In this article we shall be discussing some of the types of dog crates available and the pros and cons of each, as well as some helpful advice for first time buyers.

A dog crate is a great way to train a young puppy or a new dog into the routine of going outside to go to the toilet. They are particularly useful if you have small children who may pull on the dog’s tail or ears by accident which could cause a lot of pain or stress for your pet.

A crate can also be useful if you have an older dog who is suffering from illness and needs to be confined to one area since they will not always ask to go outside – for example, if they are old or already incontinent. In this case you would keep the dog in the crate all day and let them out to go to the toilet at night.

It is important that your dog does not stay in their crate for long periods of time because this can cause them distress and could lead to behavioural problems such as barking, whining or even aggression. Never leave your dog locked in a crate overnight because if they need to go to the toilet, they simply won’t have anywhere to go. The general rule of thumb is that your dog should only be in their crate for a maximum of three hours at a time and this includes when you are at home as well as when you are out.

There are many different types of crates available on the market including metal, wooden and plastic crates.

Types of dog crate:  

Wire Crates: Wire crates are the most commonly available and more often than not, they will come with a detachable tray for easy cleaning. These crates can be folded away or even taken on holiday with you – very handy! They generally look like an enclosed cage and many people assume that wire crates are not suitable for dogs since they can’t see what is going on in the outside world. This information is incorrect though because if you get a crate with two doors, one at each end, your pet can choose whether they want to see out or not.

Pros of wire crates:

They are generally very cheap to buy

Wire crates can be easily cleaned because the tray is detachable

They are very flexible in terms of where they can be set up since they don’t take up much space at all

Most wire crates come with a divider so you can adjust the size of your dog’s living area as they grow older. The divider will even come in useful when your puppy is fully grown and you want to keep them in a small area while you’re out

Cons of wire crates:

Wire crates do not offer much privacy for dogs and they may feel vulnerable and exposed since they can see everything that is going on around them. However, if you get the double door version then it will be a little bit more comfortable for your pet

If you have a nervous dog then they may feel anxious when they are in their wire crate since they can see people and animals walking past. This is not necessarily the crate’s fault; it could be because your pooch has never had much freedom before or they need to build up trust with you. The crate is merely exposing their insecurities and fears

Plastic Crates: These crates are made from a strong, durable plastic and they will often come with a steel grated floor. This type of crate is very sturdy but it can be heavy to carry around when it is fully assembled. If you get one that comes apart then this will be a lot easier to carry around.

Pros of plastic crates:

You will not have to put the crate together every time you take it somewhere because it comes apart very easily

The floor grating makes it easier to clean up after your dog and also means that they cannot chew their way through the floor of the crate – this is not always the case with wooden crates

They are very dark inside so your dog will not have much opportunity to see what is going on outside

Cons of plastic crates:

They can be heavy to carry around especially when they are fully assembled

Most people believe that plastic crates are not suitable for dogs because they cannot see out. However, if you get one with a grating instead of solid walls, your pet will be able to see you and the outside world

Metal Crates: Metal crates are very strong and they will often come with a divider too. The divider is particularly useful because it means that your dog can use one end for sleeping while you use the other end for storage or as a toilet area. The great thing about metal crates is that they can fold flat after you have used them which means that they won’t take up too much space when you’re not using them.

Pros: Metal crates are very strong and sturdy and they will keep your dog safe and secure at all times

The divider is great because it means that you can use one side for sleeping and the other side for storage or even as a toilet area

The metal crates fold flat very easily which means that they won’t take up too much space when they’re not in use

Steel crates are easy to clean. If it comes with a plastic tray then this will be easier to remove and wash

Cons: The downside of metal crates is that they can be a little bit heavy

They cannot be used as a bed because the metal will hurt your dog.

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