Dog Community

pros and cons to different kinds of crates?

Posted : 4/21/2006 2:25:54 PM

Im sorry to bog you guys down with questions of this nature, but im a first time dog owner and everyone seems not only knowledgeable, but helpful....

I was looking at different kinds of crates, and was wondering what pros and cons were to the plastic (vari kennel, for example) crates versus the metal wire crates.

I like the look of the metal crates better, and they are more expensive.... what is the difference when it comes down to it?

Thanks.

Sandra TH

Posted : 4/21/2006 2:31:08 PM

I like the wire ones- better air circulation and if you want it to be more den-like, you can drape a blanket or sheet over it. Of course, my Zoey likes to pull the blanket in and chew holes in it...

glenmar

Posted : 4/21/2006 2:42:56 PM

Put a piece of wood over the TOP of the metal crate and then put the sheet or blanket on and the little stinker won't be able to reach it![

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I have both metal and plastic. Some of my dogs prefer one over the other, but for the most part, they've sorted it out for themselves who gets what. I like the better air flow of the wire crates, but a couple of my dogs like the dennier feeling of the plastic.

Sandra TH

Posted : 4/21/2006 2:52:44 PM

Ha! Now, why didn't I think of that? Thanks, Glenda!

glenmar

Posted : 4/21/2006 2:56:55 PM

Well, unfortunately I can't claim credit for that idea. Someone else posted it here eons ago and I liked the idea so much that I stole it. Shameless, huh?

cyclefiend2000

Posted : 4/21/2006 2:58:45 PM

a co-worker of mine had a dog that didnt like to be crated and he could shake the screws loose on the plastic kind. never heard of this happening before she told me about her dog though.

we like the metal ones because our dogs can lay and look out of the sliding door while they are in there if they want to. we would have to reposition the crates somehow for them to be able to do this with the plastic kind. i am not sure if the plastic ones have removable trays in them or not, but our puppy has thrown up in his crate a couple of times and it was super easy to clean by just sliding the tray in and out.

edit: we have been thinking about getting plastic ones for the car, but i am not sure that we could get them so that they are big enough for the dogs and still fit on the back seat of the car.

amstaffy

Posted : 4/21/2006 2:59:20 PM

I like the three types..
Wire for warm weather once they are fully housebroken
Plastic for cooler weather and young dogs, easier to clean and no worries if anyone gets "poopy" and makes a mess.
Fabric(Canine Camper) for crate trained dogs who are traveling to shows, easy in the van and motel room while my other crates are left in the buildings

glenmar

Posted : 4/21/2006 3:04:30 PM

OK, this idea IS mine....instead of using the little bolt things that come with the crates, use zip ties.

Meralee Crowl

Posted : 4/21/2006 3:06:45 PM

My uncle used to do that with his dogs, but I don't know if I ever posted it on here or not.

thedoc617

Posted : 4/21/2006 3:11:09 PM

Isn't there a warning about the wire crates bought at Wal-mart killing a dog?
I am searching everywhere but I can't find it! Does anybody know what I'm talking about?

I use plastic vari-kennels. Candy liked it a whole lot more than a wire one, and Daisy just inherited all of what Candy had.

agilebcs

Posted : 4/21/2006 3:14:18 PM

I used plastic, wire and mesh ones.

Plastic for puppies - easier to clean up.

My dogs are in wire crates at home mostly because it's easy to slide the tray out to clean out dirt or a mess.

In the summer I use the wire ones in my car (the ones made to fit the back of SUV's) and in the colder months I use the plastic ones because I think it keeps them a little warmer (they spend a lot of time in the car).

I used zip ties recently on a used vari-kennel I got. It was a little mangled and I couldn't get the holes to line up for a couple of the screws and zip ties work great!

glenmar

Posted : 4/21/2006 3:16:02 PM

The lower the guage of the wire, the better quality the crate. I think, but maybe it's the other way around. Both of mine were HUGELY expensive and are the THICK stuff, with very careful welds.

agilebcs

Posted : 4/21/2006 3:16:05 PM

I've bought a couple of wire crates recently from ebay and the quality isn't great but for my very crate trained dogs they are ok. The Midwest ones that I have (the suitcase style, I can't figure out the drop pin ones) are very sturdy.

glenmar

Posted : 4/21/2006 3:17:28 PM

Ah, just went and looked, and that's what I've got are the Midwest suitcase type.

Katie M.

Posted : 4/21/2006 3:22:43 PM

ORIGINAL: thedoc617

Isn't there a warning about the wire crates bought at Wal-mart killing a dog?
I am searching everywhere but I can't find it! Does anybody know what I'm talking about?

I use plastic vari-kennels. Candy liked it a whole lot more than a wire one, and Daisy just inherited all of what Candy had.

There was a recall if I'm not mistaken but it was several years ago. Basically a poorly constructed crate and a young 'escape-minded' dog. I had one of those crates for my Westie, but he has no inclination to escape so it wasn't an issue. I think what happened was that the dog stuck its head through where the sections met and got stuck, and no one was home to release him.