Dog Lovers United

Pet Carriers

Have you ever wanted to take your little friend along for a bike ride or a trip to the store? It can be dangerous to let a pet run alongside a bike or ride unrestrained in a car. Below is an article with tips on how to protect your dog as you travel.

Pet Carriers and Bicycle Baskets – The Perfect Way to Travel With Your Dog
 by: Lynn Holman

Pedaling About Town With Your Pet

If your dog enjoys taking walks with you, then why not try taking your dog for a ride? A bicycle ride that is!

The safest method of bicycling around your neighborhood with your dog is by choosing a pet bicycle basket for your friend to sit in. A pet bicycle basket is designed to easily attach to the front or back of the bicycle. There’s a wide range of baskets and other pet products you can attach to your bicycle including:

· Wicker or Sporty Pet Baskets – these baskets attach to the front of the bicycle’s handle bars

· Rear Bicycle Seat – a basket that your pet is safely enclosed in on the back of the bicycle

· Pet Bicycle Trailer – an enclosed, lightweight trailer that hitches to the fenders of your bicycle, making it easy for you to tow your pet in it’s safe, airy enclosure 

Safe Car and Air Travel for Your Pet

If you decide to hit the road, or take to the friendly skies with your pet (be it a dog, cat or other small pet) you need to ensure the safety and comfort of your pet during its travels.

If you’re driving with your pet, you can choose a pet car seat that straps your pet in and keeps them from running around the car. Not only is that more enjoyable for you while driving, but it’s safer for your pet. The seat is high enough so your pet can see out the windows and enjoy the scenery.

The first thing you need to know is what size carrier you need for your pet so it has room to move around but also lay down to sleep while on the road or in the air. Pet carriers come in both soft-sided carriers, carriers on wheels that can convert to car seats, and hard-sided carriers good for shipping your pet (and good for larger dogs). Before you pick out a carrier for your pet, to make sure it’s the right size you need to know: 

Length – Measure from the nape of the pet’s neck (where the collar falls) to the base of the tail

· Height – Measure from the floor to the shoulder when the pet is standing up

· Weight – Not to exceed the weight limit for that crate or carrier

Before you decide to fly with your pet you need to:

· Check with the airline to see if they allow pets in the cabin. If they don’t see if they allow pets in the cargo hold (and your pet will have to be checked in)

· Find out the dimensions of the allowable carrier – if your pet is flying in the cabin, the carrier has to be soft –sided and small enough to fit under the seat in front of you but allowing your pet enough room to be comfortable. If your pet has to fly in the cargo hold, you need to check on the pricing for the size hard-sided carrier you use.

· Find out the weight limit for the pet allowed in the cabin. Some airlines restrict the size of pet allowed to fly with you in the cabin.

· Buy your ticket early because airlines only allow a certain number of pets per flight.

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