What kind of crates do you prefer and why?

I have 2 wire crates and one plastic crate. I prefer the wire crates (but I have to make them Nebo proof by adding metal snaps). Although Nebo managed to ruin the plastic bottom of the bigger (great dane size) crate...no matter how many times I tried to fix it he killed it. He is happier in the smaller crate and he doesn't try to destroy it. :confused: He goes and lays in it on his own all the time, it's his "den." He prefers tight places like that. It folds up easily I don't find it hard to travel with, it's been on a few road trips in the trunk of a car.

The plastic crate I have in my room and Sydney sleeps in it. I like having it because I can use it if I need to fly him. I'll probably always have both. I would get a soft crate but I wouldn't dare leave him in it (while I'm gone) and I don't really crate him when I take him with me places so it seems a bit pointless at the moment. If I were taking him to agility trials or something I'm sure I'd get one.

I have a wire crate and a plastic crate.

The wire crate was my first choice. I feel it's a lot more durable than the plastic and safer. The plastic was purchased for travel/plane rides.

I have plastic crates. Adele has escaped from a wire crate and gotten a deep gash on her leg which required stitches, but she has never been able to escape or get hurt on the plastic one. Needless to say, I don't use wire anymore because I think it's too much of a saftely risk for Adele, so we have 2 large plastic crates (for Vallis & Adele- Marta is gated) and they have slots for ventilation, plus since they are confined we make sure to always have a fan on them in warmer weather.

Sassy has been using a plastic one for the last 8 years. We have never had a problem with the plastic kind, we did have a problem with the wire kind. Sassy cried when we took her plastic crate away and gave her a wire one. She was terrified in the wire one, for some odd reason. So now she just uses her plastic crate and LOVES it alot. She uses it in the summer more because it's cooler then her bed.

I use wire for home, soft for travel.

I prefer the wire for their home crate because it is well ventilated, I can see him and he can see me, and it's so cute to see those tootsies sticking out the side of the crate when he has room enough in there for 5 more dogs his size lol. He's very husky like, and prefers the small sizes as well. We have two #400s (vari kennel sizing) wire crates at my dad's that both dogs stay in, and Rien "settles" faster in that one, rather than digging about a bit.

The soft crate is great for travel. It folds up easy and folds down easier. He stays in it when we're on road trips. Learned this summer in Portland that he can stay in it while we're NOT in the hotel room without freaking out and tearing it apart.

I'm going to have to get a plastic one for air travel, as I have come to the conclusion that I am NOT driving him out with me to Portland if Reed accepts me. I think I'll spend either a semester or a year in the dorms first, which has been recommended at me left and right for years. He's going to have to fly "cargo" on a flight or back with me after a holiday. How do you people who fly do that? The regulations look pretty intense -- what do they mean about the food/water dishes? How is it going to be accessable without them opening the door???

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Iilo

I'm going to have to get a plastic one for air travel, as I have come to the conclusion that I am NOT driving him out with me to Portland if Reed accepts me. I think I'll spend either a semester or a year in the dorms first, which has been recommended at me left and right for years. He's going to have to fly "cargo" on a flight or back with me after a holiday. How do you people who fly do that? The regulations look pretty intense -- what do they mean about the food/water dishes? How is it going to be accessable without them opening the door???

---

Which airline are you using? What size is your pup? If he is small enough then they may let him fly inside the cabin with you! :D Spanky is a Chi and that is what I did when I flew with her using Alaska and American airlines. I never figured out what they meant by them being accessible from the outside. Maybe they meant like from a smaller and/or different way than you use to let them out of? After a few flights, I just left the food and water out (after checking with airline personnel, first) as it just spilled and they didn't eat anyways.

My parents found an EXCELLENT crate for travelling with. I will give you the link if you like. It's the same one I use for Spanky and she loves it.

Wenisrubber,

I have a Malamute, so he's about 70-80 pounds and would need his own seat for the 8 hour flight out to Portland. I don't think that that's possible, and he'd definitely get antsy and want to meet everyone on the plane. He CAN fit under my seat, but his crate can't, so I guess he can't be a carry-on.

I'd love a link to that crate. We don't have any plastic kennels, except for one very small vari-kennel that I wouldn't feel comfortable leaving him in for 8+ hours. We'd probably be flying NWA, as that's what I've flown all my life. ;)

We use Bargain Hound brand plastic, Clark loved it, Layla hated it (she also had seperaction anxiety though) and Niño loves it. Durring parties he'll open the door with his paw and go in to sleep.
I plan on buying this for the next dog:
Star Plastic Folding Crate
http://huskydogbeds.com/largeimages/...e_plastice.jpg I love the way it looks and that it can fold down so nicley, plus is's airline approved. You can also buy wheels for it.

I love bargain hound because it has lasted through 7 years including 5 months with a dog who scrateched up the inside and tried with all her might to break and destroy it, plus it was cheaper, and it has no ugly logo on the top!
http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0...CMZZZZZZZ_.jpg

I want to buy the $25 Boots & Barkley brand soft crate just for traveling for Niño but I'm scared because at IKC (benched dog show) a pug in one FELL OFF THE BENCH while inside :eek:

i prefer foldable wire crates. that's what a use for all my dogs. they are easy to haul around.

soft would not last 2 seconds in my house lol I like wire for its looks, but thats about it, I have a wire crate, but my dogs wont touch it unless I have all but the door covered up, the only thing I dont like about plastic is its ugly, but my dogs prefere plasitic and plastic is a lot more practical so I use it anyway lol

I perfer wire, in 4-H a wire is required and I like how she can see what's going on around her.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by dab_20

I like the wire ones. They have better air circulation so they don't get stinky inside.

---

That's the main reason we got a wire crate before we got Rita. :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Iilo

Wenisrubber,

I have a Malamute, so he's about 70-80 pounds and would need his own seat for the 8 hour flight out to Portland. I don't think that that's possible, and he'd definitely get antsy and want to meet everyone on the plane. He CAN fit under my seat, but his crate can't, so I guess he can't be a carry-on.

I'd love a link to that crate. We don't have any plastic kennels, except for one very small vari-kennel that I wouldn't feel comfortable leaving him in for 8+ hours. We'd probably be flying NWA, as that's what I've flown all my life. ;)

---

Ahh, you're right. They'll probably put him in cargo. :(

http://www.dogsupplies.com/store/mcart.php?ID=413 . That is the crate link. I have the one with the steel grate top. The little brown things you see on the sides? You slide those together, after pushing down the edges of the white part, and it flips open. :)

Here is an additional link that you might find handy: http://www.seatguru.com/airlines/Nor...lines/pets.php

reffering to that last link^^

Aw, no rats alowed in carry on. :(