Crate dilemas - need advice

[patm]

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?

[Tanya]

Rocky is in a soft crate now but when I have a foster I have had to lug around a second crate and those have changed (as they are provided by the rescue).

The best "metal" crate I have had is the petmate. With my last foster this was her "in the house" crate, but when we travelled I would put it in the car and she was in there (she was a herder and tried ot herd the cars) then would set it up at whatever even we were at. It is abit heavy (it is metal!) but folds up very easily/nicely. I don't own a car so I have to be able to move a crate into a car and out of a car every time.

Pet Home Training Wire

[ObedienceLabs4Me]

Yes Pat, a lot of breed shows do not allow at soft-sided crate. Even some obedience trials that are at breed shows do not allow soft sided crates. I have a couple of collapsable crates in my car that if I need I can take out and take into a show.

[patm]

Susan - what brand do you use? I'm just thinking that a metal crate will be really heavy to lug around.