Opinions Please Vari-kennel V Metal crate - Page 1

Looking for some opinions please on vari-kennels, pro's/con's compared to normal metal crates?

I really like the Vari-Kennel.   I bought the Huge one -- it is easy to clean with vacuum attachment; for a good cleaning, I spray with a cleaner and mop it out with a Sham-Wow type mop (I can't believe that I said Sham-Wow).    Also, it has good ventilation; dog can either curl up or stretch out to sleep, and it is tall enough that it doesn't crush the ears.  Most importantly, I think it gives them a secure, "den-like feeling" much more so than a metal crate.

 I prefer the collapsible metal wire crate.  You can lift the bottom out for cleaning, and it's easier to get all the hair out than in a solid sided crate.  The ventilation is better, and you can just cover it with a light cloth to provide shade or dark if the dog can benefit from a quieter environment.  Of course it also folds down nicely for transport, where the solid-sided crates take up considerably more space (and weigh more if you're counting load in the back of the vehicle).  The only down side is that the pan is plastic and will crack if you don't provide some sort of support.  (I.e. it sits on top of the wire mesh, so eventually the weight of the dog will push the plastic down between the gaps in the mesh, causing the pan to crack.)  You can avoid this by putting some sort of padding under the crate if you don't have it sitting on carpet. Another potential down side is that it's not as sturdy if your dog is destructive, but fortunately I haven't encountered that problem.

Thanks for the input, I've used metal crates in the past and for various reasons, I'm really not a fan.

So going to try a Vari-Kennel this time round. 

The price for a metal crate is very expensive and the vari-kennel keeps the hair more contained then the wire crates. Clean up is so much easier in the vari-kennel. I would only get a metal crate if my dog was one that broke out out of a vari-kennel. The wire on the vari kennel is a smaller gage then the wire crates so less chance of biting the wire and breaking teeth.

Denise

I use both. Most of my boys are in a wire crates but i start with the veri kennel with new dogs. I have had some fosters who where diggers and chewers. So the carpet around the crate and sheet over it have been destroyed. but potty training is much easier when you can just slide the bottom out to wash instead of crawling in the veri kennel but the verikennel keeps it all inside so your floors and walls dont get splatter on them. But once I have the dogs sufficiently accustomed to home life i like wire. So its all relative to the dog and what you want.

I want it mainly for crate training, and a quiet place for pup to escape too and call her own and for travelling.  I figured a Vari-Kennel would be cleaner and easier to secure on the back seat of the car, until I get my van on the road and Hubby has built in the crates.

It would also be warmer for a puppy in the house as a den, as we have bloomin huge airbricks and the drafts across floor level are dreadful, no matter how warm the rooms are.

I've got one ordered so I'll try it and see.

 I use airline crates in my van. I have a 700 and a 500. they keep in the hair and dirt in and help keep the vehicle
cleaner. the 700 has the 4-way latch; very secure.

For in the house I use metal crates, easy to vacuum and clean up in case of accidents. Dogs can see more and
have better ventilation than vari kennel. My metal crates are 48" long and 42" long. the dogs can lay on their
sides, stretched out and sleep comfortably. to add extra comfort I put a thick throw rug UNDER the pan (between
the pan and the wire crate bottom). The rug reduces the noise when the dogs are moving around and adds some give and cushion to the bottom. 

 Sheryl

I'm glad someone asked - I've always wondered how the two compare.  I've only had varikennels.

Well it arrived today, I'm rather impressed, having never even laid eyes on one before apart from pictures.  Certainly seems sturdy enough.

Only thing that I find a bit laughable are the food bowls, as my hubby said 'What the use are those gerbil bowls' as he attempted to throw them in the bin....I expect he'll bin them when I'm not looking!