hi, we have a 8 month old staffy dog, when we go out maybe shopping or other places we crate him, the thing is lately he has been getting out of the cage, i was thinking of pad locking the cage is this a good idea or is there something else i could use, 
thanks 

I think it all depends on what part of the cage he is getting out of my oldest girl lucy was very good at getting out of her cage when she was younger, came home one day to find the end of the cage had folded back in (like you would do to fold the crate and store it) we solved that with cable ties, the other way if we only did up the top bolt and the lower one was left she used to squeze herself out the bottom of the door and escape. It also depends on what sort of cage you have does it have 1 or 2 sliding bolt type things on the door or just a single one, and do the blot bits that slides have a hook on the end or is it just straight? i always have 2 door cages with hooks on the bolt as if they are straight and the dog is clever enough then can open the doors, i have seen a dog throw itself against the door to make them move, then the door is open. How long is the dog in the crate? Do they use the crate while you are there if the door is left open. i have always found letting the dog to have free access in and out the cage when we are home helps they soon realise its their own little den and i think that make then happier to be put in there when i do have to leave them and shut the door. Personally i would not like to use a pad lock if you needed to get the dog out the cage quickly you dont want to be flideling with a key or a combination to get it open.

> you dont want to be flideling with a key or a combination to get it open.

This is true but you could just pop a padlock on and not close it ,just swing it round into the close position! The weight( especially if it is a heavy one ) will hold it in place if the dog did start to try and move the cage.

to secure the latches on the cage i would use the clips that are on the end of a dog lead, they will never get them off but very simply removed in a hurry if needed.

Hi jayj, I have an Italian Spinone aged 7, he always used to be able to nudge the door to his cage with his nose & let himself out!
This is the up & over type door, I have used an unlocked padlock with great success by simply hooking it through the door.
I would not be happy with actually locking it as keys can & do get lost as well as the time it would take to unlock! BH

thanks for your replys, the cage as 2 straight bolts, and the cage is left open when we are at home although he as never been over keen with the cage but as got more use to it, i like him being in the cage when i am out as i know where he is he is left 2 to 3 hours max, this problem as only just started a few weeks ago and sometime he as manage to get out not every time, i think that is a good idea about the clips you have on the end of a lead, i will give it a try
thanks

You should set up a video camera to see what the little mite is getting upto. Hehehe ;-)

One of mine is an expert at this! lol. When i used to show her, i'd often nip off to grab a cup of tea and before i'd gone five yards hear people shouting "loose dog"! It was her. Solved the problem by turning the crate around so that the opening was against the wall. That really spoiled her fun :)

One of mine is an expert at this! lol. When i used to show her, i'd often nip off to grab a cup of tea and before i'd gone five yards hear people shouting "loose dog"! It was her. Solved the problem by turning the crate around so that the opening was against the wall. That really spoiled her fun

Haha!

My friends GSP used to be able to get out of his crate in the back of their landrover and I swear there was an inch of space around the crate and the sides of the car - no possible way to open the door but they found him sat on top of his crate once.  Still no idea to this day how he did it!!

Does anyone remember watching its me or the or the dog when that crossed breed was getting up on the kitchen work top and opening the microwave , cupboards,  cooker, you name it he was in it, he even had a tinkle up the bread bin they filmed him doing it, it was one of those times your sat there and are just completely shocked, he'd be great in a dog food advert. lol