By Sandy Robins
Pet travel expert, author and MSNBC.com columnist
March 8, 2010

The Umbra Pet Tent by Pet Ego is a stylish instant doghouse with an umbrella-styled mechanism that allows it to pop open in seconds. It can be set up anywhere even in the back of an SUV or on the beach. It’s kitted with a padded comfort pillow and a front porch so that your dog never feels left out of family fun. It comes in orange and grey and packs into an easy carrying case.

The Petmate Portable Home by Petmate is also easy to set-up creating a secure confined area with plenty of ventilation. It has a screen mesh door, roll-down blinds for privacy. It comes in a variety of color combinations and packs flat when not in use.

Portable doghouses are ideal as a home away from home whether you’re staying in a hotel or at grandma’s house. And you can even use it to let the dog join the kids when they camp out in the backyard.