Gunner G1 Kennel

By Relax My Paws | Updated: September 2026 | 8 min read

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Overview

The Gunner G1 Kennel is a heavy-duty, double-wall rotomolded travel crate built specifically for vehicle safety. Unlike most travel crates, it’s been independently crash-tested — and for dogs that struggle with car anxiety, a crate that genuinely holds up in an accident is worth understanding on its own terms, separate from any anxiety-reduction claims.

Gunner G1 Kennel

CPS Crash-Tested Dog Travel Kennel, Double-Wall Protection for Vehicle Safety

The Crash Test Rating — What’s Actually Certified

This is the part worth getting exactly right before you buy. The Center for Pet Safety (CPS), an independent nonprofit that crash-tests pet products, awarded the G1 Small, Medium, and Intermediate sizes a 5-Star Crash Test Rating — the highest rating CPS gives, and the Intermediate was the first pet travel crate to ever earn it. The Small also holds a dual certification in both the crate and carrier categories.

Important: the G1 Large has not been CPS crash-tested. If crash certification specifically is why you’re considering this crate, that matters — a bigger dog needing the Large size doesn’t get the same third-party-verified protection as smaller sizes do.

Certification also depends on using Gunner’s own strength-rated tie-down straps, anchored at four points — a standard wire crate or a different strap setup isn’t what was actually tested.

Real Stress-Test Data

Beyond the CPS rating, Gunner’s own published testing includes dropping a 630-lb sled from roughly 8 feet onto the kennel, and applying force with a vice machine until — according to the company — the machine itself broke before the crate did, at over 4,000 lbs of pressure. This is company-reported data rather than independent verification like the CPS rating, but it’s consistent with the double-wall rotomolded construction (similar to a Pelican case) that gives the G1 its reputation for durability.

Key Specifications and Design Points

Exact pricing and dimensions vary by size — check current listings for specifics.

What you’re trading off for that build quality: it’s genuinely heavy compared to a standard wire or plastic crate, takes up meaningful cargo space, and sits at a premium price point relative to less rugged alternatives. None of that is a flaw exactly — it’s the direct consequence of the same double-wall construction that gives it real crash-test results — but it’s worth knowing going in if portability or budget matters as much to you as protection does.

How It Compares

Gunner G1 Kennel

CPS Crash-Tested Dog Travel Kennel, Double-Wall Protection for Vehicle Safety

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Does It Actually Help With Anxiety?

A secure, enclosed, den-like space can genuinely help some anxious dogs feel calmer during car travel — less visual stimulation, a stable, non-sliding ride, and a consistent space trip to trip. That said, there’s no independent research specifically quantifying how much a crate like this reduces anxiety (be skeptical of any review that gives you a precise percentage here — that’s not something that’s actually been measured). Think of the safety case and the anxiety case separately: the crash protection is well-documented; the calming effect is plausible and reported anecdotally by owners, but not something CPS or anyone else has formally studied.

Pros

• Genuinely independent crash certification for Small, Medium, and Intermediate sizes — not just a marketing claim
• Real, verifiable stress-test data published by the company
• Lifetime warranty on defects
• Double-wall construction holds up well to daily wear
• Secure, stable ride that may help some anxious dogs settle
• Made in the USA

Cons

• Large size isn’t CPS crash-tested — a real gap if you have a bigger dog
• Expensive relative to standard crates
• Heavy and not easily portable between vehicles
• Not airline-compatible
• Some reviewers note dogs have chewed through the plastic walls — Gunner sells an add-on Chew Kit with steel covers, worth considering for a dog with real separation-anxiety-driven chewing
• Certification only applies when using Gunner’s own tie-down straps, correctly anchored

Best Use Cases

Most commonly used for:

• Frequent drivers — daily commutes or regular trips where your dog rides in the car often enough that real crash protection matters
• Dogs sized for the certified range — Small, Medium, or Intermediate specifically, where the CPS rating actually applies
• Owners prioritizing safety above portability — this isn’t the crate you fold away between uses; it lives in your vehicle
• Multi-dog households with a larger vehicle — SUVs or trucks with enough cargo space for proper anchoring
• Dogs with anxiety around visual stimulation or movement — the enclosed, stable ride may help some dogs settle, as a secondary benefit to the crash protection

Likely to help: owners who drive with their dog regularly and want independently verified protection, especially for a dog whose size falls in the certified range.

May need more support: dogs needing the Large size (no independent certification yet), households prioritizing portability or budget over maximum protection — a PETSFIT soft crate fits that need better — or dogs with a strong chewing habit, where the add-on Chew Kit is worth factoring into the cost.

Who Should Consider This

Makes the most sense for: owners who drive with their dog often, dogs whose size matches a CPS-certified option (Small, Medium, Intermediate), and anyone treating crash safety as the primary reason to buy — the anxiety-calming effect is a reasonable bonus, not the main selling point.

Worth pausing on: if your dog needs the Large size specifically (no independent crash certification), if cost or portability matters more than crash protection for your situation, or if your dog has a strong chewing habit tied to anxiety (factor in the Chew Kit).

Getting It Set Up

1. Confirm your vehicle has proper anchor points and enough cargo space
2. Use Gunner’s own tie-down straps — a different strap setup isn’t what was actually crash-tested
3. Secure at all four anchor points and test that the crate doesn’t shift when pushed firmly
4. Introduce your dog gradually — leave the door open at first, add a familiar blanket, and let them enter voluntarily rather than forcing it
5. Start with short local drives before a long trip

Final Verdict

The Gunner G1 is a legitimately well-tested, well-built crate — the CPS 5-Star rating on the Small, Medium, and Intermediate sizes is real and independently verified, which is more than most competitors can say. The Large size is the one place to pump the brakes: no independent crash certification exists for it yet, so don’t assume the same protection carries over.

As an anxiety tool specifically, treat it as a reasonable, plausible aid — not a proven anxiety treatment — and pair it with an actual 7-day car training plan rather than expecting the crate alone to solve travel anxiety.

Sources: Center for Pet Safety crash test information via Gunner Kennels, Gunner Kennels — 5-Star Crash Test Rating announcement, Dog Gear Review — Gunner G1 Kennel Review