Best Soft Side or Portable Crate?

Ravenbird

Ravenbird

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Looking for recommendations for a soft-side or otherwise collapsable lightweight crate for hotel stays or ring-side set-up. I have a wire crate for the car and really don't want to lug that back & forth. I don't have a destructive chewer, but I do want good construction so it lasts. Thanks in advance ~
 
I see a brand called EliteField on Chewy that is currently half price - 42" crate usually sells for $199 is now $89! If this is the best quality I'll just jump on it - maybe they are about to discontinue the brand? The other brands regular price is around $100...
 
We have some of these, we have had them for 6-7 years. My wife uses them at hotels and training when doing agility and indoor ring stuff. They have held up well but my working dogs would never be contained in them. If your dog is kennel trained and good when it its kennel, I would recommend them.
EliteField 3-Door Folding Soft Dog Crate, Indoor & Outdoor Pet Home, Multiple Sizes and Colors Available (36" L x 24" W x 28" H, Beige) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004ABHBWK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_-6RsEbPE551XS
 
Thanks - now to decide if I should get the 42" - that's what my wire crate in the car is. Her all night crate at home is about halfway between these two sizes. So far she hasn't been destructive, but it'll just be for the hotel nights or possibly ringside, never left alone in it.
 
For your consideration - I heard talk that some shows are banning soft side crates because dogs have escaped them and dogs have rolled them over. I don't know if they have actually banned them. One of the shows discussed was the Wintergarden Cluster the weekend before Westminster. I no longer have my premium list, so can't confirm it.
 
I use a 42" for Joker ringside, but the 36" at the hotel mainly because I didn't want to buy 2 new one... LOL At the hotel, he's only in it for lights out and he has plenty of room to lay down.
 
Panama said:
for lights out and he has plenty of room to lay down.
Click to expand...
Haha, and they can curl up about the size of a basketball to sleep.

obbanner said:
I heard talk that some shows are banning soft side crates because dogs have escaped them and dogs have rolled them over.
Click to expand...
hmmm. Thanks for the heads-up. Not being very educated in the showing/eventing world I'd think even if they did want to ban them it would probably be each individual show to make a choice on their rules, and may make too many people cross having to buy and haul around a plastic Pet Porter/Airline crate. Especially if they have more than one or two dogs, that would be insane. Most shows can't afford to loose entries. I use a Pet Porter for the at-home crate, so I have one if I ever have to have one & the wire crate that lives in the car, now just adding a soft-side for hotel/ringside. I hope this list of Things To Buy comes to an end pretty soon!!! LOL
 
I actually just bought a soft crate for Moo since I'm hauling two dogs to trials now and can't always rely on there being public crates to use. I think the one I got Moo is a bit nicer than the one I originally got Rubie (that yes, has suffered at her hand a bit but only when we've traveled to my parents house, never in a trial scenario).

The one I just got for Moo is the 36" JESPET soft crate. It's got a cup holder, paper nooks, a little pouch on the top to zipper stuff in... really useful for a full days worth of hanging out!

Rubie's has less 'luxuries' but is a Noz2Noz 42" (which I don't currently see available on amazon). She would probably be totally fine in a 36" because she just curls up during down times. I've had to repair this one several times but I'm very stubborn and the repairs have held really well.

Both are a cinch to put up and break down and very lightweight. I add a couple of layers of bedding for Miss Rubie but Moo is a tough guy and doesn't mind no padding.

EDIT: Both crates have zipper locks on them but... They're relatively useless as Rubie chose to attack the mesh than be considerate and just unzipper it to release herself
 
MyBuddy said:
Wow, these dogs are super smart, aren't they??
Click to expand...

It's kind of funny, because at the hotel, they would unzip it and come out. But at a show, Joker would unzip it just enough to get his head out....poke his head out, look around, go back in and back and forth. Comical to see, but completely understand the potential issue if he were to come out.
 
HakuTheDoberman said:
https://www.amazon.ca/AmazonBasics-...ortable+large+dog+crate&qid=1582294009&sr=8-3

We have this one, we haven’t had any problems with it and has worked well for us for our travels to cottages/parents houses ect every now and then. Only thing I would like more out of it is if it folded a second time to make it more compact lol
Click to expand...

Joker's 36", the ends fold in and so much easier to set up. His 42", the sides fold like this one and I fumble with the end bars all the time, but love the room it gives him.
 
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