urge to herd Posted August 29, 2015 Report Share Posted August 29, 2015 Well, we've gotten the agility bug. Gibbs loves it, I'm liking that I get some exercise, too. So we might be acquiring a collapsible crate in the next several months. Recommendations? Gibbs is about 40 lbs and stands 21" at the shoulders. Thanks! Ruth and Gibbs eta 'agility'. We got the agility bug. Not some random bug, or an illness of any kind. Agility. Fingers moving faster than brain syndrome. eta - just noticed the travel crate thread a couple entries below mine. Ooops. Thanks for your patience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GentleLake Posted August 29, 2015 Report Share Posted August 29, 2015 Wasn't there another thread like this just recently? I remember linking to the Dog Digs crates I have . . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maralynn Posted August 29, 2015 Report Share Posted August 29, 2015 Do you have Big Lots? I got a soft sided aluminum frame crate there for around $40 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gcv-border Posted August 29, 2015 Report Share Posted August 29, 2015 I can not trust my dog in a soft collapsible crate at agility trials. Most dogs do not bother him, but there a certain dogs (big and dark) that really set him off. So I have a 'suitcase' wire crate. (Midwest brand) I cover it with fabric to block (or not) his view of passing dogs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CptJack Posted August 29, 2015 Report Share Posted August 29, 2015 ^What GVC said. I do use a soft-sided crate for Kylie at agility trials and the like, because Kylie in no way challenges a crate, ever. It is entirely just to give her somewhere safe to decompress, and to keep random bystanders from bugging her. I have seen even very small dogs roll those like hamster balls, and they certainly don't have the structural integrity to prevent a bigger dog from breaking out. I use a soft crate sparingly with Molly, when there is someone immediately with her and she simply needs somewhere to decompress but does not need to be *contained*. Any situation where she will be left alone crated, even for a second, and I use the sort of crate GVC mentioned. It's just a spare that lives in my car trunk, and is really not difficult. Heavier and bulkier than the soft-sided ones, for sure, but not enough to be a true hinderance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gonetotervs Posted August 30, 2015 Report Share Posted August 30, 2015 noz2noz is my favorite, since the bars don't stick, and zippers are self-repairing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gloria Atwater Posted August 30, 2015 Report Share Posted August 30, 2015 I prefer hard-side crates for any kind of trial situation - just safer all around, or wire crates if ventilation/coolness is a concern. But for motel use, I love a soft crate. This is the one I have, easy to put up, opens on two sides and easily fits a nice orthopedic sleeping pad.http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004ZUCPUEThat fits my big boy, Nick, who weights @ 48 pounds. The next size smaller is this one:http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004ZUCWSYI've never had a dog actually test this one, but they've held up great to the use I've given them so far. ~ Gloria Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alligande Posted August 30, 2015 Report Share Posted August 30, 2015 i have always used cheap soft crates and never really had a problem. My current dog did get out a couple of times and came looking for me, but that was my fault as he was able to open the zipper, easily solved by making sure the zip pull tabs where left at the top not the bottom. He is a big dog and I prefer the weight of the cheap crates and they are very easy to make private. At agility trials he has never been bothered by other dogs while in his crate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
urge to herd Posted August 30, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 30, 2015 Thanks for the replies. At this point, the crate would be used for set-up at trials and lessons. While Gibbs is, of course, at all times a perfect gentleman, s**t happens. I just started Agility 2 with him, and the humans are expected now to walk the course without their dogs. We didn't do this in Agility 1, and Gibbs was happy to lay calmly beside me. I can't leave him behind uncontained while I walk the course, it's bad manners on my part. And probably a little too tempting for him. If we go to any competitions, I'll need a safe way to contain him. So I'm starting my search for models and brands now. I don't think he'd try and break out, but we'll see. Thanks! Ruth and Gibbs ETA - They provide crates at the Humane Society where we take lessons. He's safely confined when I go walkabout around the course. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GentleLake Posted August 30, 2015 Report Share Posted August 30, 2015 I don't think he'd try and break out, but we'll see. I soft crate trained my dogs just like I crate train acceptance of any other crate. The dogs were already crate trained, but when I got the soft crates I first set them up in the living room with the door open and just let them check them out. Then I'd ask them to go in and lie down for a minute with the door open and then let them out. Repeat but zipped the door, still staying in the room. Gradually I'd leave the room for a few minutes, then a few minutes longer, finally leaving the house for a bit. Really there was no drama and no problem, but I wanted to make sure they wouldn't attempt to scratch at the walls or mesh and rip it. I think maybe one of them did paw at it and I just quietly but firmly said "No!" and that was the end of it. No one's ever tried to get out of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
airbear Posted August 30, 2015 Report Share Posted August 30, 2015 I have a bunch of soft crates, but my favourite is the Boots & Barkley pop up crate from Target. It cost less than $30 and fits in the front pocket of my suitcase. It's ridiculously light and portable. However, it is incredibly flimsy so your dog MUST be crate trained (and not just "yeah, he goes in a crate and doesn't fuss too much"). If your dog likes to lunge at passing dogs, then the Boots & Barkley is not for you! I recently bought a dog tent on Amazon. It takes literally seconds to put up and take down, and Wick and Lou share it on the rare occasions when we're not crating in the truck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
urge to herd Posted August 31, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2015 Good idea, Gentle Lake, Gibbs arrived at my home with most of his basic house skills already installed, including relaxing in his crate. When I've used a crate at the Humane Center whilst we're there, he goes in without hesitation and lays down without being cued. I'll certainly accustom him to a soft-sided crate at home first, hadn't thought of that at all. Ruth and Gibbs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gcv-border Posted August 31, 2015 Report Share Posted August 31, 2015 The suggestion to acclimate your dog to the soft-sided crate at home, before 'taking it on the road' reminds me of a story featuring my dog Ritz. When we were trying agility (I finally realized she was way too fearful and anxious for agility, but this story was when I was still trying with her), I signed up for a one-day workshop close to home. My agility-savvy friend gave me the same advice - "Get her used to the (soft-sided) crate at home." Once I figured out how to set up the crate in the living room, I was prepared with treats to start the process. Ritz had been watching me and she walked right in and lay down without me doing anything. She was perfectly comfortable in there. Sometimes that little girl surprised the heck out of me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GentleLake Posted August 31, 2015 Report Share Posted August 31, 2015 A lot of dogs really aren't going to need any acclimation, especially if they're already crate trained. My concern was mostly that they could damage the crate and as a result get out of it if they scratched at it. I wanted to make sure I was there to be able to provide instant corrections if necessary rather than find the crate shredded and the dog(s) out of them when I actually needed to use them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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