Hi everyone, I am looking for a new car cage for an '05 Vauxhall Astra estate. I currently have a Dog Pod from Hamsterbaskets, which I have been pleased with, but it was made for my old car and there is plenty of room around it in the Astra. I need to fit 2 Flatcoats in it, one is very large and the other will be a puppy so will need a double cage with removable divider to keep them separate at least while pup is small and liable to be squashed! Definitely want escape doors too.

Does anyone have any recommendations? I have looked at the websites of Barjo, MMG, Guardsman, Barnesbrook, Trystorme, but would like personal opinions. I want something that is fairly easy to lift in and out of the car, and preferably rattle-free. I wouldn't mind another Dog Pod (I like the hand holes so you can secure the lead before opening the door) but thought I'd see what other makes everyone rates.

Thanks :-)

We deliberated over a similar decision some weeks ago.  See here - I got some very helpful info

Finally we opted for a fitted dog guard and tailguard.  The tailguard pops out easily enough when needed, the whole thing is silent, the dogs have maximum room to roof and over wheel arches etc.

Ours was a dog guard bought new, overstock, from Toyota main dealer; we bought the tailguard from Barjo.  I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them, pretty good price, all things considered, and delivery in 2 weeks.  You can order a removable divider if you need one or just use a conventional crate til pup is older - works out cheaper if you only need it for a short time.

Check out eBay for secondhand stuff.  Search for Barjo, Guardsman Cage, there's a few to choose from on there now.

Edited to say: have you checked the Bring & Buy section on here.  There's one in Somerset...

Barjo for us! It was expensive being custom built (all in with bowl and a nice bit of vetbed for the bottom, about £450 from memory--this is just over a year ago), but worth it. It will outlive the car, for sure, and quite possibly me. If you are looking for something to fit an Astra estate  you could be really lucky and get something cheaper, because they do have discounted stock available.

I've just bought a lintran box off ebay. I have one, soon to be two flatcoats and she seems very happy in there. The crate is well made and doesn't rattle at all. It's not too heavy and is easy to clean. Also as it's solid not wire it keeps the mud/sand/water (you'll know what I mean) in the crate not all over the car:-)

I highly recomend these  http://www.k9cages.com

I've recently got one from here and its brilliant.  Chris is very much attention to detail and the quality is great.  I really love the fact the locks and handles are all built in and are flush with the cage.   They really are rattle free :)

Jill

Guardsman are good BUT they are darned heavy...so hard to lift in and out of the car
if you are on your own. I've had two Guardsman cages, with removeable divider and rear escape doors.

I've heard plenty good things about Barnesbrook and if I upgrade my car would definately look at them
and they are supposed to be rattle free.

Thanks everyone, some food for thought there!

blackandgrey - I like the Lintran boxes but for some reason thought they were really expensive, but they are quite reasonable (was quoted £490 for a Guardsman). Must admit, the boot of my car is full of sand and hair, so it would good to contain it in a solid box! How big is yours? I worry the dogs won't have enough room, just how much space does a flatcoat need? I'm sure an Astra size boot is quite sufficient ;-) Looks like the DB7 or DB2000 Voyager would be right, just off to go and measure my car!

Just measured my car - unless I go for a custom one, the cheaper ones are no bigger than what I've got. Having looked at many websites, the pics often show quite large dogs that seem quite cramped, so am I being over the top? Is 36"x36" big enough for 2 flatcoats? And I only wanted a divider so pup didn't have to go in with big dog - is it ok to put them in together in one compartment? Oh, decisions, decisions, don't know what to do and pup is coming in about 5 weeks!

I used a Guardsman double cage in my Astra 55reg and loved it.  My two GSDs always had plenty of room.
Having recently changed my car I'm now selling my cage on.
Love the fact that you can lock the cage and leave the boot wide open and will miss that on sunny days.

Mine is a DB9 I think it's made for an old Discovery. The land rovers don't have much depth in the back 27ins front to back about 36ins across. It has an extra bit on the top to give more height. While I don't want to squash the dogs I don't want them rattling round either. I wouldn't leave 2 of them in there for long but for travelling and on shoot days I think it's fine. The guy I bought it off had 3 labs in their on shoot days. The main reason I bought it was because she kept jumping over and nicking my breakfast/lunch/elevenses and worst of all Jelly Babies:0

I would definitely recommend the Lintran. If you give them a call and tell them which car your have, they will recommend the best fit for your car.

got one of these

http://www.dogtrailers.co.uk/boxes.html

In a focus estate, yes it takes two of us to lift it out of the car, but i wouldn't have it any other way, 5 springers go in easily without the divider.

we looked at Lintran but by the time you added on the extras like the divider and rubber mats etc (they come with this one) the difference was only about £35, it doesn't rattle and is lockable, ordered on the Tuesday and was delivered by the friday

I have a guardsman, which now does not fit my new car...  I have been extremely satisfied with them..but they are expensive (custom made)  and extremely heavy..you can not lift them in and out of the car by yourself.

I now just have a dog gaurd behind the seats of my new car... and to be honest, I feel a little uneasy with not having  the added security of a tailgate!!

Saw these at Crufts..and was impressed... seems brilliant idea, and will save a fortune when you chance  your car..as the will adjust to boot length.

www.safedog.co.uk