I never thought I’d say this but…
I have a dog that doesn’t walk.
I spent years dog sitting other people’s dogs and all of them loved going on walks, so when I got a puppy I naturally assumed that she would too. As it turns out, she only likes going to the dog park or walking in the countryside. But city streets? Forget it.
Luna is terrified of sounds and simply plants herself firmly on the sidewalk, refusing to move and yawning or cowering in fear at the slightest of noise. Whether it’s shoes clanking on the pavement, motorbikes whizzing by, cars revving their engines or garbage trucks picking up trash, she’s terrified of all the sounds that come with a big city. It’s something we’re working on and I’ll be taking her to a trainer to work on it, but she absolutely loves being carried around in a bag.
She gets to see the world and be close to me but she doesn’t have to worry about potential dangers. If I put a carrier down on the floor she’ll hop right in as if to say “Where are we going mom? Let’s go!”
Airline approved dog carriers however can be rather bulky to carry around on a day-to-day basis so it’s much easier to use a tote carrier for small dogs. Ideally I was looking for something soft, slimmer and more collapsible that looks more like a handbag. Things that are important to me in a dog carrier bag or dog tote bag include:
- Comfy lining for my dog (if the bag looks beautiful but is uncomfy for her then it’s pointless)
- Safety clip to attach to the dog’s harness
- Roomy pockets for storing my phone, keys and belongings, as well as hers
- Handles that aren’t too long (I’m only 5ft tall)
- Stylish color that goes with all outfits
- Firm support in the base
- Durable so she can’t chew or destroy it
- Can easily be wiped clean
- Not bulky
So in search of the best dog bag carrier I discovered the Max-bone city carrier, which has fits all of those criteria.
If you’re interested in getting this carrier, use this link to get $10 off your order.
Max-bone City Carrier Bag Review
The Max-bone City Carrier Bag has he following features:
- Cotton canvas body
- Faux sherpa lining
- Gunmetal hardware details throughout
- Side snaps and hidden zipper pocket
- Front and back pockets
- Interior leash clip for keeping pup secure inside the bag
- Ideal for holding 5 to 30 lbs
Pros
Color is neutral – The neutral color is great for pairing with outfits as it would go with pretty much anything. It would look good in in both summer and winter, so it can span all seasons.
Can double as a bed – Considering this is a soft tote it actually holds its shape and stands up fairly straight, so it can double as a dog bed when you’re on the go.
Has a large, roomy pocket – There’s a large roomy pocket on the outside of the bag which you can use for storing your dog’s water bowl and other stuff, plus you can keep your own personal belongings in there. There’s also a small zip pocket on the front which would be ideal for storing treats or a leash. There are metal rings on the straps that you can also use to attach a cute poop bag holder.
Cozy lining is comfy for dogs – The sherpa lining is super cozy and comfy and Luna seemed to love the feel. It snaps out so you can hand wash it and you could leave it out when it gets hot in summer. Having a removable lining is great because sometimes dogs get dirty or have accidents so you can easily clean it without ruining the bag.
Slim profile – Some dog tote carriers I looked at are quite wide and rigid. This has a slim width so you can easily carry it under your arm like a normal bag.
Stylish and fashionable – After looking at lots of dog carriers online I realized that most of them are really ugly. It’s nice that Max-bone created a dog bag with fashion in mind. The bag is stylish with luxurious details and it feels very well made.
Inside clip – It’s important for a dog carrier have a safety clip which can be attached to your dog’s harness so they don’t jump out or escape. The City Carrier Bag has a sturdy inside clip to make sure your dog can’t make a quick exit.
Two strap options – The shoulder straps have a handle drop of 7.5″ which is great for me because I’m short. A lot of the dog totes I’ve seen seem to have very long handles which can be annoying because then the bag is hanging very low on my body. It’s much easier to carry the weight if the straps are shorter. There’s also a cross-body strap you can use to carry the bag across your body if your shoulder gets weary.
Cons
On the heavy side – The moment I lifted the bag out of the box I noticed it feels quite heavy. The combination of the canvas body, gunmetal hardware and the leather straps clearly adds extra weight to the bag. This might not be much of an issue if you’re a larger person but since I’m very petite it feels quite heavy when Luna is in it.
Only comes in one size – It would also be nice if the bag came in a smaller size for smaller pups. This is probably the perfect size if you have a Frenchie or something similar but if you have a tiny chihuahua, Pomeranian or Chinese Crested you might find this bag a little big. The bag measures 17″ long at the base and is even wider at the top so there’s lots of room that isn’t really being used when Luna’s sitting in inside. Instead of sitting at the front of the bag with her head out, I feel like she is sort of engulfed by the bag, although on the plus side it gives her a place to nap. The City Carrier only comes in one size at the moment but if they made it in a smaller size I would snap it up.
Shoulder traps aren’t that comfortable – The straps are rolled leather and they seem to slide off my shoulder a bit. They also dig in a bit more than say, the canvas straps you’d get on a cloth shopping tote. Leather looks great and very stylish but it’s not as comfortable. That being said there’s also a cross body strap so you could use that instead of the shoulder straps.
At $290 the Max-bone City Carrier is expensive but it’s also one of the most stylish options on the market. Whether you’re willing to spend the money is up to you, but sometimes it’s worth it to purchase something that you’ll get a lot of use out of and that will last a long time.