Hi everyone,
I am looking at dog crates, there seems to be quite a lot of different makes and types. Can anyone recommend a certain make/type against another?
I think I prefer the metal ones as opposed to the plastic covered metal but I am worried that it might rust over time with the dogs "drool" etc! Help :(

Great minds think alike Lindsay, I came on here to post a message and when I finished typing it I saw your message. Snap!
Bye, Naomi.

Hi,
Yeah I'm new to all this crate business. When we got our last dog Tasha 15 years ago crates didn't seem to be the "thing" or maybe they were and it was just my ignorance! Have you used crates before and if so did you find them beneficial in toilet training etc.

Hi Lindsay, i've never used a crate before on our dogs but have only heard good reports from people that I know. As we have another dog and a child (a well behaved child) I thought that it would give the puppy somewhere to go when tired etc. Let me know if you buy one and what it's like.

Cheers, Naomi

Hi Lindsay (& Naomi)

I have quite a few crates for our Cockers - sometimes the metal ones do rust a little but only after a few years. We have a black coated crate from Stock Nutrition which doesn't look like it will rust & is wearing well so far, so it may be worth looking at their website

Best Wishes

Jane

Amongst my crates are 2 Barjo ones I bought second hand about 7 years ago. They have been used for peacocks, turkeys, geese, chickens, ducks, a rabbit (mostly as a hospital pen) and occasionally dogs. The only bits that are going rusty is the base - not surprisingly, but I have rubbed it down and oiled it and have no fear that it will disintergate for many years yet.

Christine

I have found one that I like on Croft-Kennels.co.uk at a very good price. Have any of you ever purchased from them?

Naomi

Hi Naomi,
Went to the website, and I see what you mean, they are well priced and look good too. I might well buy one from there. On reading the various postings in the forum I have gathered that it is a good idea to purchase a crate that will be the right size once your dog is fully grown. The only problem with this apparently is when it comes to toilet training. If the crate is too big for the pup, which it most certainly will be it is more inclined to soil its crate. For this reason they suggest that you put up a make-shift partition so as to make the crate smaller thus lessening the chance of pup going to the toilet in it. They say that puppies do not like soiling their beds. Hope this has been of help. Listen to me I sound if I'm an expert, but I have just learnt this from reading the different postings on this wonderful site. :D
Bye for now Lindsay

Buy the crate in the size that will fit the dog grown and remember that a little bigger is better. To make it 'puppy size', have a board cut that will fit as a divider inside the crate. Drill holes at intervals (or buy the peg board already drilled); fasten with those nifty little plastic fasteners that they use on car hoses (long narrow things that thread on themselves and when tightened lock onto themselves) and cut off the excess. Voila!! You can keep moving the divider back as the puppy grows until he/she becomes reliable in the crate.

I think you'll find a crate wonderful for a variety of reasons -- it helps in toilet training, provides a safe haven for the puppy when it wants to sleep and feel secure, ensures that you don't come in from that quick trip to the store to find wallpaper hanging, tiles torn or carpet soiled.

Check some of the back threads since I believe that most of the tips on getting a puppy used to a crate have been covered.

I've used almost every type of crate imaginable over the years without a rust problem (of course, I don't leave them out in the rain!).

Good luck with the new addition!

Yes, Crofts always have a very good reputation.

Joan
Take the rough with the smooth

Hi Jane

Sorry for bothering you but I thought I would direct this question to you especially as you own cocker spaniels. I am planning on purchasing a dog crate for when we get our pup. What size would you recommend. Ideally and would want to get one that would be suitable when the dog is full grown, so that I don't have to buy another one at a later date. We would be getting a bitch Some manufacturers recommend the 24x18x21 size while others say 31x21x24 or larger?

Thanks once again.

Lindsay

Hi Lindsay

I too have Cockers and would deffo recommend the larger crate. if there's any chance you might have another - I would go bigger still. I feel the "usual" size crate size given for a cocker is far too small. They can only just turn around and if they are to spend any amount of time in it they need to be able to shift their position. Cockers do not always sleep curled up like some dogs, they like to sprawl!!

My cratesd are 36" X 24" x "27 high, but the 24" high should be OK.

Although this might seem big for when they are tiny - they do grow so fast and you can always partition it off to make it smaller for the early weeks. Alternatively, if you can afford, or can borrow, I bought a smaller crate for when mine were tiny and then moved them into the big one when they grew too big.

hth

Pam n the boys

Hi Lindsay, get a zinc coated one: I have two that I use for terrier emergency's, poultry, ferretts etc & despite being kept in open fronted barn, not gone rusty yet!

I have a metal one by Rosewood bought at Pets at Home (very expensive when you can get them cheaper now elsewhere). Had it for 4 years, no rust:) Bought a HUGE one, and never had trouble with the dogs/pups soiling it, but I have heard about partitioning.

I have a smaller one with an up and over door (wish the rosewood kind came with that) that folds down in the middle which I'm not overly keen on, but it does better when travelling.

Wendy J

HI Lindsay 2

digressing slightly I noticed your dog of 15 years ago was called Tasha; as you can see my name is Lindsay and MY dog bought just over 16 years ago was called Tasha!!!

I don't suppose yours was a Belgian shepherd - no that would be TOO much!!! :)

Hi Lindsay,
Spooky or what? Tasha was a springer spaniel, sadly we had to put her down at the beginning of the year. It's only now that we are thinking of getting another pup, maybe a cocker spaniel. Don't suppose you live in Scotland?

HI LIndsay 2,

No we live in Dorset, sadly my girl was pts last November, the worst day of my life.

Well at least we have a few differences, I was getting worried there for a minute :)

Good luck with your search for a pup.

Hey try Argos catalougue! We have a croft one, a rosewood one and now we have an argos one, its at least half the price of the others and is just as good. Only one size though but its big enough for our Bull Terriers!