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There are many different dog crates: soft crates, plastic and wooden, metal crates, big or small, fold-able and not, heavy-duty or highly mobile, airline-approved crates and travel friendly, etc.
It can be challenging to choose the best type of crate for dogs in your household with so many styles.
If you're shopping for one, ask yourself the below questions:
- How are you going to use your pet crate?
- What specifically do you and your pooch need it for?
- Are you going to travel with it?
- What is your dog's temperament?
- Does the dog crate have to fit your home decor?
- How much are you willing to spend?
- Does the crate need to be moved quickly because you'll be carrying it constantly?
These and other factors will play a role in picking the best type of dog crate for your pet. For example, if your pup likes to chew and is a strong chewer, a soft-sided dog crate won't be a good fit. Or, if you're going to use the crate when you travel, a heavy wooden crate won't be an intelligent choice. The below guide will walk you through all types and best fits.
Types of Dog Crates
1. Dog Crates Soft-Sided
A soft-sided dog crate (far left in the above picture) has its walls made out of soft mesh material or something resembling that texture.
Some soft crates will have a steel tube frame for the crate to resemble more of a cage/den construction, while others may look more like a backpack or carrying case.
Which type of soft dog crate you choose depends on how you plan to use it, how often you're going to use it, and what kind of dog you have.
Take a look at the pros and cons. One of the most popular soft-sided dog crates on Amazon at the moment is the 3-door one from Elite Field, which has garnered some great reviews from many pet owners.
Soft-sided crates are the most popular option among pet owners.
They're not too expensive, lightweight, and easy to carry, and dogs usually like them. However, soft dog crates are not the best option for every canine or every situation.
Pros:
- Soft-sided dog crates are great for airplane rides and car rides. Because they are very portable, they are perfect for travel. Many airlines have approved pet crates of this kind for in-cabin use.
- They are incredibly portable because they are very light.
- Soft pet crates fold down for easier storage.
- These crates also tend to be the most comfortable for your pet.
Cons:
- Soft-sided dog crates are not well-suited for canines who like to chew, scratch, or are distressed from being contained.
- Because they are so soft, these pet crates don't last very long and are not very durable.
- They are the hardest pet crates to clean. This means they are not good for dogs who are not crate or potty trained yet.
When Are Soft-Sided Dog Crates Recommended?
The most significant selling point of a pet crate made out of mesh material is its portability and weight.
Therefore, the majority of dog owners will choose these crates for traveling, whether by car, airplane, or other means.
However, there are a lot of safety precautions to keep in mind with these pet crates, and not all of us usually remember about them.
As an example, a soft crate may not always be an excellent option for car travel due 3-door one from Elite Field if left unsecured.
You should always secure your dog in his crate with a seat belt and make sure that the crate will not be sliding or moving whatsoever.
2. Plastic Dog Crates
Plastic pet crates (pictured above) are the middle ground between soft-sided ones and metal dog crates.
They're not the best-looking crates you can buy (in fact, most of them look pretty cheap and unattractive); however, depending on the reason you buy one, it may just do the job, and it comes with its own list of advantages.
A plastic dog crate will undoubtedly be more sturdy than a soft-sided crate, and it will allow for a little more privacy for your pooch than a metal wire cage.
But even with all the holes in the crate, the ventilation isn't always sufficient and the dog cannot stay there for too long.
Plastic crates may or may not be easy to clean, depending on the type you purchase.
The most popular plastic crate for dogs on Amazon is currently the Petmate 2-door plastic kennel for dogs up to 15 pounds.
Overall, these are good crates for short travel and quick trips in the car or airplane (provided you confirm that the airline has approved your specific design). Take a look at the pros and cons of
Pros:
- Plastic dog crates are really easy to clean. Just a quick hose down would suffice.
- They are durable. The thick plastic is pretty hard to break. They can be stacked on top of each other when not being used.
- Because they are enclosed and thick, it creates more of a “den” feel for the dog.
- They can help keep reactive dogs calm and quiet because they can only see out of one side.
- Most airlines have approved these plastic pet crates for both in-cabin and below-the-seat use.
Cons:
- Plastic crates for dogs do not fold flat, so they are harder to store.
- They are durable, but some dogs may be inclined to chew on this pet crate as it is plastic.
- Plastic absorbs odors so even though they are easy to clean, after a while it can have a permanent dog smell.
- They are bulky and can be challenging to carry around.
3. Dog Crates Metal or Wire
Metal dog crates and/or wide crates for dogs (pictured above) are the ones people usually think of with the mention of a crate, kennel, or cage for dogs.
These crates are exactly what you imagine: a construction made out of metal wires that are very well-ventilated and provides excellent visibility (for you and the dog).
Metal pet crates are the best option for puppies who like to chew a lot since it would be nearly impossible for them to destroy this type of crate (although certain larger breeds do manage that).
