Two More Crates Worth a Look-See
I recently came across two crates that I hadn't seen before. Each of them fits a niche that I think can be helpful when traveling with dogs.
The first is a model called The Other Door
The second crate is your typical wire crate but with a unique door that folds up into the crate. Not like the "garage" style of The Other Door, but something that folds up. I think it would probably work really well being placed behind the front seats, where regular crate doors end up hinged on the wrong side or hit the curved parts of the car door opening. This crate is made by J-B Pet and is called a "Premier Series Crate."
I'm actually mid-process of putting together a crate matrix for all the different types of wire crates out there. I'm surprised at how many different styles there are with various wire gauges and spacings, overall size variations, number of doors, etc. Since we at CarGoDogs.com travel with Belgians, our focus tends to go towards the 24x36 sizes, but the crate matrix will be complete with the smallest up to a monster 48" crate! I'm sure it will be a continually evolving thing, as new styles and sizes are manufactured. As I mentioned on our Belgian list recently, consider that there are a myriad of crates out there that may be different than what you currently own. Finding just the right crates might make your dream car into the perfect dogmobile! Oh - and I admit, I prefer wire crates, but we plan to eventually put together a crate matrix for plastic crates, too.
After seeing this crate mentioned on this site, I became very interested in it. I did lots of research and was shocked at the prices. I wound up buying the 27"L x 18"W x 21"H size which is the small. I bought mine from Ebay for $120 (including shipping). This was by far the best price I could find anywhere!! When I first received the crate and started setting it up, I was a little disappointed. For the price, it didn't seem as sturdy at first. I know in the process of setting up the crate, I've caused the "garage door" to jump its track about 10 times already. Despite that, I really do like the crate and have already received several comments from other dog people about it. This crate is very convenient since it has four doors to choose from. I love the fact that the crate folds down to four or so inches. It's not near as heavy as some of the wire crates I've carried, and it has wheels. I've taken several photos and will post them soon when I get a chance. BTW, this past week, I took the flattened crate out of my RAV, set it up, and rolled it across the agility field. Our very-hyper Eskie Cheyenne didn't break out of the crate when she was in it during class, so if this crate can stand up to her "roughness," it should be fine for everyone else's dogs.