Choosing Plastic Dog Crates
If you've decided to crate train your dog, the first step is to choose a dog crate.
There are essentially three types of dog crates- wire mesh, hard plastic, or soft fabric.
The hard plastic variety offer several advantages over other varieties.
They are almost as sturdy as a metal cage, and far lighter and easier to transport.
They typically require little to no set up- at most, a simple matter of clipping the top to the bottom.
Because they do not have an open mesh or breathable fabric, though, they do not offer as much ventilation as other types, and thus require more attention to the ambient temperature.
On the other hand, the more enclosed space reduces the dog's view of the outside, which may make it calmer and less likely to become carsick.
For this reason, these crates are popular for use on car trips.
Finally, if you want to transport your dog on an airplane, these are the only type of crates accepted by most airlines.
When choosing a plastic dog crate, there are a few features to consider, apart from size.
If your dog is a puppy in the chewing stage, or is simply an inveterate chewer, the plastic is at risk of damage from your dogs teeth.
Not all crates are alike in the quality of their plastic.
If you have the crate in question in front of you, and aren't averse to committing a minor act of vandalism, run the edge of a coin or your thumbnail along the plastic.
If it seems to gouge easily, then it probably won't stand up to prolonged chewing.
If you're not interested in damaging a crate you don't want to buy, ask a salesperson for information about the durability of the crate.
Also, take a look at the doors.
The more doors, the better- you never know what kind of position you'll need to place the crate in.
Some crates have doors on both ends, and are hinged by the same mechanism that opens them, meaning they can be opened on either side of the door.
These are ideal, since they are that much less likely to be blocked by other furniture or the like.
A top door is not strictly necessary, but can be desirable.
If you plan to transport the crate frequently, see how comfortable it is to carry.
Even lightweight plastic crates can be awkward to move, due to their shape.
Try walking around with it a bit, and if it has handles, give them a good tug to see if they bend.
If so, they may be flimsy.
As noted previously, many plastic crates are made in two sections, which can be unclipped from each other.
This makes cleaning the inside much, much easier, so look for one that has this feature.
There are essentially three types of dog crates- wire mesh, hard plastic, or soft fabric.
The hard plastic variety offer several advantages over other varieties.
They are almost as sturdy as a metal cage, and far lighter and easier to transport.
They typically require little to no set up- at most, a simple matter of clipping the top to the bottom.
Because they do not have an open mesh or breathable fabric, though, they do not offer as much ventilation as other types, and thus require more attention to the ambient temperature.
On the other hand, the more enclosed space reduces the dog's view of the outside, which may make it calmer and less likely to become carsick.
For this reason, these crates are popular for use on car trips.
Finally, if you want to transport your dog on an airplane, these are the only type of crates accepted by most airlines.
When choosing a plastic dog crate, there are a few features to consider, apart from size.
If your dog is a puppy in the chewing stage, or is simply an inveterate chewer, the plastic is at risk of damage from your dogs teeth.
Not all crates are alike in the quality of their plastic.
If you have the crate in question in front of you, and aren't averse to committing a minor act of vandalism, run the edge of a coin or your thumbnail along the plastic.
If it seems to gouge easily, then it probably won't stand up to prolonged chewing.
If you're not interested in damaging a crate you don't want to buy, ask a salesperson for information about the durability of the crate.
Also, take a look at the doors.
The more doors, the better- you never know what kind of position you'll need to place the crate in.
Some crates have doors on both ends, and are hinged by the same mechanism that opens them, meaning they can be opened on either side of the door.
These are ideal, since they are that much less likely to be blocked by other furniture or the like.
A top door is not strictly necessary, but can be desirable.
If you plan to transport the crate frequently, see how comfortable it is to carry.
Even lightweight plastic crates can be awkward to move, due to their shape.
Try walking around with it a bit, and if it has handles, give them a good tug to see if they bend.
If so, they may be flimsy.
As noted previously, many plastic crates are made in two sections, which can be unclipped from each other.
This makes cleaning the inside much, much easier, so look for one that has this feature.
