We all enjoy taking our dogs with us in the car, but how do we ensure the safety of our canines and others? While it’s a norm for many dog owners to go to places with their dogs, driving with an unrestrained pet could increase their likelihood of getting into a car accident.
Fortunately, several crash-resistant dog crates are available in the market, allowing you and your dog to embark on a road trip without worry. However, not all crates live up to their crash-proof claims, and buying them could compromise your dog’s safety.
That said, it’s important not to blindly purchase a dog crate based only on how the brand advertises it or due to their attractive deals that could “save you a few bucks.”
It will surprise you that only a few have passed rigorous testing among myriads of car crates for dogs. Discover these expert-recommended dog car crates through this guide, the features to look for when choosing, and more as you read.
What to Look For in a Dog Crate for Car Travel
Not all car crates are made equal. Ensure you invest only in a high-quality dog crate that lives up to its purpose.
Here are the features to look for when choosing a dog crate for car travel:
Size and Fit: How Do You Get the Right Crate Size for Your Dog?
The crate should offer a snug fit for your canine. You don’t want it to be too spacious, or it will defeat the purpose of reducing the impact of a car crash, nor is it too cramped that your dog couldn’t move around comfortably.
Guaranteeing your dog’s size complements the proportions of the crate only involves a simple method.
Follow the steps below so you can determine the right crate size for your dog:
- With your canine standing, measure their height from the top of their head to the bottom of their paws.
- Next, determine your dog’s length by measuring from the nose’s tip to the tip of the tail.
- Add 3 to 4 inches for each measurement and use these computations in choosing the size of your dog’s car crate.
While this is a general guideline to follow, you may consider sizing up if there needs be. Dog owners should make sound judgments to make sure that the crate is not too tight for the pet, and that they can still lie and extend their limbs inside. Consider as well the door opening—if your dog can get in and out with ease.
With these in mind, plus the provided kennel dimensions from the manufacturer, you can determine the suitable dog crate size for your dog, regardless of whether you’re purchasing from a store or online.
Car Compatibility: What Crate Suits Your Vehicle?
Car compatibility is also a factor when choosing a dog crate. Generally, the pet equipment shouldn’t be too big that it won’t fit in the car or too small that it compromises your dog’s comfort.
Bear in mind as well that certain crash-resistant dog crates are primarily designed with specific car models in mind.
Here are some examples regarding crate and car compatibility:
- Hatchback car: This features a sloping rear, so crates with slanted fronts best match the vehicle.
- SUV: This car is spacious and box-shaped. The crates that suit it are those with slanted sides so they can fit against the rear seats when folded down.
- Sedan: Sedans have a separate trunk space with a flat floor. Dog crates that are rectangular and flat-bottomed are ideal — they can sit securely in the trunk area without sliding.
- Minivan: With their vast interior space and flexible seating arrangements, minivans can easily accommodate larger, box-shaped crates.
- Pickup truck: Pickup trucks have spacious open beds, accommodating any dog crate size. Since the bed is exposed, a crate with a secure locking system and weather-resistant features is recommended.
Consider the features and space you have in the car before deciding on the kind of crate you buy for your dog. Fortunately, manufacturers allow customers to include the type of car they use so they can recommend the appropriate crate during purchasing.
Crate Material: Which Ones Should You Avoid?
The best dog crate should be made from heavy-duty material. This could be made from rotomolded polyethylene, which is highly durable, plus it’s molded as one solid piece. It gives you a greater sense of security that your canine won’t be squashed along with the crate in any collision. This is because no joints or seams can become potential weak points.
Such design also limits the pathways for external elements, such as moisture and contaminants, which can weaken the equipment.
You may also consider crash-tested dog crates for cars that are made of reinforced steel or aluminum. Any of these elements will be able to maintain their structure to effectively protect your dog in the event of a car crash.
On a different note, some of the crate materials you must avoid are the ones listed below:
- Wire mesh
- Thin plastic
- Untreated metal
- Any toxic materials
- Fabric or soft-sided crates
These are less likely to withstand any car crash impact and may even blow up into shards and cause more harm to you and your dog.
Crash Proof: Is the Crate Tested?
A dog crate for your car is needed to minimize injuries should you and your dog be involved in a traffic accident on the road. Aside from that, this keeps your dog from escaping during the event or attempting to defend you from emergency personnel or first responders, which can cause a delay in providing you with medical attention.
While no efforts have been made regarding tracking accidents caused by pets, they’re counted among other distractions, like misbehaving kids.
That said, a dog crate is necessary to restrain and keep the dog from becoming a distraction.
Further, the crate you must buy should have been tested to see how much impact it can withstand and if its structure remains unchanged. If it comes with accessories, like straps, which keep the crate in place, these should be durable.
Ventilation: Is the Crate Comfortable?
Ensure your dog has ample fresh air the entire trip. The crate must have multiple ventilation points to keep the crate from getting too hot inside, which can be extremely uncomfortable for your puppy.
Considering that, the ideal crate must have plenty of air holes.
