So I going to start purchasing dog supplies at the beginning of next week and the highest priority on my list is a crate. I'm probably going to go with a 42' one based off what I've read, but that's not the question. My question is what kind of crate would you recommend? (cheaper options are better if it's all the same ) Also I found several crates on ebay, one of them is cheaper, but has a 3 door system which I don't really like. Should I spend the extra cash on the 2 door one? (both come with dividers)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Foldable-Suitcase-Wire-Metal-Folding-Pet-Cage-Crate-Dog-Cage-Kennel-/400361929366?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&var=&hash=item5d376e3a96

http://www.ebay.com/itm/EliteField-2-Door-Folding-Dog-Crate-w-RUBBER-FEET-Cage-Kennel-5-Sizes-10-Models-/360472064562?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&var=&hash=item53edcf3232

Finally, should I go with an ABS or Metal tray, and which one in your experience is easier to clean? Thanks in advance!

I use one with 1 door, and have no problems with it at all... even if i had the side door I wouldnt be able to find a whole lot of use for it

The door system wont really bother me much. I honestly forget i even have another door on mine. But i would go with the metal tray it will last longer. Only bad thing is the tray will make a lot of noise when they walk around on it. So what i did, i remember someone on forum saything this before i got koda, cut a piece the size of the tray from the carboard box and put it between the wire (under the tray) and the tray.

I have never understood the need for more than one door, personally.  We use a 42 one door crate and it is about all I would ever need.  I have never thought about the need for a side door.  

Plus, on a crate, the door is weaker than a solid wall for obvious reasons.  So the way I see it, with a dog like a Husky, you need your crate to be as sturdy and solid as possible for when the teenage/adult time comes.  I would assume a multi-door crate is weaker than a 1 door crate if you think about it in terms of stability.  

I have secured every corner and joint on Link's crate with zip ties and that thing is a tank.  Naturally, the door-wall is the weakest though. When we are gone for work we latch it with a quick lock.

Problem solved

Yay! It's exciting to start shopping isn't it? It really doesn't matter how many doors it has honestly. Most people end up putting the crate in a corner or against the wall, and you could always just block the extra door that way.

I have a one door on my crate. Don't remember how big it is, but the size seems perfect in my opinion. Sometimes I wish that the door was in a different location, for the arranging of furniture sake (I wish the door was on the lengthy-er side of the crate instead of the smaller side) but in the end, I don't want more that one door... Okami can already open up the bottom latch on her crate (not the top one though) if there were more doors she would have more angles to try and figure out how to open up other latches, and then bye bye puppy.... she is too smart for her own good.

moto1087 wrote:

I use one with 1 door, and have no problems with it at all... even if i had the side door I wouldnt be able to find a whole lot of use for it

Yeah, I'd prefer only one door myself. But most of the crates on Ebay have at least two doors, and the ones at places like Petsmart are almost double the price. :c

Ericobeasto wrote:

The door system wont really bother me much. I honestly forget i even have another door on mine. But i would go with the metal tray it will last longer. Only bad thing is the tray will make a lot of noise when they walk around on it. So what i did, i remember someone on forum saything this before i got koda, cut a piece the size of the tray from the carboard box and put it between the wire (under the tray) and the tray.  

The cardboard thing is a really good idea! I'll also go with a metal tray if I can now, thanks!

seattlesibe wrote:

I have never understood the need for more than one door, personally.  We use a 42 one door crate and it is about all I would ever need.  I have never thought about the need for a side door.  

Plus, on a crate, the door is weaker than a solid wall for obvious reasons.  So the way I see it, with a dog like a Husky, you need your crate to be as sturdy and solid as possible for when the teenage/adult time comes.  I would assume a multi-door crate is weaker than a 1 door crate if you think about it in terms of stability.  

I have secured every corner and joint on Link's crate with zip ties and that thing is a tank.  Naturally, the door-wall is the weakest though.  When we are gone for work we latch it with a quick lock.

Problem solved

Zip ties eh? That's another pretty good idea to help with the door problems. Would I have to tape it down to keep them from getting chewed on or would they be good as they are?

wpskier222 wrote:

Yay! It's exciting to start shopping isn't it? :)It really doesn't matter how many doors it has honestly. Most people end up putting the crate in a corner or against the wall, and you could always just block the extra door that way.

Shopping? I call it smashing the key keyboard on Ebay and Amazon. It's fun but it's also really boring after awhile lol. =_=

So I should probably go with the 3 door crate then since the door problem can be fixed and it's considerably cheaper? The cheaper one also comes in (very limited) colors which is kind of cool. :o

lillith87 wrote:

I have a one door on my crate. Don't remember how big it is, but the size seems perfect in my opinion. Sometimes I wish that the door was in a different location, for the arranging of furniture sake (I wish the door was on the lengthy-er side of the crate instead of the smaller side) but in the end, I don't want more that one door... Okami can already open up the bottom latch on her crate (not the top one though) if there were more doors she would have more angles to try and figure out how to open up other latches, and then bye bye puppy.... she is too smart for her own good.

