Different Types of Crates

[Piperloo]

I'm curious to hear opionions as to what types of crates everyone uses. I have a wire crate I had bought for Piper when we had intended to use it to crate train her but I hate it for a few different reasons. Today I went to PetSmart to look at the different types - in anticipation of a new arrival! - and boiled it down to two choices. Because we travel alot I want a collapsible one so I am looking at the Nylabone collapsible crate and also the soft sided pack and go types. (Not the sherpa carriers.) The Nylabone one seemed sort of cheaply made - which surprised me. It seemed that if it was set up and collapsed alot the plastic pieces would eventually snap. My reservation with the soft sided one is the experience my friend had. Her adult dogs tore through them. Of course one of them has SA and there were other reasons that happened, but it's still a concern because puppies DO chew. PetSmart said that if the dog tears or chews it I can bring it back and trade it in so I'm thinking I've got nothing to lose. But I'd just like to see what everyone else is doing as this will be my <real> first attempt at crate training.
Piperloo

[LNsBeatles]

You may have already decided you don't want a wire crate, but I just through my two cents in :p

A lot of wire crates fold down for travel purposes -- both of mine have handles and fold down into a sort of "suitcase." They are often called "suitcase crates." Not the lightest thing I've ever carted around, but manageable to lug from home to car trunk ;)

I have a small "Midwest Life Stages Double Door Folding Dog Crate" which is Louis' "sleeping crate," and another *HUGE* crate (Great Dane size) which I think is made by Precision Pets. This one serves as Louis' "play crate" :rolleyes:

Right now, when I'm at work, Louis doesn't stay in either crate: instead he's in a small puppy-proof room. But I use his sleeping crate to help with potty training at night, I'm working on getting him to sleep through the night. But, to be honest, most nights he's snuggled down in my bed :p

I'm thinking about buying one of the crate accessory kits they sell -- the usually include a cover (makes it more 'den-like'), a crate pad and a bumper. This will give it that sort of "soft sided" crate look and feel -- but will have the durability (and stability) of the wire. Louis doesn't really chew his bedding, so I should be safe there.

I bought the Midwest one at PetsMart -- and the Precision Pets one at PetCo.

There are a lot of really great crate training resources online -- I'm in St. Louis and our local Humane Society has some great handouts that you can download from their web site. If you're interested, just Google "HSMO" -- Click on Obedience > Pet Tips > Crating.

Hope that helps -- and CONGRATULATIONS on your new arrival appicon

[Miss Donna]

I use the hard plastic carrier when I'm in the car. The wire crate for training in the house and I have a large wire crate with a floor grate, in the Winnebago for when we travel. The wire ones I always cover with a large towel ( except for the door) so they feel secluded and its not so drafty during the winter months.
Unless your with them every minute while they're in them, I would be leary of using the 'soft' crates.

[imogene]

We have a 30" wire crate for her "bedroom" and a plastic travel crate for in the car. I made a custom cover for her crate and now she loves it and will go there to chillout.

[franp]

I would say no to the soft crates for several reasons...
One; they absorb pee; so for housebreaking that is not ideal...

Dari had an EEZI -CRATE as an adult...She learned very quickly how to push her head thru the zipper and get out...Then when she was able to be out of the crate ; she chewed the zipper and ruined it...
The last reason; if the dog moves about in an upset manner, the crate can tip..

I had an airline type kennel for her when she was trained..
Her breeder was telling me that another Breeder has been using the Nylabone crate and is very happy with it...

[Piperloo]

I would say no to the soft crates for several reasons...
One; they absorb pee; so for housebreaking that is not ideal...
Oooh...good thought! That never even crossed my mind! And me being the urine-queen with Piper and all! :lol:


Yesterday I went to lunch with my 85 year old aunt and there was a pet store next to the restaurant. So we went in so I could check out crates. I was overjoyed to see that they had the OLD STYLE nylabone collapsible crate. appicon This is the one that has sort of a triangular top. The new style one is square and the one I had seen in PetSmart and it was the one that was very cheaply made and seemed like the plastic could snap easily. Well, since the old style is a different design and snaps together differently it is made better. So I bought it!! appicon But the best part is when I got to the register the woman who rang me up was very nice and gave me a senior citizen discount because my aunt was with me! appicon

I feel much better now because I really wasn't sure about the canvas crates and didn't like the wire and hated the way the new style nylabone one was made. :eek: So now at least I'm starting off on the right foot!

