Best dog carriers and crates

Most dog parents own a crate or a carrier (depending on the model, you may only need one). Even if you choose not to crate train, a carrier is essential, especially if you’re planning a road trip with your pet. We've compiled a list of our favourite dog crates and carriers, so you can do right by your puppy.

At their most basic level, dog crates provide confinement for your dog’s safety, training, or travel. 

 Your dog’s crate should be their sanctuary – a safe place they can retreat to when they don’t want to deal with other dogs, children, or people. It should contain any comfort toys or blankets, their food bowl, and should give them enough room to comfortably stand up and move around.

The crate you need for your pet will vary based on what you’ll be using it for. Carriers used for travelling purposes will usually be soft-sided or plastic, while crates used for training are normally made of durable wire. 

Crate training is a hotly debated topic. Some owners swear by it, while others say their pooch turned out just fine without it. 

For rescue dogs especially, crates provide a safe space for them to adjust to their new surroundings at their own pace. If you have other dogs in the house and they’re used to sharing things like toys and bedding, having a space that they don’t have to fight for is a must. 

Crate training can protect your dog from potentially dangerous items in the house, and can help your pup develop healthy house training behaviours. It can also make travel to unfamiliar locations easier, as your pet doesn't have to adapt to strange new surroundings – all they need to do is hop in their crate with their bed and favourite blanket or toy. 

Whenever we go away and take the dogs, we just fold up their cages and store them in the boot while they sit in the back of the car. You don't need any tools to put the crate together either, so re-assembly is easy once you’ve taken it apart. 

The crate comes in three sizes – small, medium, and large. When looking at each size, I was shocked at how much the price difference jumped between sizes. The medium crate, which is not vastly bigger than the small, was $150 more. The small dog privilege is real. While this is great news if you have a small dog, you’ll end up paying the price if you have a Labrador or a Boxer, for example. 

Crate training isn't easy, but the Lexi and Me Dog Crate helps. It's not cheap, but it's built well, and it’s easy to assemble and clean. 

This crate has two doors and top access so your pet can come and go as they please, or they can choose to stay in the crate and watch you from the breathable mesh panels. Compared to their metal and plastic competitors, the Akinerri unfortunately isn’t as durable.  

In comparison to the other sizes we looked out, the largest size in the Akinerri Collapsible Dog Crate is quite small. It would be best suited to old or small dogs that need a quiet, dark den to retreat to, but can still be used in place of a wire crate for crate training. Dogs, like humans, have circadian rhythms that are influenced by light, meaning they find it safer and easier to fall asleep when their crate is dark. This is why crate covers are so popular. Once the Akinerri is zipped up and the flaps are pulled down, it's almost pitch black, perfect for your dog’s afternoon nap. 

The Akinerri Collapsible Dog Crate is the perfect grab-and-go crate – if you’re heading into the office, to the vet for an emergency, or you’re going away for a few days, the Akinerri is a comfortable, convenient choice.

For extra security, the carrier has a strong, weighty buckle in the crate itself, so you can take them anywhere you please without fear they’ll escape. This also makes it easier to just put the crate in the car and go where you need to without fiddling with a car seat or attachment.

We love the Ondoing Foldable Dog Crate because it’s the perfect travel crate for all dogs – small or large. It's sturdy, the materials are high quality, and it's budget-friendly since you don't need to buy a crate cover.

The Lexi & Me Dog Crate is a reliable choice for dogs great and small. It can be folded up for trips away and is perfect for dogs learning to crate train. It's easy to clean, durable, and has two doors with sliding bolts for maximum security. It's the perfect all-rounder crate. Even though it's on the expensive side (especially for larger dogs), we think it's well worth the price.