Best Heavy Duty Dog Crate: 5 Indestructible Options For 2018
It goes without saying that bringing a canine companion into your life will only improve it for the better. After all, who else would love you unconditionally till their last breath without being a judgmental jerk? But dog parenting is not easy by a long shot. It presents its own set of challenges by posing situations that you’d least expect. This is especially true for first time dog owners, who often do not mold a puppy the right way.
The result is a dog that grows into adulthood with uncooperative behavior and has every chance of being relinquished to an animal shelter, a painful situation for both owner and pet. For this reason, it is essential to set some ground rules when you get a little fur ball home. Those glossy wet eyes will melt your heart, but you have to be firm when it matters the most.
Crate training, is one of the fundamental and valuable skills that a dog can have and its importance goes beyond the dog having its own bedtime retreat (other important things you need to think about include getting a proper dog muzzle and a quality no-pull dog harness).
Table of Contents
Quick Comparison: Top Indestructible Dog Crates in 2018
* click on the product name to be taken to Amazon where you can check the current price and read customer reviews.
Below you’ll find in-depth reviews of each of the above products.
Understanding Crate Training
Firstly, crate training is in no way cruel or inhumane, as it is often made out to be. Dogs have an inborn denning instinct that’s inherited from their ancestors, the wolves. They like to hide out in their own private enclosed spaces, making crate training, an ideal solution for a host of situations in the later stages of their lives.
Dogs may have to be in crates at some point of time in their lives. It may be while they are traveling to a new home or a new country, visiting the vet or when they are boarding at a friend’s place in your absence.
A crate trained dog will have no problem adapting to any of these situations, as opposed to one that isn’t crate trained, who will undergo a lot of stress and anxiety when exposed to it.
Ever dealt with a dog that has separation anxiety? If you have a large sized dog, then it can be one of the most difficult situations to deal with.
Some of the important reasons why you must crate train your dog are:
- Helps in potty training your dog
- Makes traveling with your dog easy
- Gives your dog their own private space to rest
- Helps alleviate separation anxiety when they are alone at home
- Helps your dog to relax
But, as important as it is to crate train, it is equally important to buy the right crate for your dog. While it is no rocket science, it isn’t a walk in the park either.
Selecting The Right Crate For Your Dog
A lot of people might think, how different can one type of dog crate be from the other? After all, it’s just a crate.
Wrong!
Dog crates come in all sizes, shapes and types and if you do not select the right one for your dog, then it’s a stressful experience for the dog and a waste of your hard earned money.
Here are a few tips to help you take the guesswork out of it:
- The Size: The size of the crate is undoubtedly one of the most important factors to consider while selecting one. It should allow the dog to comfortably stand, sit and lie down with some extra head room. But do not select a crate that is too big for your dog, else, the dog may start to soil one part of the crate and sleep in the other.
- The Type of Crate: There are many different types of crates that you can choose from. Wire dog crates are the simplest and also the flimsiest of them all and heavy duty dog crates are the toughest. If you have a dog who is a bit of an escape artist or has a mischievous side to his personality, it is recommended that you opt for a heavy duty crate. They are tough, durable and will prevent your dog from playing Houdini, when you are away.
- The Price: Last but not the least, you might want to consider the price. While you do not want to cut corners, you also want to ensure that it doesn’t blow a hole in your pocket.
After considering all the pros and cons, we recommend that you select a heavy duty dog crate for your puppy. And here’s why.
Editor’s Choice – Best Heavy Duty Dog Cage
Contrary to popular notion, a heavy duty dog crate is not meant for large or heavy dog breeds. It’s called heavy duty because it’s unbreakable. Your dog will not be able to claw or chew his way out of it, no matter how hard he tries. And of course, it can house even the most powerful dogs.
They are a perfect choice for most dog owners, irrespective of the size or the breed of the dog. They are a onetime investment and way cheaper than frequently replacing less sturdy crates, if your dog chews your way through it. Most of them are also compatible with airline travel norms, acclimatizing the dog to airline travel.
Today, we take a look at the best heavy duty metal dog crates in the market currently. These have been handpicked on the basis of their features, their price and their customer reviews, making it easy for you to make the right choice.
