Research-based shortlist, not a verified-fit list. Confirm your model year, body style, trim and seat layout before buying.
This guide builds on our general guide to choosing the best kennel for your vehicle. Start there for the overall approach, or change vehicles with the selector below.
Start with your Subaru Forester’s layout
The Forester is a promising shape for investigating a cargo-area kennel, but a boxy-looking vehicle is not a fit guarantee. Model-year changes, floor mats and cargo accessories can alter the available envelope. Measure with the rear seatbacks and accessories exactly as they will be used.
For two dogs, begin with two full-height mock-ups instead of doubling a single floor measurement. The shells may widen above their bases, and the doors need room to operate independently. The Forester’s upright appearance makes this worth investigating, but the final limitation may be hardware or interior trim rather than roof height.
If one kennel fits easily, resist filling every remaining gap with equipment. Keep a route to the latch and space to attach a leash while the second dog remains contained. That stop-by-stop routine is a more useful test of a two-dog purchase than a photograph of two empty boxes in the cargo area.
The checks that matter here
- Generation and installed cargo accessories
- Width for one versus two kennels
- Door access and clearance at hatch closure
Kennels we would compare for the Subaru Forester
Compare a dog-sized RuffLand with a suitable Gunner G1, using the full exterior dimensions of each. For two dogs, verify two independently secured kennels and usable doors instead of assuming the cargo width accepts a pair.
RuffLand single-door kennel
Start with one rear-entry kennel, then test a full pair only if both doors and securing routes remain usable in the Forester.
When we would pass: Reject this layout if generation and installed cargo accessories cannot accommodate the dog-appropriate shell and a usable entrance.
Check this option and its instructions →
Gunner G1
For a potential two-dog Forester setup, compare two complete G1 shells and independent entrances instead of doubling a single base measurement.
When we would pass: The deciding trial includes door access and clearance at hatch closure. A floor-only fit does not resolve that constraint.
Check this option and its instructions →
These are candidates to investigate, not confirmed fits. Match the exact size and installation instructions to your dog and vehicle before ordering.
Before you order
Use the main guide’s dog-sizing and loading-route checklist to test your chosen layout. Review how to check crash-test evidence for the exact product and installation; a successful physical fit does not establish crash protection.
Bring your dog’s measurements, your model year and trim, and photos of the intended installation area to the kennel seller. Ask for the exterior envelope and usable interior measurements of the exact size and door configuration. Confirm the return terms before a trial fit.
Sources and related guides
Reviewed October 26, 2026. Recommendations are editorial judgments from published information; no vehicle-specific fit or crash result is implied.