Folding Soft Dog Crate - Portable Travel Kennel with Car Straps

Rigid crates solve a real problem and create another one. You need one for the car, the holiday cottage, the campsite or the first night in a new house - and then it sits in a corner taking up floor space for the eleven months you aren't using it.

This folding soft dog crate collapses flat in seconds and slides behind a wardrobe or under a bed. Set it up when you need it, fold it away when you don't.

Built For The Car First

Integrated seat belt straps thread through the crate and anchor it to your car's belts, so it stays where you put it instead of sliding across the boot at the first roundabout. That's the difference between a crate and a box: a box moves, and a moving box is worse than no crate at all.

Once you're out of the car, two ground stakes let you peg it down on grass - useful at campsites, on beaches, at shows, or anywhere your dog needs a defined space outdoors that doesn't blow over.

600D Oxford, Not Thin Nylon

The shell is 600D Oxford - a heavier grade of woven polyester, the same weight class used for luggage and outdoor gear. It resists abrasion from claws and gravel, holds its shape, and doesn't fray where panels meet.

Large mesh panels on multiple sides keep air moving and let your dog see out, which matters a lot for a dog left in a crate. A dog who can see you settles; a dog in a sealed box doesn't.

The Pad Is Better Than It Sounds

The removable mat is soft on one face and waterproof-backed on the other. Turn the soft side up for everyday comfort; flip it for a puppy, an elderly dog, a car-sick traveller or a wet-from-the-beach one. Either way it lifts out and washes, so the mess doesn't live in the crate.

What's In The Box

• Folding crate with locking safety zips
• Reversible pad - soft one side, waterproof the other
• Pet safety belt for securing your dog inside
• Two collapsible bowls for food and water
• Two ground stakes for outdoor use
• Storage bag for the folded crate
• Instruction manual

Locking Zips Matter More Than You'd Think

Plenty of dogs work out that a zip pull can be nosed or pawed upwards from inside. Locking zips stop that - the pulls secure so they can't be worked open, which is the difference between a crate that contains your dog and one that merely suggests it.

Sizes

Take the height figure seriously. At 36 cm internal height, the S crate suits cats and genuinely small dogs - roughly up to 8 kg. Breeds like French Bulldogs, Pugs and Cocker Spaniels are usually too tall to sit up comfortably in it, even where their weight seems to fit. Height is what runs out first on every crate.

Choosing The Right Size

Measure your dog rather than guessing from weight - two dogs of the same weight can need different crates depending on how they're built.

1. Length: from nose to base of tail, while standing.
2. Height: from the floor to the top of the head, sitting upright.
3. Add roughly 10 cm to both. Your dog should be able to stand without ducking, turn around fully, and lie stretched out on their side.

Between sizes, go larger. A crate that's slightly too big is a minor waste of boot space; one that's too small is unusable.

Suits

• Cats on longer stays, where a carrier is too small to live in
• Car travel - boot or back seat, secured with the belt straps
• Camping and caravanning, with the stakes for outdoor pitching
• Holiday lets and hotels where your pet needs a familiar space
• Visiting friends and family without taking over their spare room
• Shows, events and sports where dogs need a settled base
• Occasional home use for a pet already crate-trained

And Doesn't Suit

• Chewers and diggers. Fabric is fabric. A dog who works at a soft crate will get through it, and a rigid crate is the honest answer for that dog.
• Dogs with separation anxiety who panic and destroy when confined - a soft crate is neither strong enough nor the right approach.
• Crate training from scratch with a puppy in a destructive phase. Train on a wire crate first, then move to this once the habit is established.
• Unsupervised long periods. This is a travel and short-stay crate.

An Honest Word On Car Safety

The belt straps stop the crate sliding around and stop your dog roaming the car - real, everyday benefits, and the reason most people buy one.

This is not crash-tested safety equipment, and we won't claim otherwise. In a serious collision, no soft-sided crate protects a dog the way an independently certified rigid crash-tested crate does. If certified crash protection is specifically what you need, look for a product carrying that certification. If what you want is a dog who stays put, travels calmly and doesn't distract you, this does that job and folds away afterwards.

Specifications

Care

Lift out the pad and hand wash it separately. Wipe the shell with a damp cloth and mild detergent, and let it dry fully open before folding - Oxford cloth folded away damp will smell within days and can mildew. Brush hair off the mesh rather than picking at it, and store it in the bag somewhere dry.

Frequently Asked Questions

How quickly does it fold?
Seconds, once you've done it once. The frame collapses inwards and the whole thing flattens into the carry bag.

Will it fit in my boot?
Check the crate dimensions against your boot's internal measurements - including the height under a closed tailgate, which is where people usually get caught out.

Can my dog get out of it?
The locking zips stop a dog nosing them open, which is the usual escape route. A determined chewer is a different matter - see above.

Is it warm enough for winter?
The mesh panels prioritise airflow, which is right for most of the year. In cold weather, add a blanket over the top and a warmer bed inside rather than expecting the crate itself to insulate.

Can I use it for a cat?
For a settled cat at home or on a longer stay, yes - and the collapsible bowls help. For a vet trip, a smaller enclosed carrier is easier to handle. See our Cats collection.

Is a harness included?
A pet safety belt is included for securing your dog inside, but not a harness - and the belt should always attach to a harness, never a collar. Harnesses are in our Dogs collection.

A Note On Measurements And Colour

Dimensions are measured by hand and may vary slightly. Colours can appear different across phone and monitor screens depending on lighting and calibration - the item itself is the accurate reference.

Find harnesses, car restraints and the rest of our travel range in the Dogs collection.