Yup I really don't like the sound of 3 doors, it'll give them too many options for a successful breakout! Where are these 1 door crates you speak of?

Just cinch em down as tight as possible, cut is as short as it will go, and then if you want you could file it even closer, and then you're set.  

My crate is black and the zip ties are black too.  Being the same color helps with the blending in.

Ah okay, thanks for the advice! I'll try that out if multiple doors start to become a problem.

I have a Midwest crate. It's 42" with one door and it's pretty solid.

My dad ordered one off of eBay (to leave at home, because I was having to bring the other one back and forth between my apartment and their house, which meant I was never going home haha) that's 42" as well, but it has two doors. It's much flimsier and Pip managed to bend the metal that holds the plastic tray in and she got at the carpet underneath and tore it up. It was less than half of what I paid for the Midwest one.

In my opinion, it pays to spend a little more at the start and have it last long. Although we've since added a bunch of zip ties, exactly like Jeff suggested, and she hasn't managed to do any more damage. Although she's much calmer now too, which I'm sure plays a part in it as well.

I personally like having mutiple doors. We have a pretty small place so the way the door swings open and which door opens matters for us depending on where we put his crate. I am thinking of getting one where the door lifts up and over the gate so it's not in the way at all.

But i don't crate when we aren't home so I don't really have to worry about him breaking out. I only crate at night for bedtime. During the day, he stays in a (DOUBLE) gated area.

The midwest life stages one has a plastic pan. Someone mentioned metal will last longer...have they actually broke for people? I get that plastic < metal, but trying to think of how one would break?

The midwest one seems like a good deal and I'm also in the market. I got a cheap small one for Chuck at the last minute before I got him - wish I would have got an adjustable one in the first place!

I got my one door at Pet Supplies Plus, I don't normally shop there for anything, but it was cheaper than Petco or Petsmart... I think I paid like 80 bucks for it, and it has a pull out tray, it also came with an inner separator for puppies that are too small for the amount of space. It is really nice and it folds up simply for storage or to get it through doorways.

katiesham wrote:

I have a Midwest crate. It's 42" with one door and it's pretty solid.

My dad ordered one off of eBay (to leave at home, because I was having to bring the other one back and forth between my apartment and their house, which meant I was never going home haha) that's 42" as well, but it has two doors. It's much flimsier and Pip managed to bend the metal that holds the plastic tray in and she got at the carpet underneath and tore it up. It was less than half of what I paid for the Midwest one.

In my opinion, it pays to spend a little more at the start and have it last long. Although we've since added a bunch of zip ties, exactly like Jeff suggested, and she hasn't managed to do any more damage. Although she's much calmer now too, which I'm sure plays a part in it as well.

I agree that it's better is spend a little more now in order to save a lot later. The Midwest crates look pretty good too and I might just get one, it's probably worth the extra $$ I suppose. xD

TheBadGuppy wrote:

I personally like having mutiple doors.  We have a pretty small place so the way the door swings open and which door opens matters for us depending on where we put his crate.  I am thinking of getting one where the door lifts up and over the gate so it's not in the way at all.  

But i don't crate when we aren't home so I don't really have to worry about him breaking out.  I only crate at night for bedtime.  During the day, he stays in a (DOUBLE) gated area.

Yeah, outside of night time I would only use the crate 3 times a weeks (3 hours on Monday/Friday for my job and 1 hour on Sunday) So it wont be used much at all. It will also be placed in my room which is kind of a bit small, so the extra doors are useful in that sense...

riggaberto wrote:

The midwest life stages one has a plastic pan. Someone mentioned metal will last longer...have they actually broke for people? I get that plastic < metal, but trying to think of how one would break?

The midwest one seems like a good deal and I'm also in the market. I got a cheap small one for Chuck at the last minute before I got him - wish I would have got an adjustable one in the first place!

I read that ABS plastic is less durable and has on occasion broke for some (very very few) reviewers. So being paranoid I kind of just assumed that if any breed could break them it would be a Husky, right? xD

lillith87 wrote:

I got my one door at Pet Supplies Plus, I don't normally shop there for anything, but it was cheaper than Petco or Petsmart... I think I paid like 80 bucks for it, and it has a pull out tray, it also came with an inner separator for puppies that are too small for the amount of space. It is really nice and it folds up simply for storage or to get it through doorways.

Pet Supply Plus eh? I'll have to check them out, thanks!


@Everyone: Thanks for taking the time to respond to this thread!