Soft travel crate

[Kyoko]

I am looking to purchase a soft travel ( portable) crate for Charlie. I looked online for bunch of brand, but it is hard to tell just by looing at the pictures and seeing how it collapses, how to put it up, etc.... Do you have any recomendation?

[Susan, Coby & Chloe]

Hi Kyoko - I had purchased a soft travel crate for bringing Bosco home as a puppy 5 months ago. We used it for car travel in the beginning and only took it out again last week when we stayed at a hotel. It popped right up in place on the floor and Bosco was fine walking in and settling down in it when we left for dinner. I zipped up the mesh, listened at the door, not a whimper out of him. However....upon our return, the crate was on the opposite side of the floor from where we left it....and Bosco was laying on the floor directly in front of it! I'm still uncertain how he performed his Houdini like escape but I'd venture to guess his teeth worked some magic around the mesh of the zipper. So...if you're looking to invest in one for travel purposes, my suggestion would be to get a VERY sturdy and well-enforced one!

[Kyoko]

Oh! Yikes!! That will be a problem. Looks like there are some that structures are made of steel tubes, and others are steel wires.......

[Camilla and Darwin]

I will definitely be watching this discussion, because we really really need one of these.

[Susan and Sasha]

Hi Kyoko...
Sasha is 75lbs...and whenever we travel...we use a wonderful soft crate...
It's from FetchDog...H20022
At this point...although Sasha is a "hearty" chewer...she isn't into any destructive behavior anymore thankfully. (smile)...that stopped after she went through her "teething" time. (Sasha is such a hearty chewer...that her choice of toys is "Very "limited...she can chew through Anything...within minutes...so...Kongs...and Antlers are about it...and she is totally content with that. Of Course...alongs with...Lots and Lots of Love...and Hugs...Massages and Doodle Kisses...(smile)
Anyway...back to the crate...
This crate is amazing!
It is sturdy...folds flat...so it fits into most vehicles...and...has very open...mesh sides...which makes it very nice and airy.
Although Sasha is quite large...she can stand and look out of the window...and is Very Comfortable while we travel...12 hours...twice a month.
I do think that a soft side crate works very well...depending upon the age of the dog...not for a puppy under a year...
We love it...and recommend it highly...

[Kyoko]

Is is easy to pop up and collaps?

[Susan and Sasha]

Yes...
It is so easy to pop up and collapse!!
That's the other great thing about it...and also why it will fit into just about ANY car!!
Since it lays flat...you can partially collapse it...and put it in the back seat...
Then...it really only takes a minute...to pop it up...to the upright position!
That's how we were able to get a crate large enough for Sasha in our car...
There is still room on the backseat for suitcases...etc...

It fits so nicely...she is soooooo comfy...and...All Is Well...

[Kyoko]

Wow. I have to seach this one. I saw a guy with Pet Gear soft crate. it looks pretty good as well...

[Susan and Sasha]

Great...
Let me know if I can help you out in any way...
Good luck...

[Denise & Hunter!!!]

We have the Precision Soft Sided crate and its the only crate we have ever used for Hunter. It has held up GREAT. We camp a lot and it folds easy to move and comes with a bag you can put it in. We actually use it for her in the car a lot because you can zip the sides up and unzip the top so she is more secure and can lay down in it if she wants to. Here is the link for it -

http://www.precisionpet.com/detail.aspx?ID=137

I actually bought and returned 3 other brands before I found this one because I thought they were to flimsey. Hunter isn't the type to try to get out though so I am not sure how it would stand up to a 60lb doodle flinging itself up against for a lenght of time LOL.

[Linda and Murphy]

This is the one I ended up getting for Murphy (whatever the largest size is). It is great.

My first experience with the cheap, pop up kind was taking 11 month old, 90 lb Murphy to an indoor obedience mock trial given by our instructor. We we there mostly to observe, I think. All of the other dogs were in their soft sided crates, behaving. I put Murphy in his (very flimsy, truly pop-up) while she was lecturing to us,

There was a bit of commotion in the back, but I was truly focused on the instructor. One of my friends in the class nudged me to turn around.
There is Murphy's bright red, huge, pop up crate rolling towards me. He found a way to "walk it" to get to me, like rolling a barrel.

Needless to say, I was mortified. (This was relatively early in my Murphy experience. I still expected my children to be perfect and did not fully appreciate the humor.)

[Susan and Sasha]

The "Visual" on this...is Priceless!!
I'm laughing out loud right now...and I'm sitting here all by myself!
Well...not by myself actually...my girl Sasha is here with me.
She's looking at me with that "look"...and then when I look at her...she just turns her head to the side a little!!
Oh so cute!
I think it's a Doodle thing...

About the Soft Side Crates...
Yes...you really have to do a Lot of research.
I agree...many of them are flimsy!br />
The best one I found...after much research...was from NozToNoz...
It costs a bit more...but...is worth it.
When you put the sides up...they are very straight and strong.
The mesh is reinforced...with openings on the sides and top.
We find it great for traveling...and it's working really well for our 75lb. Doodle...

[Julie, Boomer, Milo & Casey]

Susan - what size noztonoz did you buy for your 75lb doodle?   I suspect my doodle will be atleast that size but I mainly need this soft crate for the van/travel.   Ideally a 42" would be perfect (if I planned to use it in the home) but for travel, I'm thinking the smaller size may be fine since he won't be moving around as much.   We have a 4hour driving trip planned for July that I'm preparing for.   Thanks!