The best thing about them is their sturdiness, visibility, and extra airflow, but the major con is that they're heavy and difficult to travel with.
For large and strong dogs, heavy-duty cages are made of sturdier metal; they're often more expensive and not travel-friendly, but will be impossible to break.
Fortunately, there are plenty of metal dog crates that have been designed to fold easily for a quick breakdown so that owners can take them wherever they go.
The best and most popular metal dog crate option on Amazon is the MidWest Double-Door iCrate.
MidWest is the expert in wire cages for pets and has a vast selection of high-quality metal crates for dogs and cats of all sizes. Browse their store for more options.
Pros:
- Most metal dog crates will fold up for easy transport.
- They are also easy to clean. Some even have bottom trays that could slide out for cleaning.
- Dogs can't break through this type of pet crate.
- They are “open-air,” which means that there is a lot of airflows. This is great for breeds that get hot quickly.
- This type of cage will not absorb odors and remains odor-free.
- For dogs who like to be a part of all family activities, these pet crates are great because they allow for 360-degree visibility.
Cons:
- Because of the high visibility of these metal dog cages, they are not recommended for reactive canines.
- They are easy to clean but over time dog hair and dirt can get stuck in the cross bars.
- Because they are made of metal, these pet cages will rust over time.
- This is a heavy type of crate, so they can be hard to move just because of their weight while they do fold up.
- The dog's nails on the plastic tray tend to make a lot of noise.
- Some metal dog crates can be easy to escape from because of the door closures.
4. Dog Crates Wooden or Decorative
Just as the title implies, most dog crates made out of wood prioritize fashion and style. They often fit well with your home decor and look the best out of all pet crates listed in this article.
Many pet owners who know that they will not move these crates often or use them as “stationary” pet crates while also having alternatives for travel will often pick a wooden dog crate and keep it in one place at home for their dogs to rest in.
While wooden dens for dogs definitely look best, and may even sometimes add to the style decor of your house by serving as a nightstand or a table, they are very heavy, hard to clean, and not all dogs respond well to them.
Even though all the functionalities of other types of crates are still kept with wooden decorative pet crates, they lack the simplicity, portability, and ease of use of plastic, metal, or soft-sided pet crates.
There's not much to choose from among good-looking decorative dog crates. One of the most popular wooden dog crates is the unipaws End Table Crate.
Its best feature, which is unlike any other wooden pet crate I've seen before, is that it can look fantastic as part of your home decor and serve as an end table.
Pros:
- They can easily fit into the look of a home. For example, they can double as a shelf or end table, which provides a usable surface.
- There are a lot of different styles to choose from.
Cons:
- They are not suitable for dogs that like to destroy furniture. Chewing and scratching can ruin these crates.
- It is hard to clean and remove odors because they are made of wood.
- These crates tend to be on the expensive side compared to other crates.
5. Dog Crate and Dog Cage Combination
Combination pet crates (shown above) is exactly what it says – a combo between several types of above-mentioned crates.
Like 2-in-1 shampoo, they're for owners trying to accomplish a few things at once for a lower price. The combo dog crate you see above is the Revol crate that Samantha reviewed before.
Combination crates can actually be the best type of crate for dogs but only in very few instances.
Mainly, the problem with combination dog crates is that they will be one of two things:
(1) they're usually the worst in the category at what they're supposed to do because too many compromises have to be made
(2) when they're perfect they're going to be an expensive dog crate due to added materials needed to manufacture them.
The most popular combo crate right now is Revol by Diggs.
Pros:
- They are a combination of metal and plastic crates.
- There are wheels on the bottom to make transport easier.
- They have easy entry and exit doors.
Cons:
- They are cumbersome.
- These cages are really hard to put together and will probably need multiple people to build.
Types of Dog Crates Final Thoughts
Now that you have an idea of what type of crate to get, you have to make sure that the cage is the right size for your dog.
First and most importantly, you should measure your pet – here's a guide to doing that. Measure from the base of the tail to the tip of the nose and then add 2 to 4 inches.
This is the perfect length for the cage.
Then measure from the ground to the tallest point of the head and add 2 to 4 inches. This is the perfect height for the cage.
Below is a size chart that can also help when 0choosing the size of your pet crate.
- 18″ -22″ Extra Small Dogs
- 24″ Small Dog Breeds
- 30″ Medium Dog Breeds
- 36″ Large Dog Breeds
- 42″ Extra Large Dog Breeds
- 46″ -72″ XXL Giant Dog Breeds
A helpful tip for saving money is to buy an adult-sized cage and then adjust it to fit your puppy. That way, the crate can adapt to your puppy's growth.
Most wire or metal pet crate models will come with a divider that allows the crate to grow with your puppy.
READ NEXT: 5 Best Dog Cage Covers for Crates
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