Soft Crate

[Jason L]

Does anyone here own/use a soft crate?

I like the the fact you can take it wherever you go but was wondering if it is too flimsy to hold a GSD if he/she gets rowdy or to a secure a GSD in the car?

[Liesje]

I would not use it in the car, but I use crates for safety as much as I use them for containment. If the dog is trained to be that sort of crate it will contain them but I don't think they are safe. I don't even like the way my crates are right now b/c they aren't anchored in yet and it bugs me, but I might be getting better ones.

[Jason L]

Ok, Lies, that is a very good point. Obie's plastic car crate actually tilted over (well, not completely over), the other day when I took a sharp turn on the road.

What kind of crate are you looking at? Those heavy duty industrial looking ones?

[Kayla's Dad]

I agree with Lies. I have a soft crate that I use from time to time at a show or event but never in the car. In the vehicle I use a plastic crate primarily and a wire crate in a pinch as I believe they provide better protection in a moving vehicle.

If the GSD is being rowdy, a soft crate does not take much to shred/tear open. I have not used it with Lancer as he at this time in his young rambunctious life would have the thing ripped to shreds. Have used it with Kayla who has managed better in it in the past - that is after she tore the first one apart two years ago!

[Fodder]

i love soft crates... but i would not crate train in a soft crate. Tilden figured out how to unzip his instantly. Duh on me i thought, so then i secured the two zippers with a clip that was provided, and well... we now continue to use the crate (for shade in the backyard) as it no longer has a door. doorless in approx 10 minutes.

[Liesje]

Originally Posted By: Jason Lin
What kind of crate are you looking at? Those heavy duty industrial looking ones?

No, just different dimensions for sturdy wire crates (or possibly Varikennels). I'm not totally sold on my current setup so I don't want to mount anything yet, plus I plan to order a cargo liner.

[Chicagocanine]

Soft-sided crates are meant for crate trained and calm dogs-- if they paw at it or bite at the crate at all it will easily rip open.

I would not use one in a car as they wouldn't hold up in an accident. Actually I don't even use a regular crate in the car after hearing horror stories about how crates broke open (basically exploded in a few cases) or flew out of the car in a crash resulting in the dog's death.

[GranvilleGSD]

Originally Posted By: ChicagocanineActually I don't even use a regular crate in the car after hearing horror stories about how crates broke open (basically exploded in a few cases) or flew out of the car in a crash resulting in the dog's death.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who feels this way. I've actually seen a dog come into the vet who had some pretty nasty crate injuries from a minor car accident. On the other hand, 2 little Westies were in a rollover RV accident, they were not in crates, not a scratch!

Guess it can go either way. Accidents and injuries happen.

[Liesje]

Originally Posted By: shepherdmom12

Guess it can go either way. Accidents and injuries happen.

Exactly. Maybe it's harsh but as much as I love my dogs I also need to lookout for myself and my human passengers. I was in a near-accident with Kenya in the back seat and if she had been about 6 inches to her left she would have either beaned me and knocked me out or worse, or flown through the windshield. A loose dog in an accident is like a block of cement flying at your face.

Also, the nature of my dog's activities requires that they be safely crated when they are not taking a turn working or showing. If they are not crated, they will destroy the car (SchH) or have no ventilation if I can't leave the hatch and windows open.

I don't think there's any 100% way to protect yourself and dogs but I would find it hard to believe that statistically, a loose dog is safer (for passengers too) than a crated or belted dog.

[onyx'girl]

Dogs can be a distraction, crawling around where they shouldn't, trying to drive and chewing seatbelts~doesn't happen if they are crated.
There was a roll-over accident near me and a dog was thrown from the car. The owners relatives still(after 6 mos) post on Craigslist asking for help in finding the dog that ran off. They are from out of state The people in the car were killed.