When buying a dog crate or cage, you need to know a few things about them before making a purchase. If you are educated onthe ins and outs of dog crates then you will not have any problems after you have made the initial purchase. Crates are a wonderful option to house training your dog, as well as giving him a safe place. In the wild dogs slept in dens, this was essentially their room like a person would have in a house. Naturally, dogs whether they are domestic or wild want their own den, a domestic dog will sometimes associate a crate or cage as their den. A lot of people will say that a cage is cruelty to animals when in reality it is giving a dog his/her own room where they can feel safe and sleep. Before buying a cage or crate however, you should know a bit of information about them first.

There are two main types of dog crates, the first and most popular type is made of heavy-duty wire, the second is aportable crate made of plastic that can easily be folded and moved when needed. While wire cages are by far more popular,

some can be heavy  and cannot really be moved easily, plastic cages are easily moved and typically meet federal guidelines and regulations for air travel. If you choose to purchase a plastic, portable cage then be sure to research the quality of the cage because dogs may be tempted to chew on the plastic, so you want a high-quality cage that can resist this chewing should it happen. There are wire cages that collapse down to the size of a briefcase, some are quite difficult to get to collapse though so keep this in mind before purchasing. The ideal wire cage would me made of heavy-gauge wire and be easily collapsible.

The next thing to consider when buying a crate or cage is how big a cage to get. If you have an adult dog then the dogshould be able to stand up comfortably in the cage without hitting the top, the dog should also be able to have enough room to lay down in the cage and preferably be able to stretch out. If you have a puppy, naturally this means he/she will continue to grow, so when buying a cage for a puppy you should choose a size that will accommodate the puppy when he/she becomes an adult. There are dividers available for some cages that you can use to make the space inside the cage smaller or larger, taking them out to allow for more space as your puppy grows.

Pet supply stores are going to be the most obvious place to go to purchase a crate or cage for your dog. Pet supply stores however, are not your only option, you can also find cages and crates at most department stores as well as hardware stores. The next option may require a little bit more travel, but if there is a wholesale pet supply company anywhere near your area then they will have the best prices and the largest selection. Typically, a good crate or cage will run you anywhere from $50 to $150, this is for a dog that is medium to large in size.

Once you have found a decent crate for your dog, make the purchase and bring it on home. If for some reason your initialcalculations were wrong and the dog is a bit too big for the cage, take it back and see if they will let you trade that cage for one that will accommodate the size of your dog. Once you have brought the perfect crate home, you can begin thecrate-training process which is what will make your dog comfortable with using the crate.

This could stop your animal fromchewing on the furniture and being mischevious, while at the same time providing the dog with his/her own room essentially, a room where the dog can eat, sleep and feel safe.