Crates are a great way to train a puppy and can provide security for a dog when it becomes an adult. There are three main types of crates for dogs, and the type you select will depend on your needs and personal tastes. The three types are hard plastic (often called airline crates), wire crates, and soft-sided crates. Each has advantages and disadvantages.
A hard plastic crate can be used if you need to ship your dog or wish to take it with you when you travel by plane. Advantages of hard plastic crates are that they give the dog privacy and appeal to the dog's natural inclination to den. Disadvantages are that they take up a lot of space and have less air circulation, which can make them hotter.
Wire crates are also very popular, and many of them can be folded for moving. A sliding pan floor can be removed for easy cleaning. Some wire crates have grids on the bottom which can keep the dog up off of the floor and, therefore, help keep the dog clean. Disadvantages of wire crates are that they are heavy, some dogs may catch their paws in the wire openings, and there is less privacy for the dog. A towel or blanket draped over the top can help with the latter, but it cuts down on air circulation.
Soft-sided crates are often used for traveling with your dog. They are not appropriate for young puppies or for any dog that might chew through them. They are lightweight and fold up for ease of portability.
The size you select is important. If the crate is to be used to housebreak your puppy, it is important that the crate not be too large. If the crate is too large, the puppy will find it easy to soil the crate on one side and sleep on the other which defeats the purpose of using the crate. To solve this problem, some crates have removable panels that can be used to expand the size of the crate as the puppy grows. If you want to continue crating your dog, you might consider borrowing a crate to start with and then buying a permanent crate when the puppy is older.
