In general, we’d rather use our legs. That’s what they’re for. They may be short, but they work fine. But if you’re taking us somewhere special, say where people are afraid of being eaten by an 8-pound dog, by all means get us a carrier. We promise not to hurt anyone anyway. We especially like ones that have been seeded with biscuits and chew toys. It makes them feel like home. If any come with a tv and an endless self-feeder, we would recommend one of those.

Truly, as companions, friends, equals in opportunities of self-expression, they unfold to me the dignity of creation.
Helen Keller.

When choosing dog carriers for your four-legged family, do yourself—and your pooch—a favor and do your homework first. Different dogs’ personalities and various situations are suited for different sizes and types of carriers. For example, a dog who needs to feel secure and who isn’t extremely active will feel more comfortable in a smaller, more solid carrier than will a confident, active dog. Keep in mind that every dog needs enough space to move around, however, and that you can add extra bedding to make your larger dog feel snuggled in his larger carrier. Bear in mind that carriers are for transporting your pet, and you may need an additional, larger kennel for a dog that is crated for more than an hour per day.

Dog carriers must always have adequate ventilation, so you should only use a carrier that is specifically designed to transport a dog. Paris Hilton may look fabulous when wearing a Chihuahua in her handbag, but pets are people too—if the bag isn’t made specifically for carting Fluffy around in, then don’t try to make it work. The results could be harmful to your baby. And consider not only your dog’s comfort, but how the carrier will be used. You may need a different size and style of carrier for flying with your dog than you would use for car travel, or you may not. It depends on how much your pet needs to move around in the car, and how much space you have, as well.

If you plan to buy dog carriers for air travel, then by all means, check with your specific airline to find out what their requirements are. You may have a carrier that is just a couple of inches larger than you can carry onto a plane, and no one wants to have that conversation at the gate five minutes before takeoff. Terrier terrorists are no laughing matter. So regardless of what your Aunt Edna said about flying Southwest with her bulldog, Isabella, you must check with your airline before deciding which carrier to choose for your pet.

Measure your dogs from tip to tail, and from ground to the top of their heads if you’re buying dog carriers that they will stay in for more than a couple of hours, and that are not for on-board air travel. Your pet should be able to stand up and turn around in his carrier if he is going to spend extended daylight hours in it. Keep the weather in mind, too, and be sure to allow for good air circulation in all weather, especially during summer, and plan for protection against the cold during winter.

She would smile at me, as only dogs can smile. And always, it would be a smile that went beyond acceptance. It was much more: It was pure. It was without contamination. It was something called love. Stories of Dogs and the Lives They Touch. Edited by Peggy Schaefer.

He had a way of taking Buck's head roughly between his hands, and resting his own head upon Buck's, of shaking him back and forth, the while calling him ill names that to Buck were love names. Buck knew no greater joy than that rough embrace and the sound of murmured oaths, and at each jerk back and forth it seemed that his heart would be shaken out of his body so great was its ecstasy. The Call of the Wild. Jack London.

Clementine changed us all. I smile whenever I look at this dog, and I swear she smiles back. All day long, she brings me gifts: gnawed-on rawhide, raggedly remains of plush toys, dead frogs. But those aren’t the gifts that really count….she has the particular gift of being near you without invading your space…Her tolerance and good-heartedness have warmed us all up, eased tensions, raised the level of fun. Jon Katz. Dog Days. Dispatches from Bedlam Farm.

I have always thought of a dog lover as a dog that was in love with another dog. James Thurber.