How to Choose the Right Dog Crate for Your Situation
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With so many choices, deciding which dog crate to purchase can be confusing. Our goal is to help you decide which dog crate is perfect for your dog and your budget. The strength and quality of the kennel you will need will be determined by several factors: |
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For housebreaking a puppy only?
For confining a destructive dog?
For short-term confinement or confinement for long periods of time?
Will you expect to use it while your dog is a puppy? An adult?
How big is your dog?
What type of temperament does your dog have? Stubborn, rebellious, destructive? Or meek, mild, and retiring?
How much portability to do you need? Will you be moving it frequently?
Do you want to ship your dog on an airplane? In the cabin with you or in the cargo hold? |
For what purpose will you use the dog crate? |
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Plastic Dog Crates:Used for air travel (wire crates are not acceptable to airlines), and for home confinement, Plastic Dog Crates have wire doors and holes or vents on the sides and back for air circulation. They are very sturdy and afford a great deal of protection for the dog during a trip. For international travel, you must have a Sky Kennel, as they are the only ones IATA (International Air Travel Association) approved for travel between countries.
Smaller ones come with handles for actually carrying the dog crate and dog. Larger ones do not, as the combined weight would be too much for a person to lift. They require wheels or a dog crate dolly for easy transport.
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Puppies sometimes start out in Sky Kennels at home because they feel secure in the closed-in construction of a plastic dog crate. On the other hand, puppies with socialization problems should probably be in a wire dog crate because it is a more social environment and allows them to be in closer proximity to family activity without being threatened by it. Either way, most dogs come to cherish their dog crate as home and kingdom and will actually choose to sleep in it when confinement is no longer necessary. |
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Metal or Wire Dog Crates:
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Used for home, kennel, dog shows, and sporting dog competitions, wire dog crates are made of heavy gauge wire on all four sides. They provide superior ventilation, take up less visual space in a room, and provide more ways for the dog to see and hear the activity around it. They have a pull-out pan in the bottom of the crate for the dog's comfort and for easy cleaning. They also store in a smaller configuration. |
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Wire dog crates have some important qualities that differentiate them from one another:
Gauge of Wire:
- The gauge of the wire on wire dog crates can vary from small wire to extra heavy-duty wire. The higher the gauge, the lighter and less substantial is the wire. The lower number, the stronger and more sturdy the dog crate is, but the heavier it is to move or carry.
ie: 7 gauge wire is much stronger and thicker than 11 gauge wire.
The number of bars in the wire crate will vary from densely wired to lightly wired. Crates with wide wire spacing have fewer wires and are lighter weight but will withstand less abuse. Crates with close bar spacing weigh more and can withstand the more rambunctious or an aggressive dog.
- If you have a small dog or will be using the crate for a puppy only, you can probably feel comfortable that the lighter crates will be sufficient. However, if you will be confining an adult dog, a large dog, or a potentially destructive dog, heavier gauge and denser bars will probably be necessary.
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