Glucosamine For Dogs

A dog crate is one of those must-have items if you own a dog, and is particularly important if you intend taking your dog anywhere by car.

But there are some important things to consider when buying a crate for transporting your dog.

Size

You’ll need a crate that comfortably accommodates your dog, but also one that fits in the back seat of your car. It would be pretty pointless buying a crate that you can’t load into your vehicle, while forcing your dog into a crate that is too small is both cruel and dangerous.

Remember, buy for the dog’s size first and only then consider whether the crate fits your car. The dog should have just enough space to lie down and turn around, to prevent him “doing his business” in the crate.

Ventilation

Make sure that the crate has adequate ventilation, as dogs can overheat quite easily. This is especially important during the summer months, and with short-faced breeds that are known to have breathing difficulties.

Protection

There are 3 types of crates – the moulded plastic variety, the wire “cage”, and the vinyl “carry bag”. Of these, the hard plastic case is preferable for transporting your dog as it provides the highest level of protection.

Hygiene

If you follow the advice above on how much space to give your dog, then your dog is unlikely to relieve himself in the crate. If it does happen though, you’ll want a crate that is easy to clean.

Fortunately, this applies to most crates. The plastic crates are particularly easy to clean and can normally be disassembled with a few simple clicks, then washed down and put together again.

View

Some dogs become anxious when put in a crate, and the most common reason is that they can’t see out. If your dog is stressed about being in an enclosed space then the best solution is to use a wire crate, which allows him a 360-degree view. Apart from the fact that he can’t move freely around the car, it’s almost like he’s not in a crate at all.

Dog crates make it possible to safely transport your dog by car, but some are just better at to the job than others. Plastic crates offer the best solution for safety, are easily cleaned, and suitable for small to medium dogs.For larger dogs, or those that dislike being closed in, a wire crate with adequate cushioning, may be the answer. It does though provide less protection than a plastic crate.

Soft crates provide no protection at all, and are therefore unsuitable for transportation.

Visit dogsanddogtraining.com to learnmore about dog safety, dog care, dog breeds a-z and other interesting dog information.

Tags: dog care, dog safety, dogs

This entry was posted on Thursday, January 26th, 2012 at 9:16 am and is filed under Dog Stuff. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.