Best Dog Crates For Escape Artists (Jan 2023 Update)

It's the easiest crate to put together. I didn't read directions and so easy to fold and store. Its really all ready put together just unfold. Easy.2longislandny

I use this in my grooming shop! Excellent quality easy to move around on the wheels. Safe for pets and extra heavy duty. Will last for years to come. Highly recommemded.daw_flem

This is my best investment for my dogs. I love these cage. Easy to put assemble and stack up together. Look great and everything works great!Jessie

This cage is awesome and HUGE. My 90 lb German Shepherd has plenty of room in it, my Australian Shepherd can even go in with him and there' still plenty of room. I would definitely recommend getting this cage especially for the price!!brownsfan-2122

Quality product at an awesome price. This crate is heavy duty enough for my 2 year old, 160lb Great Dane. She is able to stretch out and stand up. When she does her pawing at the bedding at bed time it doesn't shake or rattle. Its easy to open and close. The only con would be the styrofoam used in the packing…it shreds up during the shipping…it flies everywhere!courage216

I love it dog hates it lots of room I can leave her at home and run my errands and know she is safe and my apartment is the way I left it. Summer is almost here and it's getting to hot can't leave her in the truck easy to put together and shipping was fast. Thank youmildnmdon

This kennel is strong. The tie-down holes, one per corner, go through both the top half and the bottom half of the kennel, which is an excellent improvement over no tie down holes. Another improvement over the old version is that water cannot collect on top since there are no bowl-like indentations on the top. The door is heavy construction, and can be mounted as Left or Right swing. I put the kennel on the passenger's side of the vehicle so that I can use the empty space behind the driver for carrying a jug of water, leashes, and other stuff. The advertised length is 40", but be aware that the usable length or "inside" length is 33". This is adequate if your dog is 33" or less from the top of the tail to the end of his front nails, while lying in the "sphinx" position. ONE CON: There are no drainage holes in the bottom half. I plan to drill my own (well, get the hubby to do it). A suggestion for the manufacturer: Make a Truck Version of the kennel. It would be the same as this except for two changes: (1) Add drain holes, and (2) Make the top rear panel (opposite the door) from transparent acrylic, so the driver can see through it. This would be a safety feature, as the blind spot would be reduced.Karen

Absolutely love this crate and so does my dog. The only reason I’m giving 2 stars is because it came with deep scratches in the top and the side. Unacceptable when you pay for a new crate and it looks used when you receive it.DonnaN

This is such a wonderful product, that really makes our travel so much easier. It is made extremely well; sturdy but still light enough to carry anywhere. It assembles easily and quickly. It, thoughtfully, has areas that our dogs can see us at all times, and we can see our dogs, too. Ventilation is excellent; it allows for enjoying the outdoors, while still being safely contained and protected. The mat adds softness and support. We use this when we visit family and friends too. Our dogs are very good, and do not need to be crated. However, they like a place of their own to feel safe, especially when we travel. We bring this along, keep the door open, and they have a special spot to go retreat to and sleep in, when staying with friends and family. It is perfect for our hikes and for camping, as well. The handles are sturdy and make it easy to carry. It is just a really well thought out and crafted product, which we are really glad we have! It makes life easier for both us and our dogs!Jdd1

I got this more to take our cats back and forth to the vet that dogs. It is larger than I expected, with plenty of room for them to move around. I love that is folds down for easy storage. I also like the zippered openings at the top and the side. It is easier to get the cat in from the top. The crate is very sturdy and I like the larger handles. I also like the pocket on the side, with plenty of space for a leash or treats. The bottom of the crate has feet, so it reduces wear on the fabric. The mat is easy to remove for cleaning.kschapman

I got this product for a cat carrier to go to vet appointments. First impression, definitely worth the price tag and super sturdy! We opened it and let both our cats explore and get comfortable in it. They fell in love and currently it’s still in my living room with two flaps up secured with the velcro. They have been fighting over whose “house” it is so I didn’t have the heart it to take it down since one compromised using the top net opening as a hammock! The colors are nice and so far it’s held up great! For size reference my cats are 11 and 16 lbs and both fit comfortably in it for a car ride to their appts or traveling. I definitely recommend this product if you’re looking for something sturdy and that will last a lifetime!Excellent

