padded straps, water-resistant fabric, for example - and consider how and where you will be most often using it. Also, make sure that your dog is safely placed in the carrier bag using a collar or harness in case he tries to jump out.
Frontpack
A frontpack, also called a pouch, is a sack-like bag that you wear on your chest. The pouch has two straps that go over your shoulders and cross in an “X” on your back, keeping the pack in place and offering back support. The pouch has an a elastic drawstring cord which can be tightened to restrain the dog's movement while still letting him see out of the pouch. Unlike some other carriers that are behind you, at your side, or on the ground, a front pack allows you to keep a close watch on your pet. It also offers your dog a great view, too. However, it tends to get in the way when you need to do something in front of you, especially with your hands.Backpack
A canine backpack allows you can carry your pup on your back. Often hard-framed and sometimes collapsible, the backpack must have a system to secure your dog to or inside the pack since you won't be able to see him. Some backpacks sit high on your back - giving your dog a good view over your shoulder -- while allowing your shoulders to carry most of the dog's weight. Others are simply dog carriers with straps that let you to wear it as a backpack. Used by hikers and long-distance walkers, backpacks help distribute your dog's weight evenly across your back. However, since the backpack is behind you usually can't see your dog unless you take the pack off.
Over the Shoulder Bags: Tote, Carrier, and Sling
By far the largest category, the over-the-shoulder bag can be referred to as a tote, carrier, or sling. A tote usually refers to something similar to a woman's handbag or tote bag. It looks like a handbag, but is designed to carry a pet, which could mean it has a half moon cut out at the top of the bag so that the dog can stick his neck out, or an extra zipper so the dog can climb in two different ways. Tote bags come in a variety of materials - straw, leather, vinyl, wool, and more - and all prices, too - some retail for more than $300.00.
A carrier is a soft-sided crate. Often it has a mesh side or sides, a hard bottom, and has a zipper or two allowing the dog access from the end and the top of the bag. Usually a carrier has a rectangular shape or is similarly shaped to a small-sized, hard-sided crate. Popular for airplane travel they hold their shape, however its sides are malleable. These popular bags are found frequently on buses, planes, and trains since they are officially accepted by many transportation companies in the travel industry.
Like a tote and a carrier, the one-strap sling goes over your shoulder, but instead of the dog's weight falling on the shoulder that holds the strap, the strap falls across your body and the weight of the dog sits on the hip opposite the shoulder strap. Similar to the front pack, the sling has a pouch with an elastic drawstring to keep your dog from jumping out, but still giving him a good view. Although comfortable, some may find it an unwieldy carrier.
Bag on Wheels
Modeled after carry-on bags with wheels, these carrier bags are similar in style to some of the other models mentioned above, but come with wheels. Although they appear to be the least weighty option since you don't carry it, the wheels - and the system that attach the wheels to the bag -- usually add weight, making them great to roll, but heavy to carry. Also, your dog may take some time to getting used to being rolled. He will get bumped and jostled much more than if he was in a bag being carried.
Though bought to travel with on an airplane, even when Charlotte doesn't take to the skies her soft-sided crate comes in handy. “Charlotte loves to hang out in her carrier bag at home,” says Catlin. “I think it gives her a sense of security.”
A version of this piece originally published in Dog Fancy, July 2004
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