Choosing The Best Pet Carrier Bag
This article will help you choose the pet carrier bag best suited to your needs. Pet carrier bags are used for a number of different pets, but typically for a small dog or a cat.
The main reasons for using a pet carrier bag are:
- when taking your pet through a busy area where their safety might be at risk – for example if you live in city or busy urban area and want to get to a local park or area your pet can fun freely;
- you need to go to, or through, an area where pets are not normally allowed, even on a lead;
- you intend to go to an area where your small pet would get under other people’s feet or not be noticed easily if walking by your side – such as a busy shopping area or other crowded area;
- you cannot trust your pet to behave impeccably at all times, and you know that you will be unable to give your pet constant attention – again you might be shopping;
- your pet is elderly or disabled and cannot walk unaided for long enough and will need to be carried at some point.
There are several types of pet carrier available to you, but some of these are more bulky and not convenient for use at all times, included in this would be wheeled carriers – such as strollers. However, wheeled pet carriers, that double as backpack carriers are easily carried and more versatile.
With a smaller pet almost any style of pet carrier bag can be a good choice – subject to considerations of features, quality, price and personal preference.
Advantages of a Pet Carrier Bag
There are a number of advantages to a smaller pet carrier bag:
- they are compact and light and most people can easily carry the weight of the carrier and their small pet;
- there are a number of carrying styles from which to choose the type that best suits you and your pet;
- on arriving at your destination, when your pet has been set free, they can normally be folded up or worn without your pet in a convenient enough way or otherwise wheeled along;
- they are relatively inexpensive.
The best pet carrier choice for you will depend upon your pet’s characteristics and your ability or preference for carrying baggage. If you have any physical problems you will need to think more carefully about your choice of pet carrier. If your pet is perhaps nervous or prone to be restless and want to see you, then one type may be more suitable than another.
The different types of pet carrier bag are not straightforwardly divided into neat categories because they may contain characteristics of another category. For example a backpack carrier may also have wheels – and so be both a wheeled carrier and a backpack carrier. With that degree of overlap in mind I have listed the main types as: wheeled, backpack, front pack, shoulder bag, and tote bag.
Pet Carrier on Wheels
Wheeled pet carriers are popularly shaped either like a shopping trolley or a sports bag. In both instances it is usual to have a solid extendable handle so that the pet carrier can be pulled along without bending or stooping. Other straps allow it to be carried as a normal bag – or the shopping bag type can often be carried as a backpack.
Apart from the main compartment in which your pet will travel, it is usual to have other pockets in which various accessories can be carried.
Its main advantage is that you do not need to carry the either the weight of the carrier or pet. Its main disadvantage is that it is often not very easy or convenient to carry it for long, with or without your pet.
Tote Bag Pet Carrier
This type of pet carrier resembles, in the main, the normal type of sports bag with two carry handles and a shoulder strap. The bag would tend to be carried with the handles or with the strap over the shoulder on the same side it is carried. They may also have wheels and an extendable handle. Normally larger – and therefore roomier - than a front pack or shoulder bag pet carrier, and many backpack carriers, they often have more space to carry other accessories.
Backpack Pet Carriers
These are like a rucksack – slung over the two shoulders, the weight is carried by the strong back muscles and shoulders. Backpack pet carriers can be carried for longer with less discomfort. This type may also have wheels and an extendable handle to enable it to be wheeled where convenient or necessary, to do so.
It main advantage is that it leaves the hands free to do other things – which is excellent if other things must be carried or for example also in charge of a small child. The main disadvantage is that you cannot see your pet all the time, and your pet cannot see you. Your pet therefore needs to be fairly placid or well used to being carried before settling to this.
Front Pack Pet Carrier Bag.
Again slung over both shoulders, these do not have wheels. As the weight is carried in front of the body the weight distribution is not as easily carried. The main advantage is that they allow you to keep an eye on your pet and hands are kept free. However with your pet carried at the front it does restrict you in what you can do. It can be surprising how much we use that space within arm’s length
Shoulder Pet Carrier Bag
This type of pet carrier is slung across one shoulder and the bag rests upon the opposite hip.
With this type of bag the weight is not distributed on your body as evenly as a backpack variety. Carried to one side, it can be adjusted to carry it more in front or behind as when needed so that other tasks can be completed and the hands, which are free can be used.
Its main advantage is that it allows you to keep a close eye on your pet and a good deal of freedom to do other things with your free hands. A disadvantage is that it can be more tiring to carry your pet in a way in which the weight is not as evenly distributed – and the effect of this may not be immediately noticeable. Careful consideration is needed if you intend to use the pet carrier regularly and your pet is not quite small or you have any hint of skeletal or muscular problems.
To Summarise
Having decided upon the type of pet carrier bag that best suits your needs, other considerations will include, durability, type of material used, ventilation, comfort – both for your pet and yourself, pet security and safety, airline compliance and of course its price
I will cover these issues in other articles.
