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If you’re looking at buying a dog crate, you’ve come to the
right place. In this article, we’ll review the pros and cons of steel bar dog
crates versus the ever popular plastic dog crates that are more commonly known
as kennels.
Steel Bar Crates:
- Pro – Your dog will easily be able to see through the
bars – which is especially good during the training period. You’ll want
them to see out so they feel secure. At bed time, the crate can be covered
- Pro – Your dog will have a hard time doing any serious
chewing damage to metal.
- Pro – These crates usually are collapsible, making
them easy to transport.
- Pro – Steel bar crates are generally easier to
accessorize with food and water bowls, among other things.
- Con – You can’t use a steel dog crate to transport
your dog on an airplane.
- Con – They are usually quite a bit heavier than the
plastic kennels.
- Con – The rough corners can often damage floors and
walls if you aren’t careful.
- Con – More expensive than plastic kennels.
Plastic dog crates/kennels:
- Pro – Some dogs prefer NOT being able to see out of
their “den” and plastic kennels are perfect for that.
- Pro – If you think you’ll ever need to move your dog,
either by car or especially airplane, these crates are your only real
option.
- Pro – Plastic dog crates are considerably lighter
(sans dog) than their steel counterparts.
- Pro – The rounded corners and flat, solid tops are
safe for your home, and can be used as a table.
- Pro – Cost. Usually much cheaper than steel bar
crates.
- Con – They usually (with few exceptions) don’t fold
flat – meaning they take up lots of space when not in use.
- Con – Dogs can easily chew the plastic, resulting in
heavy damage.
- Con – They don’t have a separate base, or “pan”,
meaning they can’t be cleaned as easily.
- Con – You can’t add a crate divider. These are useful
for crate training purposes when your dog is young and doesn’t need a large
space.
All in all, both steel bar crates and plastic crates have
their uses. You have to make the decision based on what YOUR needs are. Since
we don’t have any plans to move house, or move the crate around the house (it
stays in our basement), we decided to go for a steel bar dog crate. If you’d
like to pick one up for your dog, visit the
Dog Supplies page for links to
stores with the best deals online! |
