How to Choose the Best Rolling Pet Carrier

In this day and age, could you imagine taking a big trip without a suitcase on wheels? You can still pick it up and handle it like a traditional old school suitcase, but for the most part, you’re going to pull it behind you. It’s the same with pet carriers, and yeah, you might be able to lug the darn thing everywhere (with your dog inside), but wouldn’t you prefer to spare your poor back and arms and just easily pull it behind you?

Your Best Options for Rolling Pet Carriers

So let’s take a quick look at the best, and just what it is that makes them the best. Your dog (and your lower back) will be most grateful to you when you choose any of these options.

Frontpet Rolling Pet Carrier: The Best Overall Choice.

This is the gold standard when it comes to rolling pet carriers. The interior is furnished with memory foam, so your pooch travel in comfort, and indeed, will travel in the indentation of their own body shape. It also works as a backpack, for those rare times when it’s better to carry your pooch off the ground while still keeping your hands free.

Snoozer Wheel Around 4-in-1 Pet Carrier: The Most Versatile.

You can probably imagine the brainstorming behind this company name. “Our pet carrier will be so comfortable that a dog can just fall asleep, so… napper, sleeper, snoozer, something like that?” It’s a rolling pet carrier, a backpack, a pet bed, and a carseat, all in one, although some of these features might not be relevant for everyone, since you’re already likely to have a bed for your dog.

Petsfit Pet Life Wheeled Pet Carrier (3.5/5): The easiest to pull.

This one will not win any awards for innovation, but when you just need a basic and highly durable rolling pet carrier, you’re in luck. The sturdy rubberized wheels make it feel like you could safely drag your dog over any terrain, even though you probably won’t want to. That lazy mutt can use their legs once in a while!

Is a Rolling Pet Carrier Right for You?

At this point, you’re probably thinking, “Wow, pet experts, a rolling dog carrier sure sounds neat, and you’re obviously very knowledgeable and good looking, but do I actually need to invest in a rolling pet carrier?” This is a really simple question to answer. Yes. Yes you do.

Let’s qualify that yes, shall we? If you plan to buy a pet carrier for the very first time you take your dog on a plane, then choose a rolling one, because then you at least have the option of carrying or rolling.

If you already have a standard, non-rolling pet carrier, then consider an upgrade. Because again, this at least gives you the option of rolling.

About the only downside to a rolling pet carrier is the added weight of the various additions that make it roll, such as the wheels, and the telescopic handle that allows you to pull it. If your pooch is already pushing the limits of being able to fit into a carrier, when combined with the weight restrictions that the airline applies to pet carriers, then you might be working with a very slim margin as it is.

So unless your dog in their carrier is already almost at the size and weight limit of what the airline will actually permit to board their plane, yes, a rolling pet carrier is the best way to go.

What to Look for When Buying a Rolling Pet Carrier

There are a few things to carefully weigh up when choosing the best rolling pet carrier.

1. The Weight

First and foremost, consider the weight of your dog when combined with the weight of the carrier. This is absolutely crucial, but remember that different airlines have different weight restrictions when it comes to whether or not a pet carrier will be allowed in the cabin. There is no universal “airline approved” weight restriction, and while a certain size and weight of carrier will be allowed, by say, Southwest, it doesn’t mean that Delta will be okay with it.

2. The Material

The material of the rolling pet carrier is also very important. Canvas or cotton is available, and it might look nice, but you need something that can be wiped clean, such as nylon. It would be best if your dog was able to hold it in, but you really have to plan for the scenario that you might need to wipe pee or poop off the carrier.

3. The Wheels

Many rolling pet carriers come with acrylic resin wheels, similar to what you would see on rollerblades. These are fine, but aren’t as durable as rubberized wheels, which also offer a smoother ride for your dog.

4. The Handle

Just like a rolling suitcase, a rolling pet carrier comes with a handle that is telescopic, or retractable, or whatever you want to call it. This means that it retracts into the carrier, but think about when you actually need to grip the handle. Make sure the grip is rubber (for proper traction), and comfortable for your hand, since you need to pull it in a way that is both firm, yet delicate (because of that precious cargo inside).

Your Best Choices for a Rolling Pet Carrier

Let’s get to the goods, shall we? We’ve even ordered them from the best to the not quite best (which is still pretty darn good).

1. Frontpet Rolling Pet Carrier

There’s a certain style to the Frontpet Rolling Pet Carrier. It has a straightforward design, and the only real additions to the body of the carrier are a few side pockets, even though you can’t really store much in there beyond a boarding pass.

The dimensions of the rolling pet carrier are marketed as airline approved, but as we mentioned, there’s no such thing. Having said that, you will find that the dimensions of this particular carrier will be accepted by most major airlines, since you’re unlikely to know which airline you’re going to choose in the future.

