Plastic Kennel or Wire Crate?

[supram4n]

I'm having a real tough time debating on whether to get a vari kennel or a wire crate I see on ebay. Any suggestions? Pros and cons? Can I just get a medium sized crate? Or should I get a small and medium since I'm getting a puppy and I heard medium might be too big for it and it may pee in it. Thanks!

Oh and the dimensions on a medium crate:

Measures 28 x 20.5 x 21.5 inches.

[mtoy]

I'm going through the same thing. Here are the dimensions my breeder gave me:

puppy size plastic crate: size 200, or approx 28x21x22H
adult size: size 300, or approx 32x23x24H

wire adult: 36x22x24H
most wire crates come with a divider to section it off for puppies

I'm thinking I'll get a plastic crate to start off with, to use in the house and for travel. When he outgrows it I'll decide if I want a wire indoor crate or continue with the plastic. After the "chew everything" phase I'll get him a soft side indoor home.

Does anyone have any thoughts or input - pretty please????

[Peggy]

I'm going to try to answer you both in one post.

I'm having a real tough time debating on whether to get a vari kennel or a wire crate I see on ebay. Any suggestions? Pros and cons? Can I just get a medium sized crate? Or should I get a small and medium since I'm getting a puppy and I heard medium might be too big for it and it may pee in it. Thanks!

A vari kennel is safer when traveling. A wire crate, if in an accident can break and impale the dog with the broken wires.

A vari kennel offers more privacy and some dogs like that. Some don't.

I would get two sizes as it's much easier. Some wire crates do come with dividers that you can use to make the crate smaller and then move it to increase the size as the dog grows.

I'm thinking I'll get a plastic crate to start off with, to use in the house and for travel. When he outgrows it I'll decide if I want a wire indoor crate or continue with the plastic. After the "chew everything" phase I'll get him a soft side indoor home.

Does anyone have any thoughts or input - pretty please????

I like your plan. On the soft sided crate, I don't recommend ever leaving any dog in one unattended. Too many have figured out how to chew out (and not just puppies in the chewing stage) or how to unzip the zippers.

I have some soft sided ones myself and use them in hotel rooms or at shows when I am with the dog.

Peggy

[ZdogZ]

deleted by zdogz

[Bayoucorgi]

I have a black wire 30" long crate from ebay. This is my first wire crate. I had the plastic ones most of my dog career. I used my cat's small plastic one when I first got Liam. Wire is easier to clean than plastic because it has a tray. The door latches are easier to open than spring loaded ones on the plastic. Liam likes to see out. I can see what he is doing. I am more confident that the car a/c is circulating through the wire crate (this is important in Houston). They fold almost flat and are easier to move. I sold my large crates on Craig's List when I didn't need them anymore and they go fast so you aren't stuck with them. Happy shopping.

[Michael Romanos]

I haven't got either but I do have an old wooden travel kennel.
But if I was to get one, I would very strongly go for the crate. A crate, especially if oversized, provides a Corgi with playpen aspects, allows them to see things and be part of things, and move around a bit, though confined and safe. And Corgis like to see and look around through being curious type dogs and busy bodies. - crates gives them this kind of freedom of vision. Crates fold up very small and so are convenient to take on a trip. They are much better value if you need to 'house' your Corgi from time to time at an outdoor venue - such as a dog sports or recreational events.

[supram4n]

After reading, I think I'm going to go with the 30'' wire crate w/ divider on ebay.

eBay: NEW MIDWEST 30 INCH FOLDING 2 DOOR DOG CRATE W/ DIVIDER (item 330106656392 end time Apr-12-07 19:08:49 PDT)

[Michael Romanos]

Good choice and good for you in seeking Go Corgi's help. They are a lot cheaper than the normal retail price in New Zealand

[Bayoucorgi]

That's the one I got. The 2-door thing is nice because we use the end door in the back of the SUV, and the side door in the laundry room of the house - it's more flexible in which way you can put it.

[supram4n]

Is 30" perfectly fine? or should I go with the 36"? Thanks again

[PaulaK]

Our house is small but we actually used two crates - wire in living room and smaller plastic for bedroom. As Michael stated - liked the wire crate as a puppy play pen for the day (and evening hours if we were not actively watching them). The dogs quickly learned not to soil the larger crate (don't know if we were just lucky?) Used the smaller vari kennel at night in our bedroom. DH and I were both working when our dogs were young and figured that was a easy 8 hours extra the dogs could be with us - even if we were all sleeping! Added bonus of the vari kennel being so portable for trips. As the corgis are now veteran travelers we have a x-pen for any overnight hotel stays and use the tether/seat belt system in the vehicle.
Paula
ps - with our dogs being two years apart the crates seemed to be taking up permanent residence! I really hated them taking up so much room in the house and couldn't wait to see them stored in the garage !

[milles2]

I like the idea of airflow with the wire crate. I live in upstate NY and lathough it seems like we never have warm weather (on days like today....) it can get pretty warm in the summer time. My house is 150 years old and doesn't have central air.

I have a borrowed vari kennel but have always preferred the wire kennels.

Susan

[mtoy]

Also (very much related), what should go in the crate for new puppies? I mean as far as mats, bedding, etc. We'll have a small towel from the breeder w/the litter smell on it and a toy from her too.

[ChloeLouise]

When we got ChloeLouise we went with a large wire crate that folds flat for travel. We ordered it, not having a CLUE about what we were doing and when it arrived we realized it was more of the Great Dane variety! Our little, fuzzy puppy looked absolutely LOST in it! Thankfully the crate came with a movable divider - and as she grew we moved it back until she didn't need the secure confinement. Because ChloeLouise is a "fabric consumer" we haven't been able to leave soft blankets or towels in her "nest" for her - even tho she is now 2 years old...consequently her "den" is kind of barren...But I wouldn't even trust her with a stuffed dog bed or padded mat made for the crate!! Every dog is different, of course, so you may have to try different types of bedding to see what works best. We especially like our crate because of its portability for travel and also because we do not have air conditioning either so in the summer I think it is plenty airy...

[Bayoucorgi]

Liam has lots of room in the 30". He went in his JRT buddy's 24" and it was too short. I had the 36" for my small Golden and it had LOTS of room but he didn't need it.

Liam is a fabric freak too. So I just put some old beach towels and polar fleece scarf. I had a foam cushion and it became foamfetti, and then I had the fleece one and it was fleecefetti, so he has to sleep on the towels.

Susan, where in upstate NY? My best friend is from Owego. Her family has a lake house up on Lake Cayuga near Corning. She takes my son up there summers. Her SIL raises Corgis in Horseheads or Elmira.