When it comes to travelling with your puppy or dog, choosing the right carrier is one of the most important steps in ensuring your pet's safety during the trip. A good quality puppy dog carrier will not only contain your pet during transit but will also give him a safe, reassuring place to stay when confinement is required at your destination. Crane training your pet before the trip will help him sees the crate as a cozy den and not a place of exclusion.

Depending on the airline, small pets may be allowed to travel in the passenger cabin as carry-on luggage. Although there are no laws dictating the type of carrier to use, one rule of thumb is - it must be small enough to fit under a standard aeroplane seat and should generally not exceed 54x x 39 x 22 centimetres. For some airlines, the carrier size limits may be even smaller. If your pet will be flying in the cargo hold, then the crate must meet the Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service specifications.

There is a number of puppy dog carrier models available on the market and the type you choose will depend on what you plan on using it for and your pet's size, behaviour and needs.

With your dog standing on all fours, measure him from tip of the nose to base of the tail (not the full tail length). Add 5 to 10 centimetres to this measurement and you'll have the right length of the crate for your dog. When it comes to height, measure your dog in a sit position - measure from the floor to the top of his head. Again, add 5 to 10 centimetres to this measurement for the minimum height necessary for your dog's crate. You won't have to measure for the width, as it is based on the length and height measurements of the dog crate. However, you will have to make sure that your dog is within the manufacturer's recommended weight limit for the crate you choose.

If your dog needs a bit more privacy while in their crate, then this crate may be a great option. Commonly called "airline crates" these crates can also be a good option if you are planning on travelling with a large dog on a plane. Benefits of plastic dog travel crates include, lightweight, portable, hard to escape, easy to clean, low airflow (which can help insulate from cold air), the top can be removed to convert into dog bed. The downsides are not being very attractive, the low airflow can cause the dog to overheat in hot weather, doesn't fold flat for storage, over time the plastic absorbs smells. Also, due to the low visibility, some dogs feel more stressed by being unable to see their surrounds.

This is a super portable crate, perfect for easy travel and temporary crating. If you need to bring your dog to work, this crate can be a wonderful under-the-desk option to provide your dog with a safe place to hang out and chill. Benefits of these crates include being inexpensive, lightweight, fast setup and easy to carry and travel with. However, these crates are not very durable, are easy to escape from (especially for dogs who like to chew on or paw at they crate) and are hard to clean.

A metal crate is a better option for home use. You can place it in any room of the home you want. A metal dog crate comes with dividers that allow you to modify it in a variety of ways and DIY furniture build around them allow you to camouflage it into the surrounding home decor. The benefits of metal dog crates include high airflow, open visibility for dogs who feel more comfortable being able to see surroundings, optional crate covers that provide privacy for dogs who need it to relax, divider panels that accommodate growing puppies, folds flat for easy storage. The disadvantages include being heavy, the material can rust over time, can be easy for a dog to escape, the open visibility can be inconvenient for dogs who need privacy without crate cover, dogs can chew on the crate which can damage his teeth.

Heavy duty crates are made for dogs who are big chewers and tend to escape from their crates. They often come with riveted metal and double locks. These crates are the best option for crash protection when planning to transport the dog crate in the bed of a pickup or in the back of a van or SUV. Keep in mind that these crates tend to be too large and heavy for smaller and mid-size cars. In those instances, consider using crash-tested dog seat belt harness. The benefits of these crates include bend-proof, chew-proof, extremely difficult to escape, best for crash protection in car travel. The downsides including being heavy, expensive, not as attractive and harder to move around.

Regardless of which dog crate you choose, you will want to cover the bottom of the crane with a puppy pads so that any liquid doesn't spill from the crate, particularly if your pet gets stressed. Make sure you take your dog to the toilet as late as possible before your flight, and as soon as you can when you land.