Crate recommendations

[ClareMarsh]

Ted has never had a crate, toilet training I did by confining him to a small area and he sleeps in a large comfy dog bed in our room (well large by Ted's size and he does make use of it, he tends to move positions and round the bed when he is sleeping). When we travel (I stay overnight at my mum's and best mates quite frequently) he alternates between sleeping in the bed with me or sometimes in his bed.

We may start traveling a bit more in the future and even if we don't I can see the benefit of being able to put a crate down for Ted when he's not at home (or at home for that matter) so that he can rest without people bothering him. At home Stuart and I leave him alone if he is asleep and obviously my family and friends do at my request but I can see the advantage of having a safe haven for him where he won't be bothered if that makes sense.

I would like a soft crate as I see that as being easier to move around and I'd like it to be reasonably difficult to see Ted when he's in it (from the enclosed sides at least) so that people are less inclined to bother him. Does anyone have any recommendations if that is allowed on here?

[Erica]

I would look at ones at a pet store...even if you don't get it from there, you can see what kind of quality they have...sturdiness, water-proof-ness (even if Ted isn't the reason it gets wet, it would be nice to be able to clean it easily and have it ready for use quickly afterwards), color and size....can't say I have any experience with buying crates, though. We had an airline crate (solid plastic except for door and a strip on either side) for our first dog and got the same kind when we decided to keep Onyx.

[WufWuf]

There's lots of options on here http://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/dogs/dog_ ... og_kennels and they have customers reviews and pic's for some of them.

[ClareMarsh]

Thanks both, having a look in Pet Shops is a good idea, although our local Pets at Home only do the metal ones in store and they're not the best for me to drag around with me. I can't believe how much equipment I seem to have for him already!

[MPbandmom]

I have had plastic, metal, and cloth. The cloth is much lighter and easier to carry around. There seem to be a wide variety of ways that they set up. I'm in the US so I can't recommend a particular shop in the UK. I would suggest shopping online as well as in the stores and reading the customer reviews to see what kinds of problems people have had with them, or what features are seen as beneficial.

The one's I have set up much like a folding wire crate would. The ends pull out of the folded over middle and then zip together. Others seem to have poles that need to be put in place to erect the crate. My smaller one has one door on the end and the larger one has a door in the end and on one side.

[bendog]

This might sound completely crazy, but since Ted is so teeny have you looked at cat carriers as well?

Also have a look at Amazon.co.uk, I just had a browse and they have a lot of options, although not very cheap!

[ClareMarsh]

Thanks both. MPBandmom, I can look for the things you suggest there now. folding wise, I hadn't even thought about how they might fold!

Bendog he'll fit in a cat carrier but he can't stand up properly in it and I want something that's easy for me to transport about, sometimes I take the train home and a hard carrier is a step too far! I did look at the cat dome beds in Pets at Home the last time I was in with him but they're not big enough as although sometimes he sleeps curled up, he also sleeps alot completely sprawled out

They're not cheap are they I don't mind as it should last him years but I want to find a good one before I fork out. Pets at home do one which hopefully they'll have in as at least if I can see one I have a start point.

At least there's no rush, he's currently shunned his bed and is asleep on the landing at my mum's, waiting for her to come home I think, he loves my mum

[doggiedad]

if i had a Chihauhau and i was going to crate him
i would use a medium to large travel crate. they're big
enough and you don't have to break it down or use
two people to carry it from room to room. a soft crate
isn't secure enough for me (i'm not getting in it but
you know what i mean. ). if you have to crate
train your dog i suggest doing it slowly. i could crate him
many times during the course of a day but for short
periods at a time. i would start with 5 to 10 minutes
at a time in the begining building up to longer periods
of time. i would aslo be in the room with him
sometimes and i would leave the room and the house sometimes.

[ClareMarsh]

Thanks Doggiedad but as per my original post I want a soft crate for ease of transport and I don't need to confine him to it so being secure isn't the issue

[minkee]

Would something like this one be good? http://www.petsathome.com/shop/soft-fab ... _-Products

It's soft, portable, small, and has carry handles and straps! I've no personal experience with which to recommend it, it just looked like it ticked a lot of boxes Also has a little bed in there for comfort.

[ClicketySnap]

While you are looking at crates, you should also check airline requirements. You might as well try to get a crate/carrier that will be useful far down the road no matter what adventures you decide embark on with the dog in tow. Personally, I started out with a three-piece plastic carrier because I thought it would be enough for his adult size, but he outgrew it by five months. I upgraded to a folding wire crate, which I LOVE. The ends pop in, the sides collapse on themselves, and it has a little latch to hold it together and a handle on the one side. Folded, it is about as big as a briefcase. Recently, though, I heard that people who prefer their dogs to travel in a crate (rather than loose in the back seat of the car) should consider a hard plastic carrier, as soft-sided ones provide no support in a crash and wire crates shatter.
Also, take the dog to the pet store and see if he minds not being able to see out much. My dog hates that, so I only look at crates/carriers that have lots of ventilation and are easy to see through.