There are many different types of dog crates and materials to choose from and choosing the best crate for your dog can be difficult. First, narrow down the material and general type of crate that would best suit your dog and your needs. Fabric, wire, plastic, and aluminum crates all have pros and cons depending on the use. We have used all these types of crates for many years and are very familiar with their strengths and weaknesses. I personally use ALL of them depending on what situation I am using them for. Here are some important things to consider when shopping for your dog’s next crate.
Fabric Crates
Soft side collapsible crate
Soft sided collapsible dog crates are popular for travel due to their light weight and portability. However, these crates are only for either supervised use or for dogs that are so comfortable in the crate they make little to no effort to escape it. The larger the dog, the more easily they can destroy a fabric crate. The weakest point of these crates are the mesh doors. One good paw swipe from a large dog can rip the door in half.
Pros: Lightweight, easy to transport, inexpensive
Cons: Not durable
Wire crates
Wire crates are probably the most popular choice for in home dog crates for dogs comfortable with crate. These are best for indoor use with dogs who are 
comfortable in crates, do not try to escape and do not have any separation anxiety. Also, with the open wires, dogs that like to drag things inside crates have a lot of opportunity to do so.
Wire crates also come with dividers that allow you to adjust the size of the crate for puppies as they grow. This saves money as you theoretically do not need to buy new crates in different sizes.
Wire crates, however, are not the best choice for car crates. While they do keep dogs contained in the car, they offer no protection and the wires can break and become a deadly hazard in the event of an accident.
Pros: More air flow, inexpensive, portable, easy for home use
Cons: No protection in an auto accident scenario, poor choice for anxious dogs and escape artists.
Plastic Crates
Plastic dog crates are a step up in durability from a wire crate and provide a more den-like feel. These are better solutions for car crates and can be used in air travel.
Basic Plastic Crates
The basic plastic crate such as the Petmate Sky Kennels are step up in cost and durability from a wire crate. As with any crate, the larger the size, the higher the price tag, but plastic crates are still a cost effective option. The basic Petmate crate is made of a top and bottom piece screwed together with a wire door. Petmate makes them in size from XS for toy dogs all the way up to XXXL 700 crates for extra large dog breeds. The 700 series Petmate dog crate is the largest crate option in plastic crates.
Pros: Provides a more den-like feel, contains dogs in the car
Cons: Not so attractive in the house, provides little protection for serious auto accidents
Plastic Crates For The Car
The basic Petmate plastic kennels are commonly also used for auto transport and are definitely better than nothing as at least they can contain the dogs safely and are less dangerous than a wire crate. The downside for these crates is they do not offer much protection in the way of accident protection.
Ruff Land Kennels and Gunner Kennels are probably the most popular plastic kennels for auto transport among canine professionals and hunting dog enthusiasts. This is because the crates are extremely durable and offer excellent protection in the event of an accident. Because these kennels are sized and made primarily for transport and to fit side-by-side in most trucks, SUVs, and vans, both Ruff Land and Gunner kennels are narrower than most Pet Safe plastic kennels. This also makes them less attractive for in home use as they do not offer as much lateral space for larger dogs. Lastly, while both kennels provide good auto collision protection, Gunner Kennels are considerably heavier than Rufflands.
Another option to Ruff Lands and Gunner kennels is the Dakota Kennel. We have not personally tested this brand, so cannot give first hand feedback on this particular brand.
Note: These crates do not come in an XXL size comparable to the PetSafe 700 kennel.
Aluminum crates
Aluminum crates are the highest cost option in dog crates. These come in prefabricated options and custom builds. We have tested prefabricated aluminum crates from Impact as well as custom build aluminum crates. The Impact crates were unfortunately a disappointment. The rivets popped off and the sides became loose. Any accidents in the crate would easily leak through the seams.
Custom aluminum crates, on the other hand, we have seen withstand the test of years of hard use. The custom crates are almost always built to fit vehicles and those who own them keep the crates for many years. All that being said, most pet owners do not have a need for a custom build aluminum dog kennel.
Crates For High Anxiety Dogs
While not primarily designed for in-home use, both Ruff Land and Gunner are good alternatives to try for dogs with anxiety as they are much more durable than the average wire kennel. The Dakota kennel appears to have more width and may be a more comfortable option for in home use. Again, we have not personally tested this brand.
Aluminum crates are sometimes used for high anxiety dogs, however we would try a plastic version first as it will do less damage to the dog’s mouth if the dog panic’s and tries to chew out.
If your dog has that level of anxiety, please seek professional help for your dog.
