(Part 2) Best dog crates according to redditors

looks like she needs something more engaging to do. I'd suggest some interactive toys, or possibly a dog sport (even out in the yard; something like disc dog or fly ball) during your free time.

EDIT: it looks like you can buy replacement bottoms: http://www.amazon.com/MidWest-Life-Stages-Crate-Replacement/dp/B0002NNWDW/

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00063MQNU/ref=ya_aw_oh_bia_dp?ie=UTF8&psc=1


Geg him one of those. Don't build anything, you'll want it to be foldable for way easy travel. It made a HUGE difference.

Some organizing equipment can really help to cut down on distractions.

Buy an xl crate with a divider that is movable.. Start them with just enough room to get up and be able to turn around.. Increase size as wiggle butt get bigger.. Took me 2 weeks to train mine.. All I gotta say now is "I gotta go buddy" and he goes right in..

Midwest Life Stages Folding Single Door Dog Crate by Mid-West http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00063MQNU/ref=cm_sw_r_udp_awd_G7Nitb1PV002A

Sure thing! So what I mean by kennelling is you keep the dog in the kennel whenever you can't watch them (sleeping, errands, etc.) By providing them with a safe place, but one that's small enough to where they won't eliminate in, will help train them to not use the restroom inside the house, and help them feel more comfortable in general with the situation. It took my dog a few weeks to be comfortable with it, so give it time. Don't force them into it, and just have a bed or blanket with comforting smells, that helps. So do treats.

AmazonBasics Double-Door Folding Metal Dog Crate - Small (24x19x18 Inches) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QAVNODI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_nKk1AbE6Y1WX4

This is the one we have now, and it's great as it's got two doors so you can arrange it how you need for space. I'd do some research about kennel training too, as it was a combination of reading about things and pure trial and error to finally get Charlie comfortable with things. I think the most important thing is your dog doesn't want to be alone (and given their past history, I wouldn't blame them!) That was the hardest for mine too, he was left outside alone for days at a time without food or water, so I think that part of it is retraining them to understand that's not going to happen again, because now they're with you.

I hope that's a bit more helpful. :)

> wanted to be able to run fridge and laptop for a week at least before on solar before I have to turn on the engine and drive to my next spot

A normal laptop (10-90W), a small fridge (100-400W), and a room heater (900-1500W+) are orders of magnitude apart. The only time I've heard of anyone using an electric heater when camping was when he had an over-abundance of gasoline-electrical generator output, but one probably wouldn't want to run a generator at night due to noise.

> do you think these buddy heaters are save enough for children to be in the same room

A lot of people use propane heaters in RVs. Of course having a CO (Carbon Monoxide) detector and a fire extinguisher on hand is a must, even if burning a single candle. That aside, the most important thing is to assure adequate ventilation. Extra super-safety measure: set an alarm every 2 hours the first night to walk around the room and make sure the air is fine, nothing is overheating, etc.

When it comes to the possibility of leaks, propane is generally safer than natural gas, because: (1) You can smell it. (2) Propane vapors are heavier than air, so being higher off the floor is an added safety benefit (in addition to being more heat-efficient). (3) Buddy Heaters self-ignite automatically, so there's no chance of turning on the gas and forgetting to light the flame. You can get a propane leak detector as well (a separate function from CO detection, but possible to have both in one device).

I don't know anything about kids, but I don't think they are inclined to touch things that are very obviously very hot. I guess using some sort of a cage (around the heater, I mean, not the kids) would add an extra level of safety...

I would say you probably won't have an issue with that at all. There are a lot of families that crate one dog and not the other, and the dogs don't seem to mind one bit.

I will recommend the crate over an enclosed room, though, because I would hate for you to come home and find your bathroom door scratched up.

If you cover the crate with a blanket on 3 sides (all sides except the front door), he'll probably just feel like he's in a den and fall asleep comfortably until you get home. The crate will become his "safe spot".

