Travel Crate?

[Alex]

I thought it'd be nice to get a fabric crate for trials since the wire ones are so heavy, but the only one I found that's 48" is the Midwest k9 Camper. The reviews said it was just as heavy as the wire one and not very durable. Anyone have any other suggestions? Or should I just stick with the wire ones and get a dolly?

 

[ardeagold]

You could get an airline crate. Plastic...700.

Or you could harness him when you travel, and just take the wire crate along...all folded up.

 

[JackandKelly]

Do you have a really long way to carry it? We traveled with ours to Colorado and it was really not a big problem, I carried it. I think they only go approx 50 pounds. The one I had delivered had a delivery weight on the packaging of 52 pounds. Now if I had to go a really long distance, like the last hotel we stayed in I had to climb 3 flights of stairs with 6 dogs and our luggage, if I had to carry the crate...Ok, that would suck, but we only use the crate when they are unattended and we don't normally stay in hotels that we have to sneak the dogs in the back door and carry our own luggage

Kelly

 

[ardeagold]

Ask for a room on the first floor...near the door to the parking lot!! That's important! LOL

Oh...and hotels have their own luggage carrier thingys. If you're at a dog event...drive up, unload, set up crate where you want it, then go park somewhere. They usually have set up parking set aside for just that type of thing.

I take my wire crate (a 48"). It's heavy but not impossible. The plastic airline crates are heavy too and can't be folded up.

 

[Garden_girl]

We use wire crates and a dolly to lug them into shows, of course, sometimes we are lugging in a whole bunch of other stuff, too. Plus, I don't think the fabric crates keep the dog as cool as wire. Depending on where you're going, we carry along a crate fan, too. I have seen several dogs chew the fabric crates apart.

 

[JackandKelly]

Yes, definitely a room on the bottom floor. VERY IMPORTANT LOL

We were driving to Colorado and made an unexpected last minute stop. Jack couldn't drive at night because he hadn't had his cataracts removed yet and they were BAD and I could not go another mile. I was exhausted so we ended up at a really crappy hotel (Motel 6) and asked for the first floor near the back door because we had two dogs (did not tell them we had 6) and the only one dog room they had left was the third floor. The elevator was right by the front desk so I had to climb the back stairs with 6 dogs and all our junk. It was that or drive further and I just couldn't I will definitely plan a stop from now on and not assume I am still young enough to drive straight through

Sorry to hijack there for a second

 

[pabusinesswoman]

I was consiering them some time ago. You may want to reference this older thread. It may help

http://www.newf.net/Forums/showthread.php?t=84982

 

[lapage24]

We have a travel crate made by Guardian Gear. It's very lightweight and folds down flat. As long as your newf doesn't try to get out it'll hold, but otherwise they could roll the whole thing around.

 

[Capri]

We have wire and soft crates for the dogs. The wire in the car, the soft crates for shows (=> gives shade and them a place to stay, though they won't be left in them unattended). The soft crates are definitely easier to carry around, but if your dog isn't used to a crate or has any tendencies to escape, I'd choose the wire crate (it's not tooo heavy or difficult to carry around.. especially if you have help), as it's easy to break a soft crate (just by pawing too hard etc..). I wouldn't buy a travel crate (the one for airlines), because it'll get stuffy inside very quickly as there's no proper airflow through it.

 

[NessaM]

I bought a fabric crate for Nanook the first year we went to the Canadian Newf Nationals in Gananoque.

I returned from the banquet to find Nanook at the door waiting for me, and the crate looking like Wolverine had burst out of it.

Stick with the metal.

 

[Newfobsessed]

I bought a fabric crate for Nanook the first year we went to the Canadian Newf Nationals in Gananoque.

I returned from the banquet to find Nanook at the door waiting for me, and the crate looking like Wolverine had burst out of it.

Stick with the metal.

Ditto!! Gabe has broken out of the metal crates, so fabric is out of the question. Get something your baby will respect and not be able to destry and hopefully he will accept it and be a content boy while in the crate. Praise and treats always help. Good luck and stick with metal!

 

[Sierra Newfs]

I thought it'd be nice to get a fabric crate for trials since the wire ones are so heavy, but the only one I found that's 48" is the Midwest k9 Camper. The reviews said it was just as heavy as the wire one and not very durable. Anyone have any other suggestions? Or should I just stick with the wire ones and get a dolly?

I dearly love soft crates and wouldn't want to be without them. We also have wire crates, plastic crates and ex-pens. Use what works best for you and your dogs in the situation.

If you could find one of the Noz to Noz X-series buy it: http://www.doolittlespetproducts.com/posofkrxse.html . Otherwise, the General Cage Itz a Breeze crates are a reasonable option. They are based on the Dog Gone Good Cabanas which we started out with and still use after several years. http://www.jbpet.com/its-a-breeze-soft-dog-crate,373.html

I haven't loved the design of the Midwest K9 Campers. Friends who own them had to build additional interior support to keep them upright. It's too bad there aren't as many options as there were a few years ago for 48" soft crates.

I've been very happy with starting dogs out with Susan Garrett's Crate Games: http://www.clickerdogs.com/crate_games.php and exercises from Leslie McDevitt's Control Unleashed http://www.cleanrun.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=1328. Both seem to help produce good impulse control and the dogs love the games.

 

[Alex]

Thanks for the suggestions! To clarify: the dogs are both crate trained (Love both Crate Games and Control Unleashed!!), so I'm not worried about them wreaking havoc on the material, it's for obedience trials and they won't be left unattended. I'm going to see if I can find a NoztoNoz one. We carry them at work, but only up to the 36"

 

[Pipelineozzy]

I guess you probably don't use a grooming table for obedience trials...but my show grooming table, when the legs are folded up...is a crate dolly. I can put a full size crate on it, even with the dog IN it..and roll it around. I always stuffed all my stuff (dryer etc.) into it and rolled it into the show.

 

[Alex]

I guess you probably don't use a grooming table for obedience trials...but my show grooming table, when the legs are folded up...is a crate dolly. I can put a full size crate on it, even with the dog IN it..and roll it around. I always stuffed all my stuff (dryer etc.) into it and rolled it into the show.

What table do you have? I need to get one anyways. Champagne tables were recommended to me.

 

[Pipelineozzy]

I'm cheap. I went to the hardware store and bought the folding legs...a piece of plywood, and some rubber matting. (In 1986). I still have that table, and it's the one with the casters mounted on the underside. (also available at the hardware store.) I now keep it outside for blowing the dogs off with the dryer, and I made another one for in the grooming area. The legs can be cut down with a hack saw to the height that works for you..or with a pipe cutter if it's the round tubing type.... It think you can build a lot cheaper than buying.

 

[Alex]

Did you make an arm, too?

 

[Pipelineozzy]

No, I bought that...but honestly..I don't use it for Newfs much at all. I did some smaller breed grooming for a while, and I used it for that. I've occasionally used it when training a puppy to the table..but overall..I don't use it for them.

 

[2Paws]

I also have the Noz to Noz soft sided crate that I use for obedience trials, water tests, draft tests, rally trials, seminars or get togethers. When I use them, I am always in the area to keep an eye on things. They are lighter than a metal crate, set up and take down is very easy and have plenty of ventiliation. As long as your dog is crate trained, you shouldn't have any problems with it.

I use a metal crate at conformation shows and in the van when we travel. Soft sided crates are not alowed at these types of events though more and more people are pushing the rules and using them.