mumof4girls Posted November 12, 2011 Share Posted November 12, 2011 Hello everyone, I have been looking into what type of crate I will be getting for my pup.. I was set on the soft type but I have read about the cage crate and now i am not too sure which would be better.. I was thinking soft because it isn't as "open" as the cage style, I was thinking if the pup could see you clearly then they would want to get out more ie not settle as well. I was hoping to get peoples thoughts of both types.. I have 4 gorgeous daughters hence my concern of no settling if the pup was in an open type crate, the need to play or on the girls side the need to want to play if they could see the pup all the time .. Do you think it would really matter?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogsfevr Posted November 12, 2011 Share Posted November 12, 2011 My dogs are trained in wire crates before using soft crates .soft crates ( a good quality one ) are excellent but easy to destroy,Wire crates have better air flow,easier to attach water bowls & do last longer . I use soft crates at some dog shows depending on the need on the day Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebanne Posted November 12, 2011 Share Posted November 12, 2011 a wire crate is better until the pup/dog is crate trained. You can throw a cover over the wire crate, a sheet is fine, but you need to educate your children that if the pup is in it's crate they must leave it alone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rozzie Posted November 12, 2011 Share Posted November 12, 2011 You can cover the wire crate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mumof4girls Posted November 12, 2011 Author Share Posted November 12, 2011 I'm also thinking now that it is getting hot, a wire one is a better option.. I will have the pup in my room anyway when he needs sleep ( and a brake ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rozzie Posted November 12, 2011 Share Posted November 12, 2011 Don't forget, get the size pup will need when he is fully grown and block off for his puppy size. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheena Posted November 13, 2011 Share Posted November 13, 2011 A soft crate wont last long with a young dog. Get a wire one & buy a canvas cover to fit....they are so handy I got my cover off Ebay. Get the cover with screened windows in it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mumof4girls Posted November 13, 2011 Author Share Posted November 13, 2011 Great tip Sheena I will check them out... Rozzie it's funny I was talking to a retailer re soft crates and they said to make sure I got one to suit the size of the pup as you don't want it too big.. I then questioned the financial expense as I would be paying from $80 for a small crate then in a few weeks more money and prob more after that .. Makes more sense to do what you suggest.. What do you block it off with, pillows or boxes?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rozzie Posted November 13, 2011 Share Posted November 13, 2011 We used aviary mesh zip tied in place, but anything would do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben and Jerry Posted November 13, 2011 Share Posted November 13, 2011 alot if not all wire crates come with a divider you use to make the space smaller/hold two dogs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben and Jerry Posted November 13, 2011 Share Posted November 13, 2011 alot if not all wire crates come with a divider you use to make the space smaller/hold two dogs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Rusty Bucket Posted November 13, 2011 Share Posted November 13, 2011 (edited) I have to use a large slab of cardboard box or ply over the top of my wire crate or evil hound pulls the cover in between the mesh and rips it up. At least when she was a puppy, that's what she did. She's better now. I have a soft crate for travel and that's sufficient. It's also much lighter and faster to set up than the wire crate, so I use it more. Ie start with the wire mesh crate, and then graduate to a soft sided crate when you're confident your puppy likes being in a crate. Edited November 13, 2011 by Mrs Rusty Bucket Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suziwong66 Posted November 13, 2011 Share Posted November 13, 2011 (edited) We used a pp40 for the first 6-8 weeks or so; till Wilbur grew out of it. Then we bought a 42" wire crate on wheels that is situated in the lounge room. It has a front and side opening; currently we use the front opening. We also purchased a crate cover for it and leave the entire front part of the crate open for air flow. If you adequately crate train your pup they will automatically settle and go to sleep when the crate door is closed. The sound of the crate door closing is the antecedent to let it know that it's sleep time. We'll be getting a soft crate early next year for travel & when at agility training but i doubt it would it have done for a puppy early on in the piece. We have never used a divider in the 42" crate even though it was recommended. Wilbur had never had an accident in his pp40 and i made the call to not put a divider in the bigger crate when it arrived. Wilbur is vocal and has always let me know when he needs to toilet so i felt confident that he wouldn't need the divider. Had Wilbur not been vocal about letting me know of his toileting needs then i would definitely have used a divider to discourage crate evacuation. Edited November 13, 2011 by suziwong66 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mumof4girls Posted November 13, 2011 Author Share Posted November 13, 2011 Thank you suziwong66 re the info on dividing and being vocal, and everyone else, this has been really informative and i have made my decision to go with the wire crate .. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pretty Miss Emma Posted November 13, 2011 Share Posted November 13, 2011 Definitely wire!! Kenzie started in a soft crate which was fine until she learnt how to open the zip, so I dealt with that and then she learned that she could eat her way out!!!! SO we now have wire crates as she can't get out no matter how much she fusses and tries! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erinonthefarm Posted November 13, 2011 Share Posted November 13, 2011 I have a skykennel for puppies, a bit pricey compared to collapsable crates, but much darker for sleeping in, and can't be destroyed from the inside, although someone has chewed some of the plugs from the outside :rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktig Posted November 13, 2011 Share Posted November 13, 2011 wire crate here too. I've got a blanket thrown over it covering 3 of the sides, with just the front open, and he's pretty happy. Settles in there no problems, has from day 1 really. I think once we start competing in obedience and agility I'll look at getting a soft one for that, but for home, can't beat the wire one I've got. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rozzie Posted November 13, 2011 Share Posted November 13, 2011 I have a soft crate for travelling Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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