Also, there are a lot of really reasonably priced crates on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-Double-Door-Folding-Metal-Crate/dp/B018YCU79O/ref=sr_1_4?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1504103072&sr=1-4&keywords=dog%2Bcrate&th=1)

EDIT: ALSO fair warning, depending on the dog, crating/enclosing a dog and removing their access to you when they know you're there can come with some initial whining and protests from the dog. It's so important that you don't let in when he cries. He needs to learn how to settle in, and that crying won't get him out. If you start letting him out when he's making noise, the crate will not work because whining = "I get to go free and do what I want" in his mind. :) But it isn't cruel - you're setting boundaries so he gets to live in your house rent-free. :P

Hey, great !

Nice to see some custom build around here.

Also your idea of using backing tray as floor is realy great.

I'am in the process of doing something similar but started with an AmazonBasics Folding Metal Dog Crate in XS size as a base https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-pliante-m%C3%A9tal-1-porte-Taille-M/dp/B018YCTX6M/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1490549692&sr=8-4&keywords=cage&th=1

I could not find a sturdy plastic crate who i will be sure nothing could happend to it when i take the train or bus, also the width was a limited factor since bus have a small inside corridor.

Also could only find the 1 door version in France, and now seems that the restock time will be long, so stuck with a 1 door 22 inches for the moment.

As for the wall, will use rabbit welded wire, since our catsnake can be very creative in escape.

You could cut an L shape of the floor rack and make it so that you have a ramp going down, so they can use all floor when the want.

For the litter box you can use velcro, one side on the litter box, the other one on the base/wall of plastic cage, with 3 point of fixation, the litter box will not moove.

Also, you can maybe have a lower gap beetween the 2 plastic side with using a heatgun and heating the plastic at the point where the rack stay in place, it will not damage the plastic shell, just make it softer and you could gain a few mm so that the two side fit perfectly. Dont melt them in, just make so that the base have the marking of the grate.

This might work
Homey Pet New Durable Plastic Black Tray for 31" Two Tier Cage (Tray) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GGMJTV6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_52QJDb8B4NCNW

Or possibly this one
Midwest Dog Crate Replacement Pan, 30 Inch, for Life Stages Fold and Carry Dog Crates https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002DHW10/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_x5QJDbS2YM2DJ

The tricky part is finding one for the top shelf because it has the opening for the ramp. The first link looked flexibly enough that you may be able to cut it for that space

I drive around with my dog with this in the trunk (size 36in)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0732T4DGS/

Cleanup limited to minimum. Additionally I bought this cheap trunk mat and cut it to size myzelf:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00E9HWS9G/

Works great!

I actually don’t know if this would work but maybe it could. With the window flaps down, hopefully it would help contain the barf. I would keep a towel in the car near the non-window flap for air flow so it’s there to catch.

EliteField 3-Door Folding Soft Dog Crate, Indoor & Outdoor Pet Home, Multiple Sizes and Colors Available (36" L x 24" W x 28" H, Red+Beige) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M63ZAT9/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_ugCrDbD1RBAES

I would look into methods to help with car sickness though. I have one dog that does better sitting forward in the front seat than being in the back. I’m sure there is a medication that could help as well.

Honestly, she is a spaz in the car and we're trying to figure out if having her confined will help her calm down. Not that I'm not concerned about safety, but more that I want to make sure it is a good solution without dumping a ton of money into something we'll just end up getting rid of. If it works, I'll likely upgrade to a more hardcore option to take camping etc. in the summer.
Been looking at something like this to start:

https://www.amazon.com/2PET-Folding-indoor-travel-training/dp/B00V5IMLQW?th=1&psc=1

This was posted on the Austin Pets Alive Facebook page around 1 pm today (link shorteners removed):


"We are expecting several hundred more displaced pets today and this week as we continue our rescue effort for #APAHarvey. We've set up a temporary location at 7711 Burnet Rd. Suite 7723, Austin, TX 78757 for animals.


