There are a variety of situations in which kenneling your pet may become necessary. Even if your dog lounges on your sofa during day and sleeps in your bed at night, there are times when a crate is not only useful but necessary. Your dog will travel safer in the car if confined. In the event of an accident, the crate will provide some measure of protection and keep a scared dog from running away in an anxious moment. A crate may also be medically necessary.

Crates and kennels vary in size and function. Before shopping for a crate consider what the kennel is to be used for so you can select the proper one for your and your dog’s needs. If your dog will be kenneled in your home while you’re gone, buy the largest crate your budget and space will allow. Your dog should be able to stand, lie down, or sit in any position in the crate without restriction. The crate should be roomy enough to accommodate a water bowl or have a water bottle attachment. If your dog will need a kennel only for an occasional short trip, you might compromise slightly on size. If you have a puppy, choose a crate size that will accommodate his as an adult and allow enough room for him to stand, lie down, or sit in any position in the crate without restriction.

Some dogs have a canny ability to ability to escape confinement, so make sure the door on the crate you choose latches securely. It shouldn’t bend or pop open when you put pressure on it from the inside. Also, a dog can strangle if he squeezes his head between the door and its frame while the crate is latched.

Wire frame crates

Wire frame crates are made from heavy gauge wire or stainless steel on all six sides. This increases ventilation and visibility for your pet. Many types of crate can be collapsed and folded up for storage or transport. When selecting a crate of this type, consider the size of the wire, be sure your dogs paws won’t fall through the bottom grid. Check for any sharp edges. Check the doors to see if they are spring loaded, these doors can snap shut on a paw or tail.

Advantages of wire crates:
*Available in collapsible or folding models
*Offers lots of visibility and ventilation
*Crate covers available to increase insulation on cooler days and increase privacy for dogs that prefer a more confined environment to relax
*Suitable for car travel
*Easy to clean

Disadvantages of wire crates:
*Not approved for airline travel
*Can be heavy: This might not be a big issue for smaller crates, but is something to keep in mind for the larger crates

Solid (Plastic) kennels

Plastic kennels are most commonly used for your dog’s travel needs. They are sturdy and have solid bottoms. Usually only the sides are slotted for ventilation. Most of these crates have separate tops and bottoms that are assembled and secured with nuts and screws. The front of the crate frame supports a wire door. They are easy to take apart for cleaning and storage. This type of kennel also provides a greater degree of protection for your dog if something should fall on the kennel or if there is any impact. Plastic crates are the standard for air travel.

Advantages of plastic dog crates:
*Provides some degree of insulation which can be valuable in cold or wet climates.
*Can be airline-approved: Many plastic crates are airline-approved.
*Can be stored or used as a dog bed: You can find many plastic crates that come apart for storage. Some are even designed to allow the top to be removed so you can use the bottom as a dog bed.
*Usually light weight: Even a bigger plastic dog crate can be exceptionally light, which is something to keep in mind if you travel a lot or need to move the crate often.

Disadvantages of plastic dog crates:
*Less ventilation and air movement
*May increase feelings of isolation
*Plastic material can trap odors
*Can’t fold flat

Soft-sided Kennels

A variation to the wire crate is the soft side kennel. The sides are made from breathable fabric material and are ventilated with nylon netting. Being light weight and collapsible they are very portable. Their disadvantage is that they offer no protection against impact and can be penetrated by sharp objects, thus they are not suitable for use in cars, airline travel or for dogs that dig or chew while crated.

Advantages of soft kennels:
*Light weight, portable
*Easy to set up & take down
*Can be used as an everyday crate

Disadvantages of soft kennels:
*Not approved for airline travel
*Not suitable for use in cars
*Pet must be well crate trained

Useful crate accessories

Once you’ve chosen the right dog crate for your pet, you can make it more inviting with a few simple accessories.

Crate bedding or crate pad

Be sure to choose bedding that’s both durable and washable. Many beds, including bumper style beds or pillow beds can often be found in sizes that fit most crates and can add an extra level of comfort

Crate Cover

Crate covers make wire dog crates more den-like and give your dog extra privacy. They also block outside distractions, which can be useful if your dog barks or whines while he’s in a wire crate.

Water bowl or water bottle

There are several types of bowls that attach to crates.

Crate fan

Crate fans provide a refreshing airflow for pets whilst travelling or while at home. Fans circulate the air, removing warm air from the cage interior, and can help to protect pet from overheating. Some feature an optional freezer pack insert to add extra cooling power

Dogs have the same sleep patterns as humans. When they first go to sleep, they enter the quiet (slow wave) phase of sleep. They lie still, breathing slows, body temperature drops and heart rate decreases. After about ten minutes, they enter the active (REM) or stage of sleep. During this phase they may bark, whine, jerk their legs. The brain activity is similar to that seen during the dreaming sleep of humans, and is seen as evidence that dogs have dreams.

Style of dog bed

Just like people, different dogs have different comfort positions for sleeping. A comfortable and supportive dog bed provides a place where your dog can rest and relax. Also think about where the bed will be kept, or example if the bed is going in the corner of the room then you might want to purchase a bed that is made to fit in a corner. If you have more then one animal and they tend to sleep together then you also need to take this into consideration.

Nest & Bolster style dog beds

Some dogs sleep all curled up nose-to-tail. If your dog likes to sleep curled up then check out a donut bed or nest bed.

Pillow beds, Cushion or mattress style dog beds

If your dog tends to sprawl try an oval or rectangular pillow bed, or cushion style dog bed.

Sofa bed

Some dogs like to keep their heads propped up as they nod off, or like to sleep both stretched and curled. In this case then you might want to consider a sofa bed, these beds usually have the length for stretching plus the raised back and arms give them the option to snuggle against something should they choose to do so.

Materials

Regardless of the type of material you choose, is should be easy to clean, preferably 100% washable. Consider purchasing a bed that is made of tough material such as corduroy or cotton in order to withstand a hard time.

Size

Size is the most obvious thing to consider when purchasing a dog bed. Check the dimensions of the thoroughly before buying, when checking the width of the bed take into account the breed of the dog you have and how much space it will be comfortable with. Remember that it is better to select a slightly larger size then a small one in order to avoid discomfort. If your animal is still growing then you also need to take this into account.

Make sure you measure your animal correctly before picking the bed size, if you are purchasing a mattress make your animal stand up and measure from the tip of the nose to the base of the tail. Add about 25-30 cms to these measurements and then use this as a guide for selecting the correct sized mattress.

If your dog likes sleeping curled up then you need to measure from the top of their head down to the base of the tail. Add approx 20 cm to this measurement and use this as a guide for selecting the correct bed.