Wire crate or plastic kennel for puppies, which do you prefer?

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by missyfly96 on 04 April 2011 - 18:04

I have always used wire crates, but I am considering trying a plastic kennel, which do you prefer for potty training and sleeping for puppies?

by RLHAR on 04 April 2011 - 19:04

Had a bad experience when my 13 week old bitch got her paw caught between the wire and the pan liner of the wire crate. No last damage but she was sore for a few weeks.

Have used aircraft crates since then so small anxious paws don't get trapped and make the crate into a bad experience. Once crate trained I shift to a wire crate.

by Keith Grossman on 04 April 2011 - 19:04

Plastic crate, absolutely!

I had a situation recently where my brother and his fiance who recently acquired a young male lab who had previously been a kennel dog were at wits end over the dog contantly defecating in and escaping from his wire crate. I explained to them that while the wire crate satisfied their need to contain the pup while they were away (not so much, really), it did nothing to provide the dog with what he needed...a den. They went right out and bought a plastic airline crate and have since noted a dramatic improvement in his behavior. I have a collapsible wire crate that I sometimes use for travel but my every-day crates are all Vari-Kennels.

by VKGSDs on 04 April 2011 - 19:04

I've never had issues with puppies making huge messes in crates so that isn't a factor for me. Usually I have an old towel in the crate so if they have an accident it gets absorbed and is easy to remove/clean. I have a plastic airline type kennel that is puppy size and I use this for a puppy when in the van, but for sleeping at night I use a wire crate. I've had two puppies now that would not stop thrashing and howling in the plastic crate, switched to wire and they were fine (both times right next to my side of the bed). If they want more of a "den" atmosphere in the wire crate I throw a blanket over part of it.

by TingiesandTails on 04 April 2011 - 19:04

I use wire in the house and plastic in the vehicle. To create a den for my dogs, I cover 3 sides of the wire crates with fabric.
The wire crates I use are bigger than my plastic flight boxes.

by Keith Grossman on 04 April 2011 - 19:04

Throwing any type of cover over a wire crate in my house would be an invitation to have that cover shredded.

by kaoboy on 04 April 2011 - 20:04

wire crate is the best for inhouse.
and plastic is best for training or if you take your dog to work like me. plastic for inside the truck.
dont really know what hes doing for 8 hours of the day in the truck, so better safe then sorry

by GSDNewbie on 04 April 2011 - 20:04

I prefer the plastic crates and the only issue I have with those is make sure they do not get to warm. I have crate fans if needed. The dogs seem to prefer them and it seems more like a natural den to the dogs to where they enjoy being in them for their space even when I have not sent them to their crate or locked it. I have two wired crates and no dog I have ever had here showed any liking for them at all. All the plastic crates I own are the nice ones as I will not buy a cheap made one and they are all of ample size. The dogs are happy crated when they need to be and eat their meals in them as well.

by goodwink on 04 April 2011 - 21:04

I have always used wire crates for my dogs until I got a german shepherd!!! lol My girl literally ate her way out of 2 wire crates while we were not home. She even learned how to open them up! I switched to a plastic crate and I have had no trouble...I got a second crate for the car. I feel like she is better protected in a plastic crate in case we have an accident!

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