Mountain classic travel dog crate by LL Bean

[JanS]

Has anyone tried this one? It looks great for shows and it looks easy to transport. I had one soft side crate but it was horrible to set up and our dogs hated it. This one looks to have good reinforcement.

Mountain Classic Travel Dog Crate at L.L. Bean

Find the best Mountain Classic Travel Dog Crate at LL Bean Intl Our high quality products are designed to go the distance.

www.llbean.com

 

[Ravenbird]

I can't tell you about that one, but I have a soft-side crate for when we have to crate indoors (rather than car because of heat) at a trial. I'll have to see what brand mine is, but super easy to set up and half the price of this one you show. I love LL Bean, and usually they are top quality. What did your dogs hate about the soft-side one you had?

Edit to say - Asha was not happy crating inside the first time because of the noise & distractions of a couple hundred dogs, she was use to the peace & quiet and "home" of the car crate. So maybe it may not be the crate so much as the new atmosphere?

 

[JanS]

What did your dogs hate about the soft-side one you had?

It was cheap, soft and very flimsy so it would roll with any little movement. Our dogs have all done well with the show environment but I was just trying that one at home and they didn't like it and neither did I.

I love LL Bean, and usually they are top quality.

That's what hubby just said too and we've both bought a bunch from there.

Asha was not happy crating inside the first time because of the noise & distractions of a couple hundred dogs,

I have a horse stall rented again this year and Phoebe loved it in there last year out of the traffic and noise. I'm sharing with an English Setter this year, in crates, of course.

 

[Kswoodssue]

Sasha would shred that! Yours don’t chew it up?

 

[JanS]

Sasha would shred that! Yours don’t chew it up?

I don't know yet, but from the reviews most people said the mesh windows are the most vulnerable spots but they can be closed and the other material is supposed to be pretty sturdy.

 

[Ravenbird]

Sasha would shred that! Yours don’t chew it up?

This was Asha's first indoor crating trial. We were packed like sardines in this room, chairs could not be put between crates, only in front of them. It was a 3 day nose work trial, we got there early enough to get a wall behind us which was helpful. The room had crates along 3 walls and 4 rows of crates in the center. Asha had never seen anything like this in her life. She wasn't real happy, but she handled it. You just do the best you can. She doesn't chew or tear stuff up, so I guess that's why she doesn't revert to that when stressed. The noise was insane due to the echo. By day 3 it was almost getting to normal for her, we'd come in the door in the morning and she'd drag me across the room to get in her crate. It was her safe place like it should be.

 

[Rits]

Just be careful, a lot of venues don't allow soft side crates anymore because dogs break out of them too often.

 

[Panama]

I still use Echo's NozToNoz Sof-krate (36") and I got it about 9 yrs ago. Eventually I got Joker a larger one (42" Amazon Basics), mainly because I got a incredible deal on it. Travel/shows, soft crate is the way to go. I'm too old to be lugging dang wire crates around!

***As Amanda mentioned, make sure soft crates are allowed at show sites

 

[Ravenbird]

a lot of venues don't allow soft side crates anymore

I'm assuming that would be in the premium so you'd know before entering? That NW trial is the only one I've ever been to that required inside crating (because August heat, no dogs allowed to be in vehicles).

 

[Rits]

I'm assuming that would be in the premium so you'd know before entering? That NW trial is the only one I've ever been to that required inside crating (because August heat, no dogs allowed to be in vehicles).

Yep! If it doesn't say in the premium then they are allowed but more times than not they aren't, at least in the NE.

We have/had a soft crate from Amazon and it was fairly easy to set up, just two bars that popped up and locked open the frame. Then Rowynn broke the zipper and Revel finished putting the crate in the grave with a paw to the broken zipper.

 

[JanS]

Just be careful, a lot of venues don't allow soft side crates anymore because dogs break out of them too often.

I know our club does and so does the one where I go for the fall show. Like I said, I do have a horse stall rented too and we can leave them loose in there if we want.

I'm too old to be lugging dang wire crates around!

That's exactly when I'm thinking too. I'd have to drag one out of the house since our original trainer has the extra at her house and she's over 300 miles away. I figured if I buy another, I want to try this so it's easier to carry since I'm by myself at shows.

Thanks for all of the input. I ordered it so we'll see what happens.

 

[Ravenbird]

it was fairly easy to set up, just two bars that popped up and locked open the frame. Then Rowynn broke the zipper and Revel finished putting the crate in the grave with a paw to the broken zipper.

I need to thank the dog gods once more, for as bad ass as Asha is toward her triggers, she is not/has never been destructive! Don't we all wish we could put all the best features in to one dog!?

 

[Kaiser2016]

This was Asha's first indoor crating trial. We were packed like sardines in this room, chairs could not be put between crates, only in front of them. It was a 3 day nose work trial, we got there early enough to get a wall behind us which was helpful. The room had crates along 3 walls and 4 rows of crates in the center. Asha had never seen anything like this in her life. She wasn't real happy, but she handled it. You just do the best you can. She doesn't chew or tear stuff up, so I guess that's why she doesn't revert to that when stressed. The noise was insane due to the echo. By day 3 it was almost getting to normal for her, we'd come in the door in the morning and she'd drag me across the room to get in her crate. It was her safe place like it should be.

View attachment 136093

I love the grey and orange tents! I'm sure if I put Kaiser in one, it would be rolling across the room in no time

 

[Ravenbird]

Kaiser would be the one that gets the trial management to vote no on soft side crates for next time.

 

[Rits]

I'm sure if I put Kaiser in one, it would be rolling across the room in no time

Kaiser would be the one that gets the trial management to vote no on soft side crates for next time.

Kaiser in a soft crate:

 

[Ravenbird]

Kaiser in a soft crate:

OMG that's hysterical.