Crates

Crates

Crates are a handy item at agility trials, dogs need a space they can call their own and rest in between agility runs. Newcomers often ask questions about what crates to use for their dogs, consider the dog you are trying to contain when you examine the possibilities. Does the dog rest quietly and comfortably or does it attempt to escape when you are no longer nearby?

A suitcase wire crate is safe for the dog, and safe for those around it if it chooses to try and escape. They collapse into a compact size that is easier to carry, but they are heavy. If items should fall on a wire crate the dog inside will not be affected, save the noise it may make. General Cage crates fold down quite easily and nicely.

Securing dogs while at a trial is simply solved by attaching combination lock. They're inexpensive and available even at grocery stores. Some models allow you to set them so that they all have the same combination, makes it simpler for not so good memories. Place the lock over the latching mechanism on a wire crate and only the person who knows the combination can release the dogs. Some soft sided crates have attachments over which a locking device can be added. Check the manufacturers to see which have this feature added.

Some soft-sided crates are easy to breakdown into compact sizes for ease of travel, but dogs can and do escape from these. Dogs have also been known to bite through the soft sided varieties. Many dogs are quite capable of "rolling" a soft-sided crate into isle ways, including the minis. Some chew their way out creating costly repairs. There is a large variety of this type of crate available from the Sherpa or Samsonite crate approved for Airline travel to the Cabana crate. They provide comfort to the crate trained dog and ease of transport to their owners.

Exercise pens (X-pens) are popular for large dogs, or multiple dog owners of any size. The important factor here is will the pen contain the dog within? If the dog is a jumper or climber tops can be purchased that will fit over the X-pen preventing escape. X-pens take up a lot of space so at trials where space is at a premium they may not be permitted. Check the entry form to see what is allowed for the trial you intend to enter.

We can't leave this topic without a mention of crate dollies. For those of you who have large crates even when folded, or simply a large number of items you need to move to your crating site a crate dolly will make the job much easier for you. Simply stack your belongings onto the crate dolly and pull them to your crating site.

Once you have these items you will need bungee cords to hold it all together. We highly recommend the flat bungee cord types that you can find at auto supply stores such as Western Auto. They don't tangle like the round varieties do. Katie Greer.

Emergency Crate Card from Rhoda Ezell. You need acrobat reader to view and print this card which can be attached to crates to be used in case of an emergency. If you don't have acrobat reader it can be downloaded for free at: Acrobat.

According to Rhoda Kinkos has a very heavy laminate material at about $0.10/page..

If anyone wants the PageMaker or Claris/Apple Works version so that digital pictures pictures can be added with the information and print the whole document ready to laminate contact: Rhoda Ezell.

I like the Cabana Crates. Easy to set up and so far seem to hold up well except when it starts storming and a Border Collie that freaks with thunder is in it. Of course any soft sided crate would have been the same results. I was able to have an upholstery guy fix it. I just ordered another one because I liked the first one so well. Also the frames come completely apart and can be folded in a suitcase if you should be traveling and need to bring an extra crate along. Pam Bethke

I have one of the EEZI crates and I love it. It lightweight and made well. It even can be purchases with a shoulder strap for easy carrying. They stand behind their crates and are easy to get along with if you have a problem. The zippers are sturdy and stand up to many uses. Corrine Johnson

We also got a Cabana - the full package: crate, carrying bag, various attachments. Love it! (and so do both our dogs). The folks at DoggoneGood (http://www.doggonegood.com) are very responsive to both email and phone calls - I highly recommend them. (We changed our minds on the color after the initial order but before it shipped - it was no problem changing it.) Dave & Heather Connet

I use fold-down wire crates made by Midwest and purchased through places like Dogs Outfitters, R.C.Steele, etc. I also like to use x-pens (8 panel, 3 ft high) but only with a top on them! I currently travel with and house a Ridgeback (65 lbs), a BC (35+ lbs) and a McNab (30 lbs).

If I can't keep a close watch on my dogs, they go in the wire crates, sometimes with padlocks. If I'm going to be close by, I like using the x-pen. I have shown for many years (conformation before agility came along!) and I've never had a dog get out of a Mid-west, double-latched crate!! I have seen dogs get out of other crates (mesh included) and would hate to take that chance! Good luck! Deanna Siow.

If your car has a trailer hitch, or can have one put on, there is another solution to carrying crates. A company called Better Built makes a rack that goes into the box receiver on the newer hitches. $179 for the 500 lb capacity version in Aluminum, $69 for the steel version (both 20 in x 60 in) or $49 for the steel smaller version (20 in x 34 in). There is 48 x 72 steel version for $129 if you feel you need to take the kitchen sink, too. It holds a half-ton. I found them at Northern Tool and Equipment Co. at www.northern-online.com The smaller version even fits into the 1-1/4 in box receiver. Ladd Mazur

Try a bicycle shop, rather than a car shop. Also try a camping type store (think canoe rack). I put a Saris rack on my last car and really liked it. It had all sorts of accessories that could be added, including brackets to keep canoes and such (or in our case x-pens!) from sliding sideways. And since it is removable, I took it off when I sold the car and can buy additional pieces to mount it on the new one. (Warning: people find it amusing if you have to travel with a step stool to reach the roof rack <G>). I found the bike/outdoor shop sales people very helpful when I explained what I needed. And I could see the items in person, which I preferred over using a catalog (plus they installed it for me). They also showed me the racks that mount on the trailer hitch (though being the worrier I am, I'm concerned that in the event of an accident, it would be more difficult to open the back door to rescue the dogs).

Check these web sites for ideas. Several have "fit guides" that will tell you what will fit on your particular vehicle. http://www.saris-products.com/ http://www.thule.com/
http://www.yakima.com/

For a bumper mounted x-pen rack, see http://www.jemarpet.com/catalog/ShowAcc/ShowAccSet.html
Lee Brady