There’s also an interior leash harness which allows you to keep your dog safe while they’re rolling. It’s basically the pet carrier equivalent of a seatbelt. And your pooch is going to love the comfort of that memory foam padding.

Pros

• Easily manoeuvrable.
• Mesh covering that allows you easily see your dog.
• Your pet is going to be safe and comfortable while inside.

Cons

• The quilted side pockets might not be to everyone’s taste.
• Some customers have reported that the carrier was more prone to wear and tear that they might have thought, even though most of this was damage cosmetic, and didn’t affect how usable the carrier is.

In terms of a rolling pet carrier that’s going to get the job done while keeping your pet safe and comfortable, you’re not going to go wrong with this one.

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2. Snoozer Roll Around 4-in-1 Pet Carrier

Yes, this company is suggesting that your dog will be so comfortable that they’ll take a snooze, and they might (even though they’ll definitely need a blanket). A fantastic feature of the Snoozer is that both the left and right of the carrier, along with its outward facing side, are made of mesh. This means that not only will you always be able to check on your pooch with a quick glance, but they will always be well-ventilated.

It’s a bit of a stretch to say that the carrier can really convert into four different things (a rolling carrier, a backpack carrier, a carseat, and a pet bed), since the last two of these things are essentially the carrier unzipped and flattened. It’s not really a feature that can be recommended, and it’s almost as if they didn’t need to bother.

Still, even if you only ever use one of the four features on offer, this is still a good unit. The khaki option is particularly stylish.

Pros

• That mesh ventilation is going to come in handy.
• The versatility of its 4-in-1 design might actually be useful

Cons

• It might be called the Snoozer, but there is no padding inside, and so your dog will need a blanket or small pillow.
• Some users have reported that the backpack straps are uncomfortable.

That lack of any padding inside the carrier might seem like a shortcoming, and it’s not as though your dog can comfortably travel unless you put a blanket inside the carrier, but this is a minor complaint. It’s still a great product.

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3. Petsfit Pet Life Wheeled Pet Carrier

The wheels on the rolling pet carrier go round and round, to misquote an annoyingly catchy children’s song. And the wheels on the Petsfit Pet Life Wheeled Carrier will go round and round over any number of surfaces, without becoming too worn, too quickly. The sturdy rubberized wheels of this unit are its main selling point, because when you buy a rolling pet carrier, you need to know that it does well in the rolling department.

It’s also totally collapsible, so it’s easy to store when it’s not in use. This collapsible feature isn’t a problem for your pooch, since it’s not as though the carrier can actually collapse while your dog is inside it. But really, the best feature of this carrier is the traction of the wheels, meaning it can be the best choice if you need to roll your pup through some adverse weather and across some slippery pavements.

Pros

• Did we mention those wheels?
• The collapsible feature is so simple, and yet so convenient.

Cons

• This rolling pet carrier contains DINP, and while this chemical is unlikely to harm your dog, it has been linked to cancer and birth defects in humans. So if you travel regularly with your dog, this might rule this one out for you.

Yeah, that whole DINP disclaimer is a bit unsettling, but unless you’re going to be using the rolling pet carrier on a daily basis, it’s not something to be worried about. The company is legally required to warn customers in California about this chemical, but other states don’t require any form of warning. And despite this problem, it’s still a fantastic pet carrier.

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4. Sherpa Ultimate on Wheels Pet Carrier

If we didn’t tell you that the Sherpa ultimate was a rolling pet carrier, you might just think that it’s a duffle bag on wheels. This isn’t exactly a bad thing, even though it might just feel like you’re pulling your dog along in a go-kart.

Once your dog has made themselves at home in the Sherpa Ultimate on Wheels Pet Carrier, you’re unlikely to want to use it for anything else. Any yet, the Sherpa is about the only carrier on this list that could double for a regular bag, which can’t be said for the upright design of the other carriers we’ve talked about.

The carrier is pulled with straps, as opposed to a telescopic handle, which can make it difficult to maneuver, but it contributes to the compact design of the overall carrier.

Pros

• Stylish and compact.
• Easy to fit under the seat in front of you when you actually board the plan.

Cons

• Those straps will become uncomfortable to pull for extended periods of time (and what if your flight was delayed?).

The Sherpa is a great rolling pet carrier, but those straps and their resulting lack of maneuverability can make it a problem when the airport is busy (and seriously, when is it not?). The detachable, machine-washable liner is a nice touch too.

In summary, we’ve got to say that a rolling pet carrier is always going to be better than a traditional carrier that doesn’t have the convenience of wheels. The only time when a rolling carrier isn’t going to be the best choice for you and your pooch is when your pooch and carrier would be dangerously close to being too big and heavy to fly (and please don’t think we’re fat-shaming your dog). Those additional features that make a rolling pet carrier actually, well… roll, can add a small amount of bulk and weight to the unit, and sometimes that weight can be just a little too much extra.

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