soft crates

[debbiej]

can anyone give me advice on those soft crates? they seem good for travel, easy to lug with one hand as opposed to the heavy wire ones we use now. I suppose they aren't much good to restrain a dog, but mine are fairly sedate in their crates. do they offer any restraint at all if needed?

[Judi W]

Originally Posted by debbiej

......... do they offer any restraint at all if needed?

Not really. I use them, but would not recommend one for any dog that might need a crate to restrain them.

[Bucky's Mom]

Originally Posted by Judi W

Not really. I use them, but would not recommend one for any dog that might need a crate to restrain them.

I always envision a GIANT Rottweiler Hamster Ball - with Bucky rolling himself along.

[frontierrots]

If the dog is even a little bit of a crate lunger or veryactive in the crate a soft crate is a no no

To use a soft crate the dog must be exceptionally well behaved in it's crate. This means no chewing on the crate, no pawing at the door, no barking at passing dogs/people, no lunging at anything, no goofyness in the crate

We have the Midwest Canine camper which I think is the best soft crate out there but we also have a black wire crate that we can take to trials also. I got a coolcrate cover for it from Petedge that makes it look nearly identical to our softcrate! This way we have the look, ventilation, weather resistance and denlike aspect of a softcrate but the security of a wire crate

[OWQ]

I bought the soft fold up one when I was travelling a lot with Betsy. It's so easy to fold up and carry. Betsy loves any kind of crate and enjoys going to pet stores to try them all out!! I'll even use the soft one with Baggins. But Bo has anxiety problems and has even bent the wires and broken out of a wire crate... nothing but plastic for him. It totally depends on the dog. But it sure is easy to use.

[laurlitt]

I made the mistake of buying a size too large and it's a pain to haul b/c when I carry it by the handle it still can hit the ground so I have to hold my arm just right to keep it off the ground and well I could use some work in the upper body strength department...

As for restraining... I have learned that if the zippers aren't all the way up in the high corners a dog with determination can push thru the zippers and get out.

I have seen people use the kinds that look like little tents and the dogs have no real walls and they do start rolling around like a hamster in a ball... It's 'funny' that these owners think it's real cute that their dog is now 10 feet away from where it started...

Getting one at a dog show is probably a good thing... good prices and no shipping!

[Sargeant_C]

I use one for my SammieSam yet she is only two pounds so not too much to worry about. But if she really wants out she could get out. Chewing, scratching etc.. it is just like a tent.

[Brooke&Ryan]

Originally Posted by frontierrots

We have the Midwest Canine camper which I think is the best soft crate out there

We have the Midwest Canine Camper as well & just love it. But I do agree, it offers little to no restraint for the dogs. The last outdoor agility trial there was a dog in a soft crate & the dog in the crate lunged for another dog. Well the crate jumped about 4-5 feet.... So I would say, only a calm sedate dog would be good for a crate like that.

The only time Julius' crate moves is when he lays close to a side of it.....& the thing leans a tad bit.

[MontanaRott]

We have the "Its a breeze too" got it on ebay super cheap, love it and have ordered one for Steve. And like Laurie, ours for Guerin is too big and we are looking for a smaller one for him for travel. We will use the too big one here at the house.
If you have a dog you can trust in a crate, there is nothing better then the soft ones for lugging around!

[debbiej]

thanks. Hilda would be fine in a soft one. Boris probably would be fine at home in one, too, he seems quite content and relaxed in his crate at home. I will stick to the wire for him when we go places I want him to be a well mannered guest around other dogs.

[LavenderRott]

My mom keeps a soft crate put together in her van for dog trips. Max and my brother's boxer, Rocky are both fine in it. I do think that if I tried to use one in the house for Max, he would take it apart in no time though. I might get a little one for Rusty though.

[Sharon Marples]

The only downside to soft crates that I have seen besides the dogs being able to roll them around is that your dog has no protection in one. I have been at shows where I have seen unruly dogs jump another dog in a soft crate and the dog was hurt badly. They can be bitten through the material.

At least if they are in wire crates, they are a bit more unlikely to be bitten if a dog jumps at the crate.

Unless you have constant, proper supervision if you are in an area with a lot of dogs around, I would not advocate their use.

[macho rottie]

Ask Sharon M, lol...unless you know for sure that your dog won't paw or throw itself up against the front of the crate, don't buy one. I bought one and she was great in it at home but decided she didn't want to be in it at show or the hotel room and she bent the wires. Maybe take your metal crate to the 1st show and see how your dog does.

I did see a very nice soft crate while at show that I liked. It was called Sof-Krate. http://members.iinet.net.au/~wasps/newspeci.htm

[Sharon Marples]

hehehehe, yup. Macho Rottie's girl, Phoebe, did a real number on her soft crate at the shows last week. Even proofing her at home didn't tell the story until she got to the shows or motel room.

This is case in point.........if you are going to use the soft crates, be sure to proof your dogs in them AWAY from home in conditions where you have control of them prior to taking them to a strange location and putting them in the soft crates.

Phoebe is a sweetheart too!

[Denise L.]

I have the Midwest Canine Camper and I really like it. BUT I agree if your dog isn't compliant it doesn't offer much protection.

This year Cyrus had a "tantrum" in his at Rottstock and managed to get out and I had the zippers clipped together Cyrus is normally quite sedate and happy in his crate. It sure surprised me!

I will use it again so I can allow myself a bit of freedom at next year's Rottstock but I won't ever leave him completely unattended in it.