Totally pleased with this crate. Very good construction. .easily set up.. Beautiful blue. Metal well coated. Size suggestion of a 24inch crate for my new Shorkie/Bicheon to grow into. Recommend as a"den" for your furry baby.Snifferdog

Initial impression is positive and the kennel has potential. However, the fail point of this kennel is the door. The welds between the door and the hinge are very poorly done. With light use (maybe a couple times a month) and a well behaved dog that does not fight his kennel or paw at the door, mine broke in less than 2 years. I expect a lot more from a product that costs this much. Furthermore, the company’s solution was a 10% discount on a replacement door, which they conveniently sell for over $130. I would strongly suggest looking at other kennels as there are some good options.August Houghton

The kennel is extremely well made. The shape of it maximizes floor space (compared to the Ruff Land), it is extremely well ventilated, and I love that it can be locked. It is much heavier than other kennels of a similar size, but the handle makes it fairly easy to take in and out of vehicles as needed. I strongly recommend this kennel.Tara

This is a solid, well made kennel. We have been very pleased with this purchase and are planning to purchase a second. We have used ours for travels, as well as for a sleeping crate because our puppy prefers this crate over a more open designed crate we have. I feel he likes the den-like feel this one provides. He goes right to sleep in it whether at home or in the car. We are very active campers, bikers, hikers and this works perfectly with our lifestyle.Elizabeth C.

I bought 1 for my English Bulldog and this is a very nice sturdy beautiful cage! I am going to buy another 1 for my 2 little dogs! Beautiful in a livingroom! Well worth the $$$Amy

Well, we bought the beige style of this one and it was great. Cats love it. Decided to get the white one.. Terrible craftmanship. The top part leans and will not get any tighter..Posts are not as thick as the beige one. The beige came with a hanging mouse and rope, the white one does not. I honestly don't even think they are the same manufacture..Youngmawmaw

We bought a larger crate 6 months ago that housed 3 small dogs and 2 cats for 3 days while we drove across country. For several months the 3 dogs shared it at night (the cats found another place to sleep). Recently, we decided to separate the 2 older dogs from the younger and bought 2 of the medium sized crates. The "travel crate" was folded and put away in the laundry room for the next time we travel with all our babies, and we stacked the 2 medium crates. Even stacked, these crates have good strength and a solid build. I can't say enough about how exceptional these crates are and the divider is great when needing to separate pets in a pinch.mslubner

I was so excited about the fantastic sales price on the crates! Ordered an i Crate in the large size, before I did the research. After research I realized I ordered the lowest-grade crate, not what I wanted. Tried to cancel the order to reorder the higher-grade Ultima Pro. After two calls, they did send a cancel through to see if it would work. (It didn't.) I didnt want to risk waiting and missing the sale so I ordered the Ultima Pro, had to be medium, because large was out of stock. Just opened it and, like others, got one that can't even be put together because it's so out of square. It can't even be bent into place it's so bad. This is one reason I HATE buying online. The only good part is I can at least return it to the local Petco instead of having to ship it back.Lotsa animals here

My dog loves her new crate. She out grew the first one we purchased . This one gives her all the room she needs to stretch out and sleep. I was very impressed with the quality of this crate versus the quality of the first crate. This new crate has superior strength . No rattling. It is sturdy and strong. I would definitely recommend this brand of crate.Dave

Truly a nice furniture kennel. Bought it without reviews, so took a chance. One of the containers was destroyed in shipment, but it’s packed with styrofoam all around so no damage! The locking mechanism seems sturdy. The bars seem sturdy. The boards are strong. The instructions are pictures, but easy to follow along with. My dogs are well behaved in kennel, so not sure how it will stand up with one who’s not. Overall, I’d recommend it!MML

very sturdy and amazing. My dog loves the kennel and it's a great stand for other things along with the cