A Review of the Most Popular Dog Crates

by Kim on 03. Nov, 2010 in Dog Kennels

Midwest Life Stages Double-Door Folding Metal Dog Crate, 36 Inches by 24 Inches by 27 Inches

Overall Rating:

Retail Price: $129.99

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With so many options and manufacturers of dog crates, how can one decide? Hopefully this collection of customer reviews can help you form a better informed decision before your purchase of a dog crate.

Midwest Life Stages Crates (shown above)

Easy to assemble once you figure out the instructions (difficult to read/understand)
Folds up well for storage
Bed pan doesn’t fit in easily; you must lift up the divider to fit it inside. It then snaps into place (can be confusing)
Sizes are very roomy so purchase a large if you think you need the extra large
Very durable dog crate and can withstand a determined dog
Not ideal for travelling as they are heavy weight
Tray is plastic which is not ideal as they can warp and crack with everyday use (especially if washed and sunned outside to dry often)
The divider that is used to make the dog crate smaller and larger can be tricky to use but works very well
Metal wire rusts too easily and quickly
Overall, this dog crate has the most favorable customer reviews

Remington Pet Carrier

Well priced, inexpensive dog crate
Durable and sturdy, although feels flimsy
Lightweight
Nicely ventilated
Extra large sized one – the wire used to make the gate is too lightweight for the size of gate and the size of dogs that would use this dog crate. Large determined dogs are able to bend the gate and cause the latching mechanisms to pop off and thus freeing themselves.

Great Choice Portable Kennels

Door sizes are rather small
Larger sizes are not easy to transport
Instructions can be confusing (two different sizes of bolts) and require special tools to assemble
Very durable and sturdy dog crate that can withstand the escape efforts of determined dogs
Colors are a little misleading (bleach = taupe)
Sizes are smaller than they appear in pictures
Easy to clean and meets airline standards
Taller compared to others which gives dogs more head room

Pet Gear Deluxe Steel Crates

Garage door style opening is a nice feature on this dog crate
Wheels for moving are very convenient
Plastic clips break easily – although if you send broken ones back to Pet Gear they will replace with a metal one immediately
Expensive for the quality
Not durable enough for large or determined breeds
Folds flat with the help of plastic pressure clips
Poorly designed – the entire tension of all 6 sides is focused on tiny wires held in place with a little bit of plastic
Overall a flimsy product

Pet Gear Home ‘N Go Portable Soft Crate

Flimsy and easy flips over
Convenient to travel and also to pack up and store away
Mesh sides are easily destroyed
Determined dogs can escape very easily
Not easy to clean
Zippered doors and windows are easy for dogs to unzip with a little effort
Only recommended for very calm or older dogs

Port-a-Crate P2 Indoor/Outdoor Pet Home

Steel frame dog crate with a washable outer cover
Dogs who like to chew will chew right through it (especially mesh windows)
Top and side flaps are removable giving more or less light/ventilation as needed
The pad that it comes with is of poor quality (cheap, retains odors, not washable, not water proof)
Overall a poor quality dog crate

Midwest Classic Collection Pet Table Top Furniture

Turns your Midwest dog crate into an end table
Beware; this is not a crate but a frame to place your crate within. It is designed for the Midwest dog crate.
The larger sizes are much large than they appear and may be as big as a dining room table
Holes for securing to dog crate do not line up properly
Some versions come with the crate while others do not. Read the box very carefully.
Overall an expensive accessory (any table can do this job)

Bonus Tips:

Take the top off your dog crate for long car rides and let your dog sit inside. This keeps dog hair off your car seats and the dog feels safer confined in an area that he is used too.

Midwest 40236 36-By-23-Inch Quiet Time Bolster Pet Bed, Fleece