Ease of Use: Is the Crate Practical?
The crate must also be easy to assemble and maintain. It’s ideal if it comes with two doors from both sides, in case you need to adjust its position in the car, allowing easy access to your dog.
Practically, you want it to be well-built and well-designed with doors that open and close quietly to not scare your canine.
3 Crash-Tested Dog Crates for Car Travel
With hundreds of crash-resistant dog dog crates available, narrowing down the list is tedious. Every brand advertises its product as the best in quality, features, and design, and they come with tempting price tags.
However, one way to determine which crate passes the quality standard is when they’re tested. Only a handful have proved their crash-tested dog crates for cars are worth buying, and we’re listing them in the subsections below.
You can swear by their premium quality, and they’re key to a seamless car drive free from distraction and other concerns. Note that the products listed here come with actual evidence, as per the crash tests conducted by the Center for Pet Safety (CPS) to back up their crash-proof claims.
Let’s dig deeper into their specifications and key features.
1. Gunner Kennel G1 – Best Overall Crate
| Interior Dimensions | Small: 21.75 in. (L – floor) x 14.5 in. (W – floor) x 15.5 inches (H) / 16.5 in. (W) Medium: 25 in. (L – Floor) x 18 in. (W – Floor) x 19.75 in. (H) / 19 inches (W) Intermediate: 30 in. (L – floor) x 18 in. (W – floor) x 25 inches (H) / 19 in. (W) |
| Load Rate | Up to 30 lbs. (small) Up to 45 lbs. (medium) Up to 75 lbs. (intermediate) |
| Color | Gunmetal; tan; DU green; mossy oak bottomland tan; and mossy oak bottomland gunmetal |
| Material | Rotomolded plastic |
The rugged-looking Gunner Kennel G1 is a heavy-duty crate for dogs of all sizes. It features a double-wall rotomolded material known to have durability-enhancing properties; it is highly resistant to impact, chemicals, and environmental stress. On top of that, it’s made without any weak points, adding up to its strength and lifespan.
Here’s a video you can watch of a crash-tested Gunner crate in a collision simulation using tie downs that come from the same brand:
If that’s not impressive enough, unlike other kennel brands, this American-made crate is further designed to help regulate temperature. In a thermal heat test they conducted, the Gunner Kennel G1 showed its ability to keep your canine around 20℉ (-6.67°C) warmer in a -10℉ (-12.2°C) external temperature.
A thermal cold research was also made, and the test results show that the Gunner kennels can keep your dog at about 8% cooler than a single-walled rotomotor kennel and 12% cooler than an aluminum kennel.
With these characteristics, this 5 star crash-tested crate is not only capable of saving dog lives in unfortunate road events but also keep your dog at ease while inside their space.
Pros:
- Weather-proof
- Easy installation
- 5-star crash-tested
- Withstands 4,000 pounds of force
- Compatible with different car models
Cons:
- Price comes at a premium
2. 4Pets Proline – Best Aluminum-Made Crate
| Interior Dimensions | Small: 21.41 in. (H) x 21.5 in. (W) x 28.93 in. (L) Medium (Pro 2): 26 in. (H) x 21.5 in. (W) x 32.9 in. (L) Large (Pro 2): 26 in. (H) x 36.8 in. (W) x 39.5 in. (L) Large (Pro 4): 26 in. (H) x 32.1 in. (W) x 36.8 in. (L) |
| Load Rate | Up to 121.2 lbs |
| Color | Silver/gray |
| Material | Aluminum |
The all-aluminum 4Pets Proline Milan crate comes in a forward-slanted design, with bars made primarily from aluminum. The plastic connectors on the joints are fiberglass-reinforced, making them extremely robust.
Complementing the structure’s precisely engineered quality is the torsion-resistant, easy-closing door. It’s also worth noting that 4Pets have a crate designed to contain two dogs. The state, design, and materials make this a tough crate.
Here’s a short video showing the 4Pets crate undergoing the TÜV pickup crash test:
This dog crate wasn’t also spared from the crash test led by the Center for Pet Safety. Results show that the 4Pets Proline Milan has shown satisfactory performance. However, its straps ruptured in the initial test, where the equipment was placed in the center area, causing several signs of damage due to the impact.
When strapped against the seatback, the crate showcased a different result — only minor damage was caused. The crate stayed in place, and the crash test dog was still contained.
Take a look at the CPS-conducted short crash-testing video of the 4Pets crate.
Overall, when using the 4Pets Proline Milan, crate placement is crucial for your dog’s survival. That, or you can invest in a sturdier strap kit that can keep the crate in place regardless of the impact.