1. ProSelect Empire Dog Crate
With more than 90% positive customer reviews and the ability to house even the most aggressive canine, the ProSelect Empire Dog Crate is the number one choice in best heavy duty large dog crates category. This all-metal crate is virtually indestructible and will easily thwart any attempts to break out.
The Features
Fabricated from 20-gauge strong steel tubing and reinforced by ½ inch diameter steel tubes, the crate is designed specifically to house powerful animals. It is completely claw and chew-proof and you can be rest assured that your dog will not be able to find their way out of it, unless you decide to let them out.
The stout dual door latches and heavy-duty welding at stress points, provides added security. The crate has a long-lasting, high-grade hammertone finish that is rust-resistant.
To ensure easy cleaning, the crate comes with a removable steel tray. If you ever wish to move the crate, you have the option to use the four removable moving casters, which can be locked when not in use.
You can use a soft dog bed or a cardboard at the base of the floor grate.
What sized dogs can fit into this crate?
Almost any large sized dog can fit easily into the crate. The crate itself is available in two different sizes (medium and large). The inside dimensions are as follows.
Medium: 35¾”L x 23½”W x 24½”H
Large: 40 3/4″L x 28 1/8″W x 31 3/4″H
There are customers who have housed their ridge-back lab cross dog, pit bulls, Labrador Retrivers and Akitas in the crate without any problem whatsoever.
Customer Speak
‘Expensive, but may actually save you money’ – Adam’s 65 pound hyper Lab/Shepherd cross had already destroyed two expensive wire crates and would have hurt himself trying to break out of flimsy crates before he got the ProSelect Empire Dog Crate. Problem Solved!
‘Best crate around!’ – Sally had an escape artist dog who’d even open latches to find his way out of other crates. She says that the ProSelect Empire Dog Crate is worth every penny she spent on it.
‘Works for my high energy/high anxiety Pitty’ – Mary had a Pit Bull that had broken out of two wire crates and a plastic dog crate before she bought the ProSelect. Now, she has adjusted to the new crate and loves her little den.
The Final Verdict
Irrespective of whether you are a first time dog owner looking for a cage for your puppy or a frustrated dog owner desperately looking for a solution for your dog, who’s suffering from separation anxiety or has a habit of breaking out of crates, this will get the job done for you.
It is durable, strong and almost indestructible. Go for it!
2. 48″ Black Commercial Quality Heavy Duty Pet Dog Crate w/Wheels
Hot on the heels of the ProSelect Empire, we have another heavy duty dog crate with almost identical features. The 48″ Black Commercial Quality Heavy Duty Pet Dog Crate boasts of a rugged steel tubing construction, heavy duty door latches and a removable top.
The Features
As is the case with heavy duty crates, this 48” Commerical quality crate from BestPet is fabricated from a 3/4″ Frame and 1/2″ Diameter steel tube. So, it is not a flimsy wire cage that your pitty can chew through. To further secure your dog, it features a heavy duty door latch that cannot be clawed open.
Many a times, dog owners find it problematic to feed their dogs in crates. This heavy duty crate comes with a removable top that allows easy cleaning as well as feeding.
It is designed for easy assembly and most of the parts already come preassembled which further simplifies the task.
The crate has 4 removable caster wheels which can be used to move the cage during cleaning or while transporting the dog during travel.
What sized dogs can fit into the cage?
It can fit everything small to extra large sized dogs. The dimensions of the cage are 48″(L) x 36″(H) x 30″(W). Customers have used full grown German Shephards, Boxers and Akitas in it, without the dogs being able to break out.
Customer Speak
‘Indestructable!’ – Kathy, the cage is indestructible. Their lab was able to chew its way out of all the cages she’d tried before this. She also loves the removable tray that eases cleaning by catching all the shed hair.
‘Yay its here’! – Ashley and Mick cannot contain their joy at receiving this heavy duty crate. They mention how it’s perfect for their Akitas who are not crate trained and had every chance of ending up in rescue.
‘Easy to assemble’! – another customer is extremely happy with the crate that is super easy to assemble and holds both of his Labradors with ease.
The Final Verdict
The only reason why this rates behind the ProSelect Empire crate, is due to some customers who have mentioned that the latch is a tad flimsy and had to be replaced with a new one. Otherwise, it is every bit as durable and tough as the #1 rated crate.