Piperloo

[imogene]

Belzie's bedroom is a wire crate I didn't like the whole wire thing either, but I was told that they were best as Frenchies like the extra air flow. I thought it was too much like a jail so I decided to customize it. I am an Interior Design Consultant had a bit of fun designing her crate. Now she loves it! Especially the privacy sheers!:lol: Here is a picture of Belzie in her

crate!linkhttp://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/chiuink/Princess-Belzie.jpg

[LNsBeatles]

That is the most darling thing I have ever seen!! You are so creative! I'm going to have to try and spiff up Louis' den ;) Right now he just has a crate pad and a really cute baby fleece blanket I bought from Target that has puppy dogs on it! :lol:

[Piperloo]

That's great Tracy! appicon I wish you lived near me. Piper has a bolster bed and I am trying to sew a replacement cover for it because her body is starting to wear out parts of it. Of course no pattern exists for this sort of thing and it is only my like, 5th sewing project ever! :lol:
Piperloo

[imogene]

Piperloo, I am sure your bolster bed project will go fine

Just whatever you do make sure to wash the material before you start - that way you will know for sure that it can be washed when needed appicon Oh and stay away from Zippers if you can help it. They are the bane of my existance. I am a straight line sewer, and I don't like pins and patterns so if I can do it so can you

BTW what is a bolster bed?

[Piperloo]

Zippers?!? :eek: No way! I'm going with velcro! :lol: A bolster bed is a flat orthopedic style bed with an "arm rest" on three sides. I hope I am explaining that so it makes sense. I know Drs. Foster and Smith has a picture of one because that is where I bought it from. I'm sorry but I do not know how to attach links.
Piperloo

[imogene]

Zippers?!? :eek: No way! I'm going with velcro! :lol: A bolster bed is a flat orthopedic style bed with an "arm rest" on three sides. I hope I am explaining that so it makes sense. I know Drs. Foster and Smith has a picture of one because that is where I bought it from. I'm sorry but I do not know how to attach links.
Piperloo

Is this the bed you mean?

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=1339&N=2001+113680

It shouldnt be too hard, even without a pattern. Sew the bolster portion first. Since you mentioned using velcro, I would use this on a large portion of this long seam. That way you'll be able to easily stuff the orignal bolster inside. It will also help you attach the two end circles. My mom always uses a loose stitch (I think it's called a baste stitch) arround the perimiter of the circles to gather them a bit - it makes it easier to fit the circle on to the fabric. The Bottom portion looks straight forward.

It's a very nice bed. I can see why you want to re-cover it! Let me know how it goes:)

[Piperloo]

Yes, that is the bed. Mmmmm...that is a new style cover this year...perhaps they are now making replacemnt covers! :D

I actually have the entire thing mocked up with muslin. The evil part is the end caps. :lol: And the corners where the arms meet the back - but I know where I went wrong there and will be able to straighten that out with no problem.

I really liked the beds from LL Bean with the replaceable covers but I just KNEW Piper wouldn't use them. Why can't they ever be easy????? :lol:

Piperloo

[LNsBeatles]

I was at the fabric store over the weekend, looking for dog costume patterns :rolleyes: for the Mardi Gras Pet Parade in St. Louis -- in the back of most standard pattern books they include a section for dog clothes and other pet products. I noticed several patterns for dog beds with bolsters. Just thought I'd pass along in case anyone felt extra crafty :p

I need to learn how to sew -- they had some really cute stuff! :)

[Piperloo]

I need to learn how to sew -- they had some really cute stuff! :)

Ellen, there's no learning about it! :lol: One day I just decided that I was tired of forever asking my mom to hem my pants. My husband bought me a sewing machine for my birthday and I never looked back! appicon Unfortunately there are no sewing classes being offered within a reasonable distance so I just sort of wing it. I do all sorts of other crafts that I've been forced to create patterns and such for so I guess this was the next logical step. But the bottom line is - it's not nearly as difficult as I had been dreading for all these years and I have to admit I'm actually enjoying it! :D (I have been staying away from making clothing though - I've been finding that trying to figure out sizing from the pattern is WAY too much stress! :lol: )