7 most importan features on a dog crate

A Dog crate is definitely a great asset for your dog, and is recommended to be used both at home, and in new enviorments that your dog is not accustomed to . Because of this, there are a lot of alternatives when getting a dog crate. Here are, in our opinion, the most important criterias when getting a dog crate.

Top 7 most important features on a Dog Crate

1. Safety in mind

The most important thing above anything else, is keeping your pet safe and comfortable. The crate is, as we know, a place the dog will spend a lot of time. Making sure your dog is safe and comfortable will also give you peace of mind.  You should look for dog crates with rounded edges and corners, and that the door(s) are snag-free.

2. Size

Dogs can come in all shapes and sizes, so be careful when online shopping, that you get a crate that fits your dog. You don’t want a dog crate that is too big for your dog, and you definitely don’t want one that’s too small. The various dog crate manufacturers usually list their available sizes in small, medium and large. If you’re unsure if it will fit, you can try to find  the meassurements of the various sizes, so you choose a dog cage which is more comfortable for your dog.

3. Strong and durable

If you’re dog is spending longer amounts of time in their dog crate, they might get a little  restless. This is when a strong and durable dog cage comes in handy. This will help prevent damage by clawing and biting on the bars. You can also look for cages with that are rust resistant. Once you have a dog cage chosen, you’re not likely to swap it out that often, so having one that can last you a long time is handy.

4. Travel and storage friendly

This point probably belong further up the list. As we mentioned above, the dog crate will most likely go with you wherever you and your dog travel. The dog cage will become  a “home away from home”, and a place for the dog to retreat when in new envoirments. That is why it needs to be travel and storage friendly. A big helper is that if it’s collapsable and foldable, to make it as convenient as possible for travel.

5. Easy to clean

Either if you’re traveling or you’re at home, having a dog crate that is easy to clean is definitely a huge quality of life improvement. The dog might be couped up for longer periods of times, and accidents will most likely happen. Some cages comes with a pan in the bottom of the dog cage, which can be removed for easy cleaning. Polypropolyne plastic pans are preferred for this, as they are easiest pan to clean.

6. Multiple doors

Having multiple doors on your dog cage can definitely be a big help in terms of usability. Mostly relevant for medium to large dogs, but can be important for smaller dogs as well. Having two doors, one on the “short” side, and one on the “long” side, makes placing the dog cage much more flexible. Either if you’re traveling, having someone dog sit your dog, or you’re moving around the house. Being able to place your dog crate wherever and however you want is definitely a useful tool.

7. Reliable and secure lock

Making sure you have a reliable and secure lock on your cage is important. Your dog is most likely going to be in their dog crate unsupervised. That means if your dog was to get out, you would have no idea where they were going or what they were doing. Unless you had a Tail it Dog tracker of course (shameless plug). The most reliable dog crates use a 5-point precision lock, which secures the dog doors in 5 different locations, keeping your dog safe inside.

Conclusion

Getting a dog crate should definitely be something you should be looking at seriously. Obviously you don’t need to hit every criteria in order to have a happy dog, but what many people are forgetting is that the dog crate is also there for you.

Not only does your dog get their own place to call home, but a dog cage also keeps your dog from eating your floors and walls. It’s a great place for timeouts, or a place of confiment if you’re overwhelmed by other responsibilites.