We need the following things donated ASAP: Donated (not loaned) medium & large wire dog crates (we have heard local places are running low on crates so you can buy from Amazon & get them shipped to the above address: example 1, example 2, sheets (can be used), bath & beach towels (can be used), aluminum food bowls, styrofoam bowls, dog & cat food (meat as 1st ingredient), wet canned cat food, kitty litter, aluminum baking pans (like this for litter boxes), trash bags, bleach, paper towels, dog poop bags, clorox wipes, sponges, hand brooms/dust pans, litter scoopers, leashes (all size- flat), all size martingale collars, mops, mop buckets, push brooms. Please bring donations INSIDE do not leave items outside.


We also need LOTS of volunteers today and in the next several days (volunteers must be 18+ and able to do physical labor). Please fill out this short term volunteer form before coming: https://app.betterimpact.com/Application?OrganizationGuid=3a6c8abe-0a11-4fbb-8beb-ad60b24f68a1&ApplicationFormNumber=2. We are here now so please bring items here or have them shipped to this address and show up to volunteer."

This is the only other one I can find, it's a bit more girthier. Is this a picture you took? If so is there any brand name or anything on it?

Hah! Her two least favorite words out of my mount have become 'water change'

I got a tray that is designed to go under a god crate https://www.amazon.com/Replacement-Pan-Long-MidWest-Crate/dp/B0002NNWDW

It is perfect for aquarium projects, especially aqua scaping

This one is nice
Petsfit Portable Soft Large Dog Crate Travle Dog Crate for Medium to Large Dog Soft Sided Pet Crate Black 36" x 25" x 23" https://www.amazon.com/dp/B016XU65TK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_wS2NDb43K8XQX

I have been using this crate for the last 6 months for the car and travel: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B018ITT58C/ref=twister_B01A5WCO0G?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

I am not sure if the larger size will be big enough for a Rottweiler (I have the smaller size) so you may want to measure your current crates to get a better idea.

In case anyone else ever experiences this, we ended up fixing the issue by putting litter in the bottom of a dog crate base. Something along these lines: http://www.amazon.com/Midwest-Homes-Pets-6PAN-Crates/dp/B00Y26SV2C

Its easy for her to get in and out of, and it large enough that she doesn't feel confined and pee over the edge.

i got this one in the large 28in size:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00V5IMLIA/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

i currently have 3 kittens (4.5 months, 4.5 months, 14 weeks) and they all fit in it! it's pretty heavy but it's also sturdy. for one cat, the 20in or 24in would probably be a good size

I'm trying to give my pup (1.5 yo) a little bit more freedom and space. So I've been gating her into the kitchen. I stuck her travel crate in there with her, since her metal crate wouldn't fit, and she likes to lay inside it to sleep.

Well she ATE the clips off the side, so now it won't stay folded if I try to fold it up again. Grrr. This dog. She thinks everything is food.

I fold the seats down and it sits pretty nicely in there. This is the one I use. The only downside is the seats don't lie flat when folded down so I bolster with a few towels to make it level. It's also a great option because you can place it in the car folded up and pop it up in place with relative ease so you don't have to worry about messing up your doors when you put the crate in/take it out.

Ok here is what you do. get some 1"x3" wood strips and a 30 inch dog crate pan.

What you are going to do is measure the bottom of the pan and subtract that from your interior dimensions. So if the specs on amazon are correct you get 3.8 inches length wise and 2 inches width. You need to make that up with pieces of wood. Basically you build a frame that you will place on the floor of the cage and the kenel pan will fit inside it. Now cut the plug off your UTH about 5 or 6 inches from the plug and drill a small whole at the back of the cage to put the now cut cable through. Now splice the plug back onto the UTH. Now you have a UTH inside your cage. Put the frame you made in and put the kenel pan on top of the UTH. Now your snake is not in direct contact with the UTH. If the snake tips its water bowl the kenel pan will catch the liquids protecting the UTH.

This whole plan assumes you can cut the wood safely. Splice the plug back together and are comfortable drilling into the side of your cage.