Need crate advice

**patm** · 10-16-2010, 12:07 PM

I need some crate advice from people who show their dogs. Emilu has never been in a crate in the car, and I have a soft crate for her at shows. She had a metal crate at home until she was able to be out in the house safely on her own. Baxter is now in a solid crate in the house, but I want to switch him to metal, because I think he would like to see out, and also tends to get hot. (he is also outgrowing the plastic crate. I would like to have metal crate for Baxter at home (have one that might work - seems really large right now!), then a crate for in the car, and one for at the show. I would like metal for the car- again because he gets hot, and I think he would like it better. For shows, I will probably get a soft crate, but I also might show him in conformation, and I know that many of those show require metal crates (how sticky are they about that?) That means I would have to buy at least 2 new crates. What do you recommend for a good metal crate - I've read pros and cons about several brands. Also -does anyone just fold their metal car crate up and take it in to the show? Which crate would be best for this?

**labby** · 10-16-2010, 02:21 PM

This is what I use in the house. MidWest iCrate Dbl Door Folding Dog Crate - Dog.com

I have 2 of these in the back of my Odyssey full time MidWest Life-Stages Folding Dog Crate - Dog.com

At shows I use one of my soft crates mainly because the metal ones are hard for me to carry.

**patm** · 10-16-2010, 02:27 PM

Thanks Laura - do you find that most conformation shows except soft sided crates?

**Luvmydog2much** · 10-16-2010, 07:13 PM

Most shows allow soft crates as long as its not benched.

I get my crates at Meijer, they only have one door, but you can get them on sale for $40 if you keep looking.

**Canyon Labradors** · 10-19-2010, 10:20 AM

I haven't been to one show that won't allow the soft crates. I am bad, most of the time when we travel, the dogs just sleep in the back of the car sans crates. If I drive with someone else who wants theirs crated,we usually just use our soft crates even though I know they aren't great for safety in the car should we have an accident. Eventually I want some side by side metal ones that I can leave in the car all the time.