What's the best crate for SchH?

[Maxxx]

I am going to be switching from OB to SchH in the next month or so and need a crate for the SUV. I put his house one in there on Sunday and it's huge! It took up the entire back of the SUV top to bottom and almost side to side! It's a 48" metal one.

I'm pretty sure he's going to be about 100lbs give or take, full grown and was wondering what types of crates you all use and what's a good size for him? I was going to buy another 48" metal and then thought you guys might have some other suggestions

[Skip]

Originally Posted by Maxxx

I am going to be switching from OB to SchH in the next month or so and need a crate for the SUV. I put his house one in there on Sunday and it's huge! It took up the entire back of the SUV top to bottom and almost side to side! It's a 48" metal one.

I'm pretty sure he's going to be about 100lbs give or take, full grown and was wondering what types of crates you all use and what's a good size for him? I was going to buy another 48" metal and then thought you guys might have some other suggestions

I have 2 of the larger (I think it's the 500 series) Plastic vari-kennels side-by-side in the back of my pickup. Shane goes in one of them, and all my supplies go in the 2nd one. I cut up a barn mat (available at Tractor Supply and most feed stores) and put it in the bottom for a cushion. I used to think it might be better to use the metal kennels in the hot summer (more ventilation maybe), but I put a couple fans (that run off my truck's battery and each have a thermostat) back there in the warmer months, and I open up the windows on the camper top. I keep a large wall thermometer back there that I can easily read from the driver's seat. In the really cold months while travelling to training (and shows), I wrap a blanket on 3 sides of his crate. He stays cozy. I wouldn't use the largest plastic crate, I think the 500 series is fine, and kind of keeps him from moving around too much while we're on the road, but he still has enough room to sit, lay down, and turn around. Shane is a large boy...almost 27" tall and about 127 pounds. Guys at my Schutzhund training club kid me and say Shane has a better set up in my truck than their kids have in their bedrooms at home.

[Luvs]

Are you talking about a wire crate?

We have used both a plastic airline crate and a wire one. The wire one got broken by Keil (who is VERY well behaved in his crate unless at schutzhund lol) and had to be re-welded. The plastic crates we used held up VERY well. I will never use another wire crate at schutzhund again.

[Maxxx]

Luvs - Yes I'm talking about a wire crate. It's made of metal. I think we are talking about the same thing? It needed to be re-welded? Wow! Sounds like a Vari is the way to go!

Skip - you run the fans off your battery? How long are they on for? Are they special fans? I'd definitely want to get at least one since it does get warm up here. I can leave the back open for air, but it might not get that much ventilation....

[jazzking1971]

don't use a wire crate. Get an aluminum or plastic crate. Your dog could bite the wire crate trying to get out during protection work on other dogs.

[Maxxx]

It sounds like the Vari one is the way to go. I don't want him possibly getting hurt in a wire one if he gets too excited.

Since Max is used to the wire crate, is it hard to get him used the the plastic one? He's very adaptable to new things, so just toss some yummy treats in there, encourage him to go in, then praise like crazy?

Did you guys have any issues with making the switch back and forth? I'll probably be picking one up this weekend. There's a pets show going on in our area and I'm going to take a look at what they have.

[Ayoka]

Originally Posted by Maxxx

Since Max is used to the wire crate, is it hard to get him used the the plastic one? He's very adaptable to new things, so just toss some yummy treats in there, encourage him to go in, then praise like crazy?

Did you guys have any issues with making the switch back and forth? I'll probably be picking one up this weekend. There's a pets show going on in our area and I'm going to take a look at what they have.

Not for SchH BUT we do travel a lot with the dog for different things and in the car we have a plastic vari-kennell crate and for a long time Bear was crated at home in a wire crate.

What's funny is that he LOVES his car crate because he knows that when he gets in, he's going to be getting out someplace FUN.

It won't hurt to thow a few treats in, I'm sure.

I found mine at Walmart for MUCH cheaper (like, 100$ cheaper) than I could find one in a specialty pet store and Canadian Tire also carries them for a reasonable price and every once in a while (4-6 months) they go on sale...

[Maxxx]

Thanks Ayoka! It never occured to me to go to Walmart and CT! I'll drop by tonight to check out some prices and then compare them at the show.

[Ayoka]

Originally Posted by Maxxx

Thanks Ayoka! It never occured to me to go to Walmart and CT! I'll drop by tonight to check out some prices and then compare them at the show.

Yeah, I LIVE @ CT. and as I posted in my "I have a problem" post, I seem to have a thing for kennells so I always notice when they are on sale!

[jazzking1971]

have you considered craigslist? I've seen lots of them for 20-40 in the phoenix area.

[Skip]

Originally Posted by Maxxx

Luvs - Yes I'm talking about a wire crate. It's made of metal. I think we are talking about the same thing? It needed to be re-welded? Wow! Sounds like a Vari is the way to go!

Skip - you run the fans off your battery? How long are they on for? Are they special fans? I'd definitely want to get at least one since it does get warm up here. I can leave the back open for air, but it might not get that much ventilation....

Sorry it took me awhile to respond. When I had 2 dogs, I could run both fans for probably 7 or 8 hours (if we were at a show) without draining my truck battery. The one that has the thermostat is the "ProSelect Deluxe Thermostatic Crate Fan...Portable 2-Speed Pet Cage Fan". I bought it real cheap off a club member that didn't use it. She bought it online thru one of the pet supply companies. It also comes with a "cooling cartridge" that is a sealed ring that you can freeze in the fridge. Then it fits on the front of fan and blows even cooler air thru the fan...but I don't even use the cooling rings anymore.

[Maxxx]

I didn't even know they made fans for crates! Boy do I have a lot to learn :) Thanks Skip! I wrote down the name and am going to look for a fan at the show too.

Jazz - I looked on some of those internet classified sites and up here in Canada, there isn't much difference from a new one to a gently used one. So I'd rather buy a new one. All the cheaper used ones are pretty wrecked. But thank you for the suggestion :)

[jazzking1971]

I made a DC fan hook up using a deep cycle battery. I have an extra 80w solar panel and have been considering mounting it on top of my truck. Solar is expensive so this route might not work for everybody. One could fairly inexpensively wire the deep cycle battery to the engine so it charges when the car runs.

I haven't actually installed this set up in my dog truck yet but I probably will this summer. For a $100 or so you could have a very decent cooling system that wouldn't drain the car battery.

[Maxxx]

Ayoka - I just read your thread! How far west are you going? Cuz if you're passing through Ontario, you could always drop off a crate for Max!

Jazz - I'll have to get hubby to look into that deep cycle battery. I do the dog training, he takes care of the cars! It's a mutually beneficial relationship

[Ayoka]

Originally Posted by Maxxx

Ayoka - I just read your thread! How far west are you going? Cuz if you're passing through Ontario, you could always drop off a crate for Max!

Jazz - I'll have to get hubby to look into that deep cycle battery. I do the dog training, he takes care of the cars! It's a mutually beneficial relationship

My extra plastic one is only a Large pet porter for my svelte 75lb 24" guy. If your guy is going top out at 100lbs or so you will likely need an XL...Otherwise I'd be happy to drop it somewhere on the way.