WHICH DOG CRATE SHALL WE GO FOR? & OH DEAR WHERE SHALL WE KEEP IT THEY LOOK SO UNINVITING!
As with most things these days, the choice is pretty unlimited so how do you know which is best for your furry family member?
Dog Crates themselves take on many shapes and sizes, we believe (thanks to endless research and picking the brains of experts in the field) that the best ones to make a home for your dog are powder-coated wire. Practical, they can fold flat for storage and they hold their values when you want to sell them.
We would highly recommend opting for the double door versions at a little more investment having the option of a second door at the narrower side will give you full peace of mind if you have to re-locate your dog crate for any reason. Each door should have two heavy duty latches that slide across with a handle that folds down into position to stop your little pupster from moving the latch over. The base of the dog crate should clip into place and be fully removable for essential cleaning.
They usually come with a carry handle located on the roof which helps when moving it around for when you are on the move and carrying it around and they fold flat into the original box for storage unless you opt for a bespoke heavy duty metal crate or crash tested crate for the cars.
A word of warning:
Stunning gold or rose gold coloured wire crates are available on the market by some companies, they can be highly toxic, to your pet, the ozone layer when manufacturing the product and the workforce manufacturing them. Whilst they may look great in your home, we say a BIG NO to supplying unsustainable gold fancy crates.
Size matters.
It would be understandable to choose a larger-sized crate to make sure that your dog has plenty of room to move about inside. To find one that is just right, please read on.
The perfect crate size for your dog will be large enough for them to fully stand up in without hitting their head and wide enough so that they can circle when they are getting comfortable on their cushion. Don’t guess. Measure your dog from base of paw to tip of the ear for height and nose to their lovely bottomy bit for length. When you have the size then consider what mattress will you purchase for inside and consider the height of the mattress as they will be standing on the mattress etc.
Are you buying your first dog crate and for a new arrival/puppy?
Really, puppies grow into adult size at the blink of an eye and so do consider the breed type and average size your dog will grow up to be and should you go for a puppy size crate for now and then upsize in 6-8 months time. If you are aware of that in the beginning you are prepared for the extra cost and a good quality powder coated double door dog crates in our post pandemic days are extremely expensive as they are all imported from Asia or USA and the importation and transport costs of heavy and bulky items have mega tripled in terms of costs from the suppliers to the trades like us at Hugo & Otto.
In terms of second hand values, if you keep your dog crate box, the internal packaging and instructions you have an excellent chance to re-sell your powder coated wire dog crate on as they are now very expensive to import into the UK and second hand values are strong. Or, pay it forward and pass it onto a friend, family or a charity that really do need crates and cannot afford to buy them.
Now, where do we position the dog crate?
You may have the absolutely perfect spot to position the dog crate set in your home, here are a few tips to consider when thinking it through.
Dog crate sets mimic a natural habit cosy den, which in real terms means if we consider that our domestic dog has evolved over the centuries from the Wolf and their natural instinct is to either hunt, retrieve, herd or protect then what and where would they look for to sleep at night to keep them safe not only from the elements but also from other prey. They would search the corners for dark warm spaces with a woodland canopy and trees. A quiet, safe spot away from noise, but also they would hear intruders easily. That is what you want to replicate at home, that natural instinct is still there, their most perfect dog bed or dog crate offers that same safe spot feeling, a place to call their own, a quiet and restful place.
So, where in your home?
Understanding the length and height of your powder coated wire crate is important, will the doors open within this space? oh yes! great but then do think what type of breed is your dog is. Whether they are small or large can your dog easily access around the open door or, are they obstructed by a table or chair in which case will cause confusion and they may refuse to use the crate which is counter productive. And so a good open spot away from obstruction, or move your chair to the other side etc.
Your dog has a very beautiful full length natural fur coat and the only way they can regulate their temperature is by panting or their paws. Find that perfect spot away from a heat source whether that is an open fire or a radiator, if you have underfloor heating think about how the dog crate mattress will absorb the heat source and you may have to find a place where the heating source is either not on or it is a cold spot.
Dark is best, being in direct sunlight will also cause them to overheat within the dog crate and so ensure you find that corner spot which offers a cool and dark spot or not in direct sunlight. Dogs are sociable animals creating the natural habitat also includes their pack and so this is you, family space would be good spots so that they can hear everything that is going on and properly be a part of family life but equally, they can close their eyes and snooze whilst all the chitter chatter is going on around them.
Puppy’s first nights
We will address this in another blog but in short it may be an idea to place your crate by your bed at night or get a second one. A puppy may, understandably, feel alone and scared if they are left in a separate room overnight which will stress them out and lead to crying. As above, they will feel a sense of security being close to their family. You can then move it further away once they are more settled, to the bedroom door, just the other side, and so on.
A wire uncomfortable empty dog crate is not a welcoming one, it may be worth looking at some puppy-proof bedding in the first instance until they understand what is expected for toilet training to avoid expensive accidents but, they will definitely need something soft to snuggle into after a few weeks. One tip here is to add in some of your old clothing, a pre-loved t-shirt perhaps so that your dog is reminded of your scent and love for them. If your dog has positive associations with the crate, they are more likely to enjoy it instantly and happy in their own cosy den.
Hugo & Otto has a beautiful collection of starter dog crate sets which include your double door dog crate with handy carry handle in which you can add more items as you go along the months. And, we offer full cosy den dog crate sets to include dog crate cover, inside bumper set and a choice of memory foam or standard polyester mattresses. The best dog crate sets handmade for the love of dog.
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