What type of dog crate is better? Plastic or Wire?

Well, I think that the wire crates are better because if you put the dog near a window he can see out and be somewhat entertained, but if you find that he or she prefers privacy, maybed just drape a blanket over the top. Plus I find the removable tray at the bottom of a wire crate is easier to keep clean than trying to climb inside a plastic one to wipe it out. Also the wire crates fold up flat so that are easier to transport that the large plastic ones. Good luck.

When we were researching it seemed to be that plastic was slightly preferred/recommended over wire. Both have their advantages and draw backs, but the three big advantages of plastic crates are: 1) it’s more enclosed and thus more "den" like, which is the purpose of crating
2) covering a wire crate with a blanket to make it den like can lead to s pulled inside/chewed blanket
3) they are less expensive

The advantage of a wire crate, that might make up for the cost difference for people with big dogs is that wire ones can be folded up and stored easily in little space (like under a bed). When the dog is older, if you don’t use it all the time, a big plastic dog crate (for a Labrador for example) would take up a lot of space to store, versus a wire one that folds up.

We have a Papillion, so this wasn’t an issue for us, so we went with the closed in den-like plastic crate.

Just my opinion!

I normally like my wire crate better because I can leave the top and bottom off when I go to 4-H, but besides that, my dog prefers the wire crate. We used to have a plastic one as well, but even though the first wire crate we had was smaller, my 95 lb. Lab mix would squeeze himself in. The main drawback with wire crates is, the bigger they get, the heavier and harder to transport they are. Though, while plastic crates are lighter, they are easier for dogs to chew through, and take up more storage space.

i have stainless steel mesh crates. the reason is that i have Beagles and they would chew through plastic ones!

My two Maltese share a wire crate. I like it because I can put a sheet over top of it for a more den like feeling when I am not home, but if I just want to put them in there for a short period of time to keep them out of trouble then they can still see around the room.

Our dog stays in a plastic one at the house. One reason is because when she was a puppy she would chew up anything that came close to the box. We now just keep the plastic box at the house and have a wire one we use when traveling. I think she prefers the plastic one, but doesn’t complain when we put her in the wire one. If I were to get another dog I would just go ahead and invest in a wire crate, that way we will only have to buy one.

Plastic can be chewed through by more destructive dogs, but is good for dogs that need an enclosed private/safe area. Wire is more durable all around though it is harder to move if it is a larger one.

They are both pretty easy to wash out. Plastic is cheaper than wire.

I prefer wire it is durable, it lasts longer, and it much roomier especially if you have to put two dogs in it. You can get kennel furniture for wire dog crates that is like a pad, baby bumpers, and all sides soft cover if you want it to be more enclosed and dark.

The cover isn’t to expensive and can be purchased from several online stores. Here’s one: http://www.funstufffordogs.com/

I prefer a wire crate.

we use wire

easier clean up, more durable, and they love it

I prefer wire. Wire crates can easily be folded down. Plastic crates can be carried provided they are small enough to have a handle. Wire crates generally come with a divider, which is a godsend for puppies as one can re-adjust the size of the crate for them as they grow. Wire crates are easier to wash, as one shouldn’t really need to wash it other than taking the plastic tray out and hosing it. They are cheaper, too, and come in more sizes. Finally, they allow the dog a broader range of view which can easily be obstructed if need be by a large blanket or towel over the cage. It is much more difficult to add viewing space to a plastic crate than take it away from a wire crate.

Wire.