my puppy (6 months, aussie mix, 36lbs) can chew through and/or bend her metal crate enough to escape. it is a petmate brand crate. i need to get a new crate that she cannot get out of, and plastic is absolutely out of the picture. right now i'm looking at the drs. foster&smith gorilla tough crate.

anyone had this problem? have any suggestions on brands?

the pup has sort of plateaued in terms of growth and we think she won't get much bigger than lower 40ish lbs and about maybe 15" at the shoulder.


[Edited on July 23, 2007 at 11:48 AM. Reason : ]

7/23/2007 11:39:06 AM

Isn't that crate metal too? Is a soft muzzle an option?

7/23/2007 11:42:56 AM

Don't know what brand it is, but I got one from the Pet Supplies Plus on Wake Forest Rd and she is a chewer and hasn't messed it up yet. How long do you leave her in there at a time? Have you tried giving her a Kong filled with some peanut butter or something to keep her busy?

7/23/2007 11:44:43 AM

yes, that crate is metal too but it's 6 gauge welded steel.

she doesn't like kongs. she only like pieces of fabric she's not supposed to chew on (non-dog toys) like dog beds, sheets, pants, shirts, etc. she has plenty of ropes and stuffed dog toys and squeaky toys and balls and whatnot to play with though.

she is in the crate and absolute maximum of 4 hours each day.

7/23/2007 11:48:04 AM

What about using a gate and putting her in a bathroom? I don't know but your doggie sounds like trouble!

Thought of one more thing: Try that bitter apple spray to put on her bedding or the bars of her crate because doggies hate that taste and it usally deters them from chewing on it

[Edited on July 23, 2007 at 11:54 AM. Reason : .]

7/23/2007 11:52:51 AM

i'd rather keep her in a crate b/c if i locked her in the bathroom i would have to take down the shower curtain, put away all bath rugs, towels, etc. and then she'd still chew up the cabinets and the door. she (and my house) is much safer in a crate.

i'm going to get some of that apple spray today (didn't get a chance to this weekend).

7/23/2007 11:57:23 AM

After our dog chewed through his metal crate. We got a plastic dog crate (the ones you use for air travel). It did really well until he chewed a small hole in it. 100 zip ties and 3 feet of chicken wire later it has held up great. If he chews on the wire it only pops off zip ties which can be replaced cheaply and quickly. troopofechoes can get you a pic

7/23/2007 12:31:26 PM

yeah, i know mike, but suki eats plastic just like she eats cloth. i think she actually likes hard plastic more than cloth. if i'm going to buy a new crate, i'd rather her not be able to chew it at all, instead of rigging it up so she cant. her current crate is being held together by zipties right now, but she eats them.

how's ash's new civic?

[Edited on July 23, 2007 at 1:10 PM. Reason : ]

7/23/2007 1:09:38 PM

If the dog is only in there for 4 hours max, I would at least try a soft nylon muzzle. You can get them for less than $10

7/23/2007 1:26:02 PM

i forgot to mention that she has to sleep in it too (otherwise she'll chew up my bedcovers and clothes)

7/23/2007 1:42:56 PM

If you don't mind driving to Smithfield, VA, I hear Mike Vick has some really tough dog crates he is getting rid of.

7/23/2007 1:51:17 PM

ba-dum ching!

[Edited on July 23, 2007 at 2:11 PM. Reason : ]

7/23/2007 2:10:59 PM

^^^^ Well i was just trying to help , last thing i can think of is getting a lab grade crate like they have in a vet clinic but that will be very $$$ but it'll last forever

She loves the civic, now i have to get a new car when i get a real job

7/23/2007 5:32:16 PM

my dog is a smart-ass and could open his kennel so it took some improvision to keep him in it when he was younger. But what is the problem with the muzzle? I mean... if she is chewing on plastic and metal those things could really do damage to her teeth and body when ingested.

7/23/2007 5:39:31 PM

there is no problem with a muzzle. i use one w/ my other dog.

my question is about tough crates (the one we have now NEEDS to be replaced). not muzzles, or kongs, or any other chew toy. thanks for the suggestions but no one really answered my question.

7/23/2007 7:58:30 PM

no suggestions on the crate, but check petedge.com formerly known as NEserum co, they have a pretty good following



ive heard that arid XX SPRAY deodorant is a decent fabric chewing deterrent

7/23/2007 9:21:48 PM

Sorry for the suggestions, but I thought perhaps if you hadn't thought of some of these things and they worked, you wouldn't have to pay a fortune for a super tough crate. Jeez, we apoligize for trying to help.

7/23/2007 11:27:22 PM

Megan - the Midwest version of the wire crates are really strong - both of my guys have the collapsable type metal crates and they've held up well. You might be able to get a cheaper price on crates if you go to http://www.petedge.com or http://www.ryanspet.com


they usually have cheaper prices than anywhere else.

7/24/2007 7:40:22 AM

thank you kristen

7/24/2007 8:16:12 AM

no problem! (c;

7/24/2007 9:57:20 PM