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When the time comes to choose the right dog cage or kennel for your pet, keep in mind that they are not all the same, and that there is a correct type for each situation. There are kennels which are designed and made strictly for the comfort of small animals which are being transported. There are kennels that are built extremely sturdily, to house large dogs and keep them secure.

Dog cages can be made in virtually any size imaginable (even large enough to house a room full of adult sized people), and have many styles that serve various purposes. Make sure to get one that suits your exact needs and specifications.

If it is for traveling with your pet, you may want to get a cage that is fabric with a door of mesh and a roof that is zippered; or you may want to invest in the hard plastic type of cage with metal doors, or a kennel which is totally metal mesh save for a solid floor. Any of these are appropriate places for your pets safety and comfort while you are on a trip, be it for a vacation or going from one show to another. Also, these are ideal when you are not allowed to have your pet roaming free in a facility.

When used indoors, kennels are primarily used for training, whether it be potty training, behavioral modification, or just "damage control" when you leave the house and feel your furniture might be in peril if your canine friend were left to his own devices. By keeping the dog in the cage at night when you do not want to take him outside to go to the toilet, you can teach him to operate his body on a schedule that best suits your needs and schedule.

When he does something wrong, you can put him in his cage as a way of solitary confinement. Before long he will associate the confines of the kennel with the bad behavior and will adjust his behavior accordingly to avoid the punishment. This is also a wonderful way to keep your dog from tearing up the house when there is no one there to play with him.

You can also buy cages that are made for outdoor use, like kennels, wooden floor cages that are a part of a doghouse, that are great for having a nice place to sleep and move around outside, or dog runs, that are much like cages but have legs above the ground, and are stronger. Finally, walk-in cages are good for the temporary housing of several large dogs, and provide ease of access and cleaning.

Graham writes many articles on dog cages and about training your dog with small dog cages.

An alarming number of dogs and other pets become injured, lost, or even die on board an airplane when traveling in transport dog crates. Compared to the number of successful animals transported from one location to another via the airlines, this number is low. But dog enthusiasts and breeders routinely fly their dogs in transport dog crates or pet travel carriers without having any trouble at all. The airlines claim to make every effort possible that dogs that travel on-board will be perfectly safe.

It is sensible to take as many reasonable precautions as you can to avoid any mishaps. After all, you would never forgive yourself if something terrible occurred and it was avoidable by you having taken some simple precautions.

The first thing to consider is whether your dog needs to travel at all. The second thing is whether your dog needs to travel by airplane, or whether dog transport via train or car is a possibility.

The most important precautionary measure to take for the safety of your dog, if you do decide that the only dog transport available is to fly your dog, is to take him to the vet for a complete checkup to avoid complicating a pre-existing medical condition.

If the trip will take a few hours, try not to have your dog travel during the heat of the day. An early morning or an evening flight will be far more comfortable for your dog so as to avoid hot weather. If cold weather is the issue, then the middle of the day is fine, and in fact preferable.

Puppies and small dogs can usually travel in the passenger compartment with you if you are also traveling on the same flight. This is desirable, since it minimizes the potential for stressing your dog, and significantly reduces the potential for your dog to suffer from separation anxiety. Puppies, in particular, can suffer long term adverse effects from experiencing separation anxiety in such a situation. You will need small transport dog crates or pet carriers for small pets for travel in the passenger compartment. You could even splash out and invest in stylish pet carriers you'll be able to use for other types of travel.

Dogs of any age can suffer from separation anxiety, and some are much more prone to this than others. If your dog has ever shown signs of separation anxiety in any situation, you can be fairly certain that such a condition will be exacerbated if he is locked into a transport dog crate and left alone in the cargo section of the plane.

Separation anxiety is a real condition that should not be overlooked. It is estimated that almost 20% of all dogs suffer at some level from separation anxiety. These personality types make very poor candidates for dog transport by airplane, unless they can travel in the passenger cabin with you (which medium and large dogs obviously cannot). Such dogs should not be left alone and when their condition reaches elevated levels, it is not uncommon for a dog to literally chew through a metal cage in the attempt of trying to escape, causing severe injuries that can cause the dog to bleed to death. It may be possible to treat your dog with natural anxiety remedies, or you may even want to talk to your vet about a sedative if you think your dog will react badly to being transported.

Luxury pet carriers are all the rage today. But if you're doing any serious traveling around with your dog, or dog transport, you may want to skip stylish pet carriers for less flexible transport dog crates.