There are a lot of crate choices for your dog. Which crate is right for your dog?
Here are three different crate options with pros and cons of each to help you make your choice a little easier. All of the crates mentioned come in several sizes to fit many different dog breeds/mixes.
Airline Crate
An airline crate is a hard sided, two-piece crate. There are air vents on each side and the front door is wire mesh. This is the most secure crate of the three mentioned in this article and on the video. The crate doesn’t collapse easily and it’s hard to transport. It is the most secure and sturdy crate of the three mentioned — it’s the required crate if you’re going to fly with your dog in cargo.
Canvas or Fabric Crate
This entire crate (except for the frame) is made of canvas and mesh. It’s exceptionally lightweight and portable. There is plenty of air circulation, as most of the side panel is made of mesh. This crate is not appropriate for dogs who attempt to escape from the crate or for dogs who are likely to chew the fabric. It’s very easy for a dog to rake his paws across the mesh a couple times and rip a hole to escape. What the crate lacks the ability to contain a determined chewer, it makes up for in portability and ease of setup. This crate folds down flat (about 3″ high), has a fabric handle, and is lightweight and easy to carry.
Wire Crate
This is the crate most people recognize. It’s a crate made entirely of wire — airflow is not a problem in this crate! Most (but not all) wire crates are portable. Much like the canvas crates, they fold down almost flat, have a handle (usually plastic) with which to carry. They are heavier than the fabric crate, but not nearly as heavy as the airline crates. They are the “happy medium” of the three crates mentioned. They are more secure than the fabric crates, but not as escape-proof as the airline crates.
There are other crate types available, but these are the three most common.
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