Pros:
- Crash-tested
- Easy installation
- Comes in a variety of sizes
- Rust and corrosion-resistant
- Compatible with different car models
Cons:
- Price comes at a premium
- Requires secure installation
3. Ruff Land Kennel – Best Tapered Crate
| Interior Dimensions | Small: 13.25 in. (H) x 15.5 in. (W) x 20.25 in. (L) Medium: 18 in. (H) x 17.5 in. (W) x 26 in. (L) Large: 25 in. (H) x 21.62 in. (W) x 34 in. (L) X-large: 28 in. (H) x 21.62 in. (W) x 39 in. (L) |
| Load Rate | Up to 75 lbs |
| Color | Rockstone; millstone |
| Material | Tough polypropylene |
Completing the list of crash-tested dog crates is the Ruff Land Kennel. This superb and rugged dog equipment exhibits a simple yet durable design in two-toned gray and black (millstone) or tan and black (rockstone).
Opting for a small to medium dog kennel will give you one handle on top, while the rest have two. You can use this feature to easily lift or carry the crate.
Noting its simple structure, the Ruff Land Kennel could withstand a car crash collision simulation during the crash test. However, minimal damage on the rear was evident when the crate was tied down on all fours and placed in the center of the cargo space.
When its placement was changed in the seatback, it resulted in a minor deformation on the upper rear. The crash test dog impacted a section of the front door. Nonetheless, the dog was retained in the CPS crash test video.
Giving you additional knowledge into the Ruffland Kennel’s performance versus an ordinary crate is this short video below:
Pros:
- Crash-tested
- Built with double doors
- Comes in a variety of sizes
- Tapered sidewalls for ventilation
- More affordable than other crash-tested crates
Cons:
- No customization regarding car compatibility
The ones listed in this article are some of your options if you’re looking for well-made, crash-tested dog crates. The 4Pets and Ruffland Kennel are certainly not completely indestructible, but they have retained their structural integrity and have shown an impressive resistance during the collision.
Such a review provides insights into their functionality and capability of protecting your dog from severe impacts compared to those left untested. Choosing among the three pet travel crates will boil down to your preference.
Safety Measures to Take When Using a Dog Crate in the Car
To further enhance the capacity to protect your dog crate, you can take a few simple precautionary measures. They can make a big difference should you and your dog get involved in a car accident:
Ensure It’s Secure
Use highly durable straps that properly hold the crate while in the car. These help keep the equipment from moving, sliding, or tipping while the vehicle is moving.
Check if There’s Proper Ventilation
Dogs are prone to overheat when they’re placed in a shade-free area, more so when confined in an enclosed space with no air holes. That said, ensure all ventilation pathways are not blocked. This also allows normal airflow inside, which greatly benefits brachycephalic breeds like Pugs, Bulldogs, and Boxers.
These short-muzzled dogs are highly at risk for heat-related illness. It’s primarily due to the structure of their respiratory tract, causing them to naturally struggle to breathe, even at rest.
Keep the Temperature Under Control
Ideally, you must invest in a dog crate with heating and cooling properties, which is helpful if the dog is in a truck bed and it’s warm or cold outside. Also, you must never leave your dog in a hot or cold car for long periods.
After all, it only takes under 15 minutes for an animal to die from heatstroke. Meanwhile, dogs can be susceptible to hypothermia if left in the cold for too long.
Always make sure that the temperature is comfortable for your dog.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Best Crash-Tested Dog Crate?
Gunner’s G1 dog crate is currently taking the spot. It’s rated five stars as it excelled in the car crash test, so much so that a second test in the seatback was deemed unnecessary.
It also comes with many advantageous features regarding crate temperature and material, making it a top choice for those who love to travel with their dogs.
What Is the Safest Place to Put the Dog Crate in the Car?
The backseat area is deemed the safest place to put a small dog crate in the car. It should be tied down or secured with a seatbelt to prevent it from moving during transit.
Of course, this placement is variable. You can also opt to place this in the cargo area of a Hatchback or SUV if the crate is large. The truck bed is also a viable option, as this reduces the chances of human passengers inside getting hit and injured by the crate.
Can Your Dog Ride in the Front Seat?
Letting your dogs ride in the front seat is not recommended since this can put your dog’s life in danger. Airbags, when deployed, can pose a serious risk, which can be fatal for your pet.
Further, the front seat is prone to head-on collisions, which is one of the severe types of car crashes. With this fact in mind, placing your dog in the front seat is the last thing you should do.
Instead, place them in the back seat against the seatback or in other spacious areas of your car. Use strong straps to keep the crate in place throughout the ride.
Final Thoughts
Knowing the purpose of dog crates, it’s not rocket science why they’re important. If you love to travel and take your dog with you, investing in quality, crash-tested dog crates will give you and your canine extra security and safety when on the road.
These crash-tested dog crates are rigorously tested and improved to provide superior protection in unforeseen events. They may come with a higher price tag than average dog crates. Still, this significant investment aligns with your responsibility to guarantee your four-legged companion’s well-being.
So, when purchasing a crate, take some time and seriously consider the ones listed in the article. With their crash-proof quality put to the test, you have an idea of how their performance goes versus other crates that are just about making claims.
Key Takeaways:
- Gunner’s Kennel G1 is one of the proven and crash-tested dog crates.
- Check if the dog crate has extra features so your dog’s crate experience is optimal.
- Ensure you properly measure your dog before choosing the crash-tested dog crate size.
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