Hi- I'm searching for a wire crate for our new pup we'll be getting soon. She will be 8/9 weeks when we get her and I'm wanting to start with a small one (24 inch as Pippa has recommended) for a short time before moving to the bigger one. Can anyone recommend one that you've had success with that really durable. There's so much out there I don't want yo just buy the first one I see. Thanks for any help you can provide!
Have you thought about getting a nice large one to fit her when full grown but adding a divider initially? The smaller area definitely helps with the potty training but one crate may be better on your pocket. A divider could be a proper wire one or simple a bit of well attached board.
I thought about it but would like to start with the smaller puppy size mainly for the potty training reason
The only thing I would say about longevity is that the plastic clips I have on mine have given up so the next crate I buy will have metal sliders that are welded on. The crate is 5 years old and it wasn't expensive but the rest of it is more than fine so it is a little annoying.
I bought a quite expensive wire puppy crate, and now I'm on holiday and my neighbours have lent me their puppy crates (their dog is grown up now). They are value pets at home crates, and they are fine. Not heavy or sturdy enough to leave an adult dog in, but absolutely fine for a tiny pup weighing a few kgs for initial crate training etc. They grow out of the small crates in no time, anyway. I'd say buy a budget crate and save the money for a really good adult one when you need it. The adult dog crate I have is this one: http://www.croftonline.co.uk/crufts-1106-dog-crate-group.html It's super study.
I can see that you are set on a small crate and it's good to know what you want. I have to say that getting a large one and a divider was great; you can gradually move the divider to make it larger as your pup grows. Mine was expensive, the cruft / craft one, 42" or 46" - can't remember, and my dog still sleeps in it at 2 yrs old. Don't get it too small though and monitor your pup's growth and don't delay in moving to a larger one. There's probably lots of advice in an article somewhere here.
We got a large crate and divider which worked well for us. They grow very quickly and it wasn't that long before the divider came out.
I would seriously consider going large with a divider as they grow so quickly! We got a 42' Ellie Boo one which has been good so far. Great with toilet training to begin with and now she sleeps in it at 8 months old. Jessie is quite small tho, so if you have room a 46' might be a plan.