3. SmithBuilt Heavy Duty Dog Cage Crate Kennel
SmithBuilt is one of the most popular manufacturers of dog crates and this heavy duty dog crate is one of their flagship offerings. Available in different colors that are a welcome change from the norm, the crate is a sturdy and secure kennel for your dogs.
The Features
What greets you out of the box are the surprisingly large bars on this heavy duty crate from SmithBuilt. The welds are strong and the bars won’t bend even if the heaviest dog puts his mind to it. The entire crate is rust and corrosion-resistant and features two different doors for effortless feeding and cleaning.
The top door in particular, allows you to feed the dog without letting them out of the crate. Like most other heavy duty crates, there are removable caster wheels for transport, of which, two can be locked in place.
There is a removable steel tray with lip that collects the shed hair and any spilled food, making it easy to maintain the hygiene.
What sized dogs can fit in this cage?
The crate is available in three different sizes.
Small: 36-inch long cage is 24 in. deep x 29 in. tall
Medium: 42-inch long cage is 30 in. deep x 34 in. tall
Large: 48-inch long cage is 33 in. deep x 37 in. tall
Some of the breeds that customers have mentioned in their reviews are Golden Retriever, Husky, Belgian Malinois and Boxer. As long as your dog can comfortably stand in the crate with three to four inches headroom, it can fit easily into it.
Customer Speak
‘This Cage Is No Joke’ – Rudy mentions how her Husky who is a bit of an ‘escape artist’ finally found his match with this Heavy Duty Cage. To prevent it from pawing the door open, she used “2 inch, spring key clips”.
‘We call it the “Tiger Crate”’ – Sylvia’s 1 year old Golden Retriever had destroyed three different cages before she bought this heavy duty crate from SmithBuilt. She calls it the Tiger Crate because it looks like a really large and heavy crate that is used to house Tigers.
‘BUY THIS CRATE, Don’t waste your time on normal wire crates.’ – customer has explicitly stated that a cheap crate won’t cut it, if you have a smart dog. Save yourself some money and effort and go get this one.
The Final Verdict
With over 90% positive reviews and priced at just under $130, this is the value-for-money addition to this list of 48 inch dog crates. You absolutely cannot go wrong with this.
4. Walcut Heavy Duty Strong Metal Pet Dog Cage Crate Cannel Playpen w/Wheels
Pets are smarter than you’d like to think and they hate being locked up, especially if they are not crate trained. So, a plastic or wire cage will mostly be destroyed. With an all-steel construction that is designed to withstand the jaws and claws of even the heaviest of dog breeds, the Walcut Heavy Duty Strong Metal Crate is one of the best strong dog crates in the market.
The Features
The Walcut Dog Crate features a heavy duty steel frame with rigidly welded joints that offer unparalleled strength and support. The double-door design is a favorite with pet owners who often find feeding time troublesome, for the risk of the pet escaping from the crate. Use the top door while feeding and the front door to let them out. If you have a puppy for housebreaking, you can use the top door to take him out of the crate.
Both the doors have latches to keep them locked securely.
It has a grate floor along with a steel tray which can be removed for easy cleaning.
If you have guests in the house and wish to move the cage, you can use the four rolling casters to easily push it to the other rooms.
What sized dogs can fit into this cage?
The Walcut heavy duty dog cage is available in three different sizes.
Small: 33.8”L x 27.1” Wx 19.7”H
Medium: 36.3″L x 24.2″W x 29.1″ H
Large: 48.8″L x 33″W x 37″ H
The largest sized crate is designed for pets lesser than 176 lbs. That should give you a good idea of the pets that will fit into the crate. Some of the dogs that customers have used the crate for, include Alaskan Malamute, Pit Bull and Mastiff.
Customer Speak
‘Escape artist dog? It will stop’ – customer had a 55 lb pit bull that had destroyed a wooden dog crate previously. Not this one though. She doesn’t even touch the bars. Maybe its futile.
‘Five Stars’ – another customer has rated it five stars and is using it happily for their 150LB mastiff.
The Final Verdict
Irrespective of whether you have a large sized dog that manages to break out of cages or just lilkes to chew at the welding, this will keep them locked and secure. One of the sturdiest crates in our list of best heavy duty dog crates.
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