Dog Forum banner
Status
Not open for further replies.

Best Mesh Crate for Agility?

8K views 13 replies 5 participants last post by  Dogs4Jesus 
#1 ·
First off, Biscuit is completely better. In case anyone was wondering. :) The vet said his diarrhea may have been caused by stress, which is possible. He was at a trial that day, and he loves agility trials, but he was hesitant to be crated in the car. That may have stressed him out. It might be time: time to crate him inside the venue!

I looked at mesh crates for quite some time yesterday, and I've found a few favorites. I'd like to know which crate you guys use as well!

I'd like a crate that:

-Has optional window covers so he can't see out
-Has a top open so I can have him poke his head out
-Is well made
-Is easy to set up and take down
-Is easy to carry

I definitely want him to have a now-you-see-me-now-you-don't feature, such as a top I can zip open or shut, or windows I can cover or not. Both would be nice, but not necessary. He's only ever been crated in a wire and plastic crate, but he's pretty well trained. I think if I introduced him properly, he wouldn't try to chew out of the crate. I'd also like to have a special chew toy he only gets in the crate, to make it more fun.

Here are my top picks so far, what do you think?
https://www.chewy.com/firstrax-noz2noz-sof-krate-n2-series/dp/56728
https://www.chewy.com/gopetclub-soft-sided-dog-crate-brown/dp/101880
https://www.chewy.com/firstrax-petnation-port-crate-e/dp/56733
https://www.chewy.com/petmate-portable-pet-home-dark/dp/53453
https://www.chewy.com/precision-pet-products-soft-sided/dp/102010


Thanks!
 
See less See more
#2 ·
I don't use a mesh crate because Aspen would chew out of it in .5 seconds haha BUT one of my Flyball teammates uses one that looks like the last one on your list (Precision Pet, I think)... she seems to like it well enough but her dog just sleeps the whole time haha. I'm not sure how durable it is if Biscuit digs or chews.

Have you considered an ex pen? I'm getting one that has a removable cover (because Aspen can climb out :eyeroll: ) I like ex pens because they have a bit more room and are less likely to knock over their water pail.
 
#3 ·
I have two of the Noz2Noz crates and love them. Neither of my dogs are chewers/crate escapers but I have had client dogs run up and scratch the crate and no real marks left. I love that it has a big mesh door and a two mesh sides so they get lots of air flow going through. I also find it is dark enough that the dogs still feel secure and private.

I also can hang the Pet Tutor or a water bottle from the metal frame.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Dogs4Jesus
#4 ·
@Aspen726 I have considered an x-pen, yes. If possible, I want him to be in a crate and not a pen, because x-pens aren't allowed at some of my local venues. Hopefully Biscuit won't chew out of the mesh. He's not a huge chewer, but he has separation anxiety. We're working on that. ;)
@Shandula I liked the look of those best. I did go ahead and order one last night, so it's nice to hear a positive review of them. :) I was going to get Biscuit one in "his size", since he's only 25 pounds. But he sleeps on a Labrador sized bed, and he slips off of it half the time. He just likes to sprawl. :rolleyes: So I got him the 36 inch one. Maybe that's extreme overkill, but I think it will be a nice combo between a crate and a pen for him.

Thanks for the feedback guys!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Aspen726
#8 ·
Our local venues are not very fancy. Actually, the fanciest one has the least crating space! They are all barns, of course, but the fanciest one was built exclusively for dog sports. Too bad they didn't seem to think of much crating space.... I hope he'll like his crate too. It comes tomorrow, and I got him a fleecy crate pad and a special chew toy. What's not to love?

Yes, I played with perspectives just a bit in his photo. He's actually heavy right now (for him). He's usually 22-23 pounds, but I'm pretty sure that's on the light side. He's a picky eater, and he's also very active. 25 pounds is probably better for him. ;)
 
  • Like
Reactions: Aspen726
#6 ·
I had an Elitefield and my dogs have destroyed it. Roxie would scratch the bottom when I was not around and ripped the bottom, which isn't a big deal because I threw a bed in there and it was fine. It was when she would get upset because I was running a different dog that she started grabbing the door with her teeth and managed to rip a hole into it and eventually pushed her body through the hole. I won't be buying another one. I think I am going to buy a wire crate and a crate cover instead.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Dogs4Jesus
#11 · (Edited)
Hope you like your crate!:)

I have a couple soft crates but only use them for travel with 2 of my dogs. They are angels and just relax or nap. I don't think the thought to try to escape has ever crossed their minds. :p

The other three...
Penny destroyed one in the past so no more.

Dexter is only crated in his vari kennel and when I am in hearing range. He has and continues to quickly escape anything else. If he can get out of wire and hard kennels, I have little doubt he'll bust out of soft.

Leggs can be in a soft crate if he's with me. Like next to my seat in classes wait his turn or something. But any other situation he is also in a vari kennel because he figured out how to unzip his soft crate door.... he's very proud of that too.

Oh! Crate covers!
Dexter is a pro at pulling in and shredding covers. :p
I have a couple trifold poster boards that I pop up around crates as visual blockers when we travel. At the training building I just use a pvc gate with blanket over it if I have to crate them in the main lobby. Both work really well.
 
#13 ·
Oh! Crate covers!
Dexter is a pro at pulling in and shredding covers. :p
I have a couple trifold poster boards that I pop up around crates as visual blockers when we travel. At the training building I just use a pvc gate with blanket over it if I have to crate them in the main lobby. Both work really well.
Good idea to use poster boards! I should pass that on to some people I know who are... ahem... struggling with a blanket-chewing dog. :p
 
#14 ·
The crate arrived today!!! And might I add, I love Chewy's free 1-2 day shipping! Right on time, two days after I placed the order. I'd been tracking the package, and I was waiting by the door when the crate arrived. :p

I set it up immediately, added the fleecy mat, and lured Biscuit in with cheese. He was a bit hesitant at first, but after a few rounds of "go crate! Lie down! Okay, come!", he was enjoying it. So I decided to unfurl the door, and allow him to push through it to get in. That was a big mistake, and I ended up scaring him badly. So I lured him in again, unzipped the top, and fed him treats from the sky. While he was distracted, I dropped the door down. When he noticed, it didn't scare him as much. Once he'd eaten all of his treats, I got out his new Bacon Nylabone. He wanted it sooooo badly, and he raced me to the crate. I praised him, gave him the bone, and watched as he walked out of his crate and to his bed. He then began to chew the bone. I took it away, and gave it to him in his crate at least 5 more times, and he took it out every time. Finally I dropped the door while he was in the crate, and NOW he decides he can walk out of it! I didn't want to zip it yet, so I tried sitting down beside the crate. It worked like a charm. He could have left the crate at any time, but he chose to chew his bone before taking a 45-minute nap. It was so precious!

A few hours later, I sent him into the crate for more bacon bone and naptime. However, I wanted to sit on the sofa instead of on the ground. When I left his side, he left the crate, so I zipped it shut. After he sniffed all around the opening and saw that I had really truly trapped him, he gave me a puppy dog eyes stare. After about 2 minutes of that, he settled down, and slept for another 45 minutes before I let him out. No scratching or growling, so he must like it! He actually complained when I put it away. :)

It's super lightweight and really easy to set up. I think it's going to be a hit!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
You have insufficient privileges to reply here.
Top