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Opinion needed on new crate - looking at two options right now

Nik

Well-Known Member
We currently have a fully enclosed large crate for Diesel. However, for hotter days I want to get him the cage kind. On our hottest days the enclosed kind is just no good for him and I won't even put him in there because it traps his heat in too much. So I have been hunting for the cage kind and I have narrowed it down to these two:

OxGord 48" Crate with Divider and Double-Doors Folding Pet Cage with Heavy Duty Metal Wires and Removable ABS Plastic Floor Tray - dimensions are 48x29x32

or


Midwest iCrate Pet Crate with Divider panel, double door, composite plastic pan, fold and carry configuration, safe and secure slide bolt latch
dimensions are: 48x30x33.


Have any of you had experience with either of these crates?


My boy isn't quite as big as most of your dogs (he's only 65lbs or so right now and probably not likely to get too much bigger.. I'm thinking he will max out at 75lbs if that).
 

Iymala

Well-Known Member
I personally use the largest Midwest crate x2 and I like the quality. Granted, if your dog is an escape artist some extra locks may be in order.

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Nik

Well-Known Member
Thanks Iymala! There is about a $20 price difference between the OxGord and the Midwest but I am far more concerned with which is best quality and most sturdy as opposed to the price. Glad to hear that the Midwest is a good quality. :)
 

Iymala

Well-Known Member
Only suggestion is pick it up locally if you can. They tend to get bent a bit if they are tossed around in shipping. I had to hammer a few of the eye holes for the drop pins back straight.

I get it....it's heavy and huge, but one of my 2 got assaulted during shipping.

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Boxergirl

Well-Known Member
I have a Midwest crate in exactly those dimensions, single door, that has served me well for fifteen years. It housed dogs up to 80lbs easily.
 

Iymala

Well-Known Member
Yep, both mine are created if we leave the house or at night if we don't want to share the bed. Both are 200lbs give or take a little and I use the Midwest XXL crate...it's the 42" one I believe.

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Liz_M

Well-Known Member
I haven't used anything but Midwestern collapsible crates for years...I have one smaller iCrate I used for Booker initially, and an extra large one he's using now. He will outgrow it eventually (it's an old one I used for shows & trials with my last Rottweiler) but I imagine he'll be able to have free roam within another few months. He is almost reliable with potty training (if I'm attentive) and has not been destructive so far, unless I am dumb enough to leave him access to toilet paper, anything edible he can get to or counter-surf for, or cat poop. >.<

Not sure if I'll get the XXL one or not.


I think the ones I have would not deter a dedicated escape artist though.
 

Iymala

Well-Known Member
Ah yes, that is the one I have. The 54". It's absolutely gigantic and we have 2 side by side. Anything smaller and neither of mine would be able to lay comfortably.

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Oscar'sMom

Well-Known Member
Ah yes, that is the one I have. The 54". It's absolutely gigantic and we have 2 side by side. Anything smaller and neither of mine would be able to lay comfortably.

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Holy moly! I can't imagine two! Ours is in our bedroom, and whenever people come over they are in shock and awe by the size of it hahaha...I'm impressed!
 

Iymala

Well-Known Member
They are currently in our bed room as well, and we are about to move. One of the main things we looked for was a master large enough for a king bed and the 2 crates without it being cramped. Now I think about it, I'm pretty sure we looked more for things in houses that would make the dogs happy than would make us happy. They are so spoiled.

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Liz_M

Well-Known Member
Holy moly! I can't imagine two! Ours is in our bedroom, and whenever people come over they are in shock and awe by the size of it hahaha...I'm impressed!

LOL, my house is seriously tiny (I always said I'd rather have a small house on a big lot than the other way around, and I do, it's 750 sf on a half-acre lot) and my XL crate pretty much takes up most of the bedroom. I don't know how I would fit two XXL ones, maybe suspend them from the ceiling? :p
 

Oscar'sMom

Well-Known Member
LOL, my house is seriously tiny (I always said I'd rather have a small house on a big lot than the other way around, and I do, it's 750 sf on a half-acre lot) and my XL crate pretty much takes up most of the bedroom. I don't know how I would fit two XXL ones, maybe suspend them from the ceiling? :p

Hahaha there's an idea!!
 

Nik

Well-Known Member
MidWest Solutions Series XX-Large Heavy Duty Double Door Dog Crate, XX-Large, 54-in

I have the Midwest XXL 54 inch. It's a double door and heavy duty...really great quality. I've been really happy with it so far, but we don't use it anymore. It also makes an excellent junk holder :). I realize you don't need one this large, but I'd go with the Midwest

I didn't realize they made one this big! Thanks for the info. I already ordered the next one down which should suit my tiny Diesel well enough. But, for the eventuality of adding to the family with a true giant breed pup I will have to keep that info on hand. :)
 

Nik

Well-Known Member
More like a jail cell than a crate? ;)
I agree that these ones do have that "jail" look. But, it's been so hot lately at our house that I can't put him in his current crate. It just traps heat too much and I worry he will overheat. We don't have ac at home. We use cooling mats and such and just don't crate them when its in the 90's - triple digits. But with the new one "jail style" I think it allows for enough air flow so we should be able to use it during hot weather. :)
 

Liz_M

Well-Known Member
Does anyone crate a "real" dog like 150 lb+ ?

lol sorry.... I couldn't help myself. Real question though. Crates for the BIG babies? Yes or no?

Sure, plenty of legitimate reasons. Besides being comfortable in a crate is just a good skill for any dog to have. So if they have to be contained at the vet or for medical reasons, they're not stressed about it.


You show or do working trials. The crate is absolutely essential for the dog to have rest and down time and simply be safely contained in order to relax. Every working trial and show dog is habituated to its crate.


Road trips and vehicle safety - I've heard many horror stories of un-crated dogs in vehicles who have died in a crash because they were not restrained, escaped a crash and been hit, or have run off in fear and have either never been found, or found months later.


People who foster dogs - again, the crate is an invaluable tool to keep everyone calm and safe, especially if the hyoomans have to leave the house.


Introducing an adult dog to the existing pack, invaluable tool again.


Crating and rotating when you have an intact dog and a bitch in heat.


Crating and rotating in the unhappy circumstance you have two dogs who want to kill each other. Been there, done that, not fun at all.


Crate rest after surgery.


That's just off the top of my head and doesn't include the obvious benefits when raising a puppy. Also my three decades of Rottweilers, and my little JRT cross, would disagree with you that dogs that weigh less than 150 lbs are not "real dogs." :p
 
Oh they are "real dogs" But if it's not an English Mastiff it's just a dog. =P
I get the benefits of crating. At my house I use a room for a crate basically. I didn't even know they made a crate big enough for the likes of Hank.
 

tmricciuto

Well-Known Member
My girls like their crate, it comes with a tasty treat that they only get in the crate. Using it now to keep Sage from playing hard and doing damage to her leg. I also don't trust them yet when away, they haven't earned it yet, so anytime we leave or at night they are in their crates right next to one another.


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