I recently spotted some cream fabric crates from www.doghealth.co.uk while at a show last weekend.  While I was impressed with how light and easy to erect the crate was to carry I thought I would check to see if anyone else has other recommendations.

The crate needs to be suitable for a husky.  WHile I have metal crates at home, I never plan to be far from the crate so I don`t have to worry about my dog "breaking out".  Therefore I am looking for something nice and light that I can carry but will provide a den for my dog while we are waiting around. I like the idea of a cream coloured crate as I would imagine darker ones would potential get too warm in the summer.

Any other recommendations to check out?

I got a DOGBAG with my rehomed puppy, this is what the previous owners used in the car and i thought it would be ideal for putting up next to computer - wrong he rolls it over with his body weight. It isn't that he minds a crate as he sleeps quite happily in a metal one downstairs. So I'm not really sure if it'll be any use for shows etc. I always had visions of my big Beardie boy rolling along like a tumbleweed and now I'm even more convinced he would:-)
                                                                                             Anne

Well Liz, I've yet to see anyone with a Husky attempt to use one at any show I've been too ;-)

I have one of these and they are great!!! I bought the 42 inch long one in preference to the 36inch and can accomodate 3 Elkhounds quite comfortably qand two with loads of room for them to stretch out and not get too warm.

The first time I used it was in the Hotel for the Pedigree stakes finals this year.  My bitch was comfortable and happy in it, and it was lovely to be able to hold dog in one hand, crate in other and bag on shoulder and go up to my room without needing to go twice, use trolleys or get a hernia!!!

Since then I have taken it to shows and had my own or other freinds dogs in it, and others attached to the anchor points on the base with  benxhing chains.

For Nordic breeds their all mesh sides are great for air flow, and they are supposed to repeol UV rays, but in summer I draped a damp towel over.

LOL, I have seen these too, but I dont thinkI  would contemplate one for a powerful breed! I have staffs, and i can just imagine the palaver a staff in a fabric crate would cause lmao!
Ok for little dogs IMO, but not for the biggies!

Walk round any show and you will find plenty of large dogs in fabric cages my friend has Irish Wolfs and uses one and they don't come much bigger than that, also see Rhodesian Ridgebacks and Afghans in them and Elkhounds are not exactly small when compared with a Staffi.

I have one for my afghan, and it works great......but you need to have the kind of dog who doesnt jump about in the crate, or lunge if another dog walks by, as some do. I saw a whippet do that in one, and the whole crate moved about 6 inches!

we were at a show on sunday and a huskie was in a fabric crate she did ok, but there was another husky in one and he lunged at another dog walking by, the husky was in the fabric cage and it tipped over onto the door.
Now i can't remember if it was the square type or the oval type,
i think it all depends how your dogs are behaved in a crate.
If they lunge and scrabble about i don't think they would be safe enough.
Carol

I had never considered using one for my dogs before at the shows but there were a lot of husky people there with them (W-S-Mare show). (My pup was the red pup who hoovered the showring picking up the treats.  I`m trying to get more weight on him but not that way!) My pup quite happily will lie down on the floor whilst waiting for his turn however the fabric crate did seem a nice alternative to the floor.  Other huskies were in metal crates but having three at home already I know how heavy they are to lug about!

Thinking about it I think those dog health ones did have fasteners at the bottom so they can be staked down when outside

Liz when the topic of these came up on my US based email list most people were of the opinon that the square Cabana (of whi8ch the cream ones are a generic version) were the best, as they could be staked, gave gfood ventilation, and unlike the oval topped ones were less apt to be rolled by crafty ocupants.

They of course should only be used for dogs that do not fly at passers by or that will fret and chew and claw to get out, as obviously they aren't as strong as wire or plastic ones.  But for the avergae showdog who will happily stay put they are great allowing the dog to rest without the constant worry of being stepped on which I find is the main problem at Open shows.

When I take two dogs to a show I can go in the ring without asking someone to hold other dog, andgo to the loo, have a drink without the dogs.

just about every SBT show I have been to, yes KC! lol! there have been dogs lined up in cages, getting bored and hacked off, and there are always several who will kick off at another passing dog! LOL! I just have visions of all these fabric cages rolling about the place knocked the beegeezus out of each other!
LOL, now I am imagining them with spots on em like dice! could be a new gambling sport!

Remember the old cartoon type things where there is a big spider on the floor and you put a jar or whatever over the top but the whole thing keeps moving forward :D :D :D

That is how I imagine Sibes in one of those fabric crates ;-)  But I love the dice idea too

Are Staffies not trained to use cages, most other breeds at show are happy to take a snooze in their cage, they are taken out every half hour or so to exercise or show and are pleased to return to their cages. Having said that the last show I went to there were 6 Staffies in cages next to me and seemed happy enough in their cages despite the fact that my boy was very interested in one of the bitches. Their owner were attentive taking them outside in turn and letting them have a play with my boy on their return.

most are, at least the show dogs...my male is crate trained but not a show dog as such. but if you ever get to go to a stafford club show you will see some dogs that are maybe a little more firey, or who have got the hump about something have a pop at the dogs going by, and the passing dogs may at times forget themselves, and have a go at a crated dog. often you will see the crates are covered to try and prevent a kick of.! lol.
Lets face it, it must get bloody boring shut in a crate for ages, not all folk do it, but ive seen some left unattended for quite some time! Youve gotta do something to pass the time!