Plastic kennels and crates:
Crates made of polypropylene are economical and widely used for their light weight and easy handling. They are fairly durable and made of three assembled parts that you can remove for cleaning or portability purposes. Small plastic kennels can be lifted with a handle provided on the top. Large plastic kennels may be fitted with wheels for easy traveling with big dogs. The door of the crate is made of wire frame while the sides have ventilation panels within the plastic. The bottom of the crate can be fitted with a dog bed. Plastic dog crates offer good privacy and useful for air travel.
Wire frame kennels and crates:
These are the ones that provide maximum visibility from inside and outside. They are made of gauge wire or stainless steel caging on all six sides, providing ample ventilation. The bottom is slide-fit and can be removed for cleaning. The sides are collapsible and can be folded up for easy portability and storage. Some models have a hinged top that can be opened to pick up puppies.
These are a variant of wire frame kennels. They are made of same materials but they don't have a top and bottom. The sides are hexagonal. Exercise pens are roomy enough to let your dog stride around a bit. Dogs may try to jump out of the roofless pen and get injured, so look for the ones which are high enough. Or look for closed roof pens so that there is no danger of dogs trying to jump over. Exercise pens are collapsible and can be taken around.
Solid frame doghouses:
Doghouses covered on all sides by plastic or wood frames are specially meant for outdoor use. They can act as perfect all-weather kennels as you can even fix them with air heaters and conditioners. They are extremely sturdy with a solid bottom and slotted sides for ventilation. Solid frame doghouses are safe for your dog but can be very dark inside. Some dogs love the secluded inside for retiring to bed.
Soft sided travel carriers:
Small dogs can be easily taxied using these portable kennels. They are made of nylon or fabric with screening on the sides and look like large purses. Soft kennels are available for big dogs too, but overall they are not very safe to guard against impact while traveling. Dogs weighing 10 pounds or less are best suited for these soft portable kennels.
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