Best Dog Crates 2020: A Safe Hiding Place for Your Canine

Things to Consider When Buying a Dog Crate

To make the choice easier you need to understand clearly what type of a dog home you need and why. There are several key characteristic of dog cages that one may rely on. Irrespective of the material and type of a cage, consider these crucial parameters.

Size

The size of the crate should be comfortable for your dog. It means that the pet should be able to stand, sit, lie, or turn around without feeling cramped. That said, a carrier crate must not be large: during transportation, dogs prefer to lie calmly, and compact cages are easier to carry.

Durability

A young restless pup needs a durable metal cage, which he won’t be able to chew or break. Older, calmer, and well-trained dogs feel good in wooden and fabric cages. When it comes to transportation, the box should be sturdy enough to hold your dog’s weight. This information is commonly available in the list of the product’s specifications.

Travel Compliance

Are you going to travel with your canine? Mind that not all the models suit for dog transportation, especially when it comes to air flights. Each air carrier has its own live animal regulations, so the best approach is to get to learn what models are approved by a particular carrier in advance

Collapsible

If you are not going to use a crate on a regular basis or will have to move it from one place to another, consider collapsible models. They are easy to transport and don’t occupy much space when folded.

How We Picked up the Best Dog Crates 2018

With a huge variety of dog crate sizes, forms, materials, and types of the construction, it’s not so simple to make the right choice. Our top-rated dog crate models have been repeatedly tested by dog owners and proved their effectiveness, durability, and a good value for money. When compiling our ranking we didn’t just rely on customer reviews but also compared all the major characteristics of the popular brands. The result of our research is a list of top-10 crates of the year.

Top Dog Crate Models 2018: Our Choice

Within the framework of our best dog crate review, we tried to analyze models of different types. For every brand, we’ve singled out strengths and weaknesses. Using this review as a start point, you’ll be able to choose the best option for your beloved canine.

Five Important Facts about Dog Crates and Crate Training

1. About 10% of dogs don’t tolerate crating at all. If your dog has a pronounced fear or a phobia, don’t force it to sit in a cage and consult a specialist.
2. Some brands offer exclusive dog crates furniture made of premium wood species or steel. These luxury items can serve tables, and their cost can reach $1000.
3. Statistic says that 45% of Americans let their dogs sleep in their beds. According to expert opinion, this is not right: from the point of view of dog psychology, a canine feels better when it has its own lair.
4. Most airlines don’t allow dogs without crates, except for guide-dogs.
5. Crates and cages are NOT for a permanent dog confining and not a method of punishing. Don’t keep your dog caged all day long.

Rules of Dog Crate Use and Maintenance

Dog crates fall into the category of accessories that can serve long years if they are used correctly. To make the kennel a comfortable and safe place for your canine, follow expert recommendations regarding the crate choosing and maintenance, as well as dog training. Here are basic recommendations.

Choose the Right Size

Among other things, dog owners often wonder – how big should a dog crate be? There is a simple rule: it should be spacious enough to let your dog stay, sit, lay, and turn around with comfort. That said, it must not be very spacious because a dog wants to have a cozy, secure shelter, which would remind it of a natural den. If you are buying a crate for a puppy that will grow up soon, there’s no point in buying a small dog crate.

Clean up Regularly

Another important aspect is hygiene. Though dogs are cleanly pets, you need to replace pads in the crate and wash it inside and outside in order to eliminate odor and prevent accumulation of dirt, fur and other types of debris. Disinfection is required every time your dog poops inside the cage, or once in a month or two if it doesn’t do so. The procedures needed depend on the type of the box.

Most soft-walled crates have machine-washable protectors, so the best way to keep them tidy is to wash it with a neutral laundry detergent. In order to get rid of odors, add a spoonful of baking soda. Wipe the metal base with the same detergent or any other cleanser (including chlorine-containing ones); then rinse it and let it dry in a natural way.

Plastic and metal cages are easy to maintain. If the crate has a removable tray, wash it in soapy water. At your wish, you may add baking soda to eliminate odor, or chlorine to disinfect the tray. If you use soft or ant fabric pads, wash them regularly with detergent. It is important to make disinfection if you found urine or feces in the crate.

Wooden crates are probably, the most demanding in terms of cleaning: wood can be damaged during wet cleaning, and it tends to absorb odors. If possible, use an additional tray for your wooden tray. From time to time, wipe it using a wet cloth and then put in a well-ventilated room for several hours.

Use but Don’t Overuse

A lot has been said and written about how to crate train a dog. In the framework of this article, we won’t review this question in details. All we want is to remind you some basic principles of training:

1. Start gradually. Don’t leave your puppy locked in the cage for several hours – it will result in fear and hatred.
2. Don’t use a cage as punishment. It is used to prevent undesired behavior (chewing, pooping, barking), not to imprison a dog after misbehavior.
3. On the other hand, don’t let your dog manipulate you. For example, in case of the dog barking in crate, don’t unlock it immediately. Just don’t pay much attention to it, and it will calm down naturally.

Verdict and Recommendations

There are a lot of dog crate models to choose from, and the final choice will depend on several factors. For the initial training, you’d better choose a wire metal crate, such as MidWest iCrate (for very big and heavy breeds, you may try the premium Top Paw dog crate). For air trips, Petmate plastic models are best. For regular family trips and crating of well-trained canines, choose one of the lightweight portable fabric models. And the wooden Casual Home crate will serve a gorgeous decoration of your living-room.

Attention!

Robert Herrera

If you still have questions after reading the article, do not hesitate to ask questions.

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