You probably also own a bag to carry your dog around in if it weighs less than 30 pounds. Since 2016, New Yorkers cannot transport their pets on the subway or bus unless they are “contained in a container.” To varying degrees, similar restrictions also apply to Amtrak trains, taxis, and airlines.
A new market of elaborate and fashionable bags that you can use to transport smaller dogs has emerged in recent years as a result of the convergence of this crackdown on dog carrying, the rise of dog influencers on Instagram, and people’s apparent willingness to splurge on accessories for their pets. The greatest ones in terms of functionality are strong, simple to clean, and cozy for both owner and dog (the latter even more important for owners who commute with their dog, or use the bag as a prop for Instagram posts).
Love Thy Beast Canvas Pet Tote
This bag from New York City-based company Love Thy Beast, which was recommended by four of our cool dog people and is the one they say they see the most frequently at hip dog hangouts across the city and on Instagram, is the closest thing to a prestige dog tote that we could find. According to Logan Mikhly, co-owner of Boris and Horton, Manhattan’s only off-leash dog café, “the Love Thy Beast tote is the most popular pet tote we see at the café.” People like that it’s quite comfy and that you can match it to your unique style thanks to the variety of interesting colors it comes in.
Wagwear Boat Canvas Carrier – Various Colors
Godoy, Mikhly, and the owners of a small dachshund named Thor, Perry Betts, also listed Wagwear dog totes as one of the most well-liked brands they saw. Perry Betts also revealed to us that she performed extensive research before deciding on the WagWear Boat Canvas Carrier. She explains, “I’ve seen it among hip dog owners who want to avoid looking unduly posh with the Louis Vuitton carrier. It’s sold at all of the most premium dog boutiques in town. It has a lanyard inside to attach a collar or harness, is extremely durable and nearly chew-proof, and is made of tough material. It has a cutout so your tiny friend can see the city and looks exactly like a fantastic casual tote.
The status dog backpack
Wang, Godoy, Mikhly, and Montney all agreed that the K9 Sport Sack is the dog-backpack design they see most frequently in the city and on cool-dog Instagram if you prefer to carry Fido on your back. Kokoro, Wang’s other dog, favors it over tote-style bags. “The K9 Sport Sack is used by a lot of folks I know. The K9 Sport Sack backpack type is the one that my American Eskimo prefers. Godoy uses it when she needs to be totally hands-free, when hiking or bicycling, and her proportions fit comfortably so that she can sit erect and put her paws on our back as we carry her.
“We travel a lot and are very active, so we use the K9 Sport Sack a lot.” Mikhly says this backpack is “the one that I end up talking to customers about the most because it’s kind of striking — it looks really cute, like the dog is giving its owner a hug from behind, with its head on the owner’s shoulders.”
