What is the best soft crate?

    • Gold Top Dog

    What is the best soft crate?

    We are going to buy Marley a soft crate for traveling. We take him with us everywhere and the big plastic one is a pain in the neck! Anyway, we are looking at one of these...any other suggestions?

    http://www.sitstay.com/store/equip/softcrate-n.shtml
    http://www.sitstay.com/store/equip/softcrate-x.shtml

    Thanks for the input![;)]
    • Gold Top Dog
    I have to say I did like the second one better.

    I use one made by Delta which looks similar to the second one. I find it easier when traveling cause it has more ventilation screens which allows you to keep an eye out on your pet and it also has more compartments in which you can open up but not let them out and store stuff like the leash etc.
    • Silver
    I have the 2nd one and have been using it for a couple of years and like it a lot.  I also use an older Cabana Crate and I just ordered a new model Cabana Crate that I found on sale.  The Noz 2 Noz crates are a bit heavier than other brands but they are very sturdy and easy to set up and take down.
    • Gold Top Dog
    I like a really inexpensive one make by, uh, PetNation?  It sets up with corded tension poles in like point two seconds, is super light, and has a hatch on the top as well as a door on the front.  I'm sure it's not as nice as the more expensive ones in other ways, but it works well for me and the size that fits my dog only costs $50.
    • Gold Top Dog
    My personal favorite is the canine camper series.....
    [linkhttp://www.dog.com/itemdy00.asp?T1=101131+724&Cat]http://www.dog.com/itemdy00.asp?T1=101131+724&Cat[/link]=
     
    this years new model..I like the lighter color
    [linkhttp://www.dog.com/itemdy00.asp?T1=102131+012&Cat]http://www.dog.com/itemdy00.asp?T1=102131+012&Cat[/link]=
     
    We carry the two you have listed above as well but the canine camper to me is easier to put up and take down. I've pinched my fingers trying to assemble/take down the crate your looking at
    • Gold Top Dog
    I have always had the cabana crates, which I love.  I like them because they are really sturdy, not at all flimsy.  I actually just got an email from the makers of the cabana crate saying they are discontinuing the crate as soft crates have become "too mainstream" and they want to offer items not easily available...[8|] But at least they will carry the replacement parts.  Anyway, the cabana crates are on sale because of this.  

    The ones you have picked out looked nice as well. 
    • Gold Top Dog
    Just a word of warning on the soft crates.  Even though your dog may be completely crate trained it doesn't mean they won't bust out of the soft crate if they want to.  I definitely suggest that if you decide to leave him in this when you go, to treat it as though you're completely retraining the crate(ie. 5 minutes in the first time and then to increase the amount of time in there). Because otherwise, something like this might happen(maybe you only intend on using it in the car, but I thought i'd post this just in case you hadn't. Don't want this happening to you.):
     

    • Gold Top Dog
    ORIGINAL: ewin0210

    Just a word of warning on the soft crates.  Even though your dog may be completely crate trained it doesn't mean they won't bust out of the soft crate if they want to.  I definitely suggest that if you decide to leave him in this when you go, to treat it as though you're completely retraining the crate(ie. 5 minutes in the first time and then to increase the amount of time in there). Because otherwise, something like this might happen(maybe you only intend on using it in the car, but I thought i'd post this just in case you hadn't. Don't want this happening to you.):


    Or this: [8|]



    • Gold Top Dog
    I like the Canine Camper best, though. It's super-easy to set-up and pretty sturdy, in general.  We had our visiting Basset in our Canine Camper (the replacement for the one above [8|]), and Lucy scratched and scratched and chewed at it, but she didn't manage to get out. 
     
    I like that new color, Jaime. We'll be buying one eventually for Bella. [:D
     
    If you buy a soft crate, I highly recommend dog.com -- excellent price, shipping, and customer service on the soft crates!!
    • Gold Top Dog
    Oh is that the work of roscoe I detect? Maybe its pent up aggression for having a mom with a camera glued their face!
    • Gold Top Dog
    Okay...so you've given me some food for thought! I would buy from dog.com...I just always go to sitstay because I know that they support Labrador Retriever Rescue of Southern California! I know there are a lot of labs that need homes (because they are such cute puppies and can be great dogs BUT they need a lot of patience and training). I try to help anyway I can...if fact I was going to try to volunteer this summer!

    Anyway, off topic. I love this forum so I should support dog.com too. I cannot find the noz 2 noz on dog.com though. Still don't know which one we are getting...I just want it to be as sturdy as it can be for a soft crate. Anyone else who wants to put in their 2 cents would be great!

    As for the escape artists...Marley usually just lays down in his crate. It actually relaxes him more. But we will do some trial runs! Thanks for the warning.
    • Gold Top Dog
    I dont know if this is any better as far as how easily you can travel with it, I just thought it was a nice looking, cozy crate
     
    [linkhttp://petdreams.com/product.php?productid=16199]http://petdreams.com/product.php?productid=16199[/link]
     
    I saw a picture of it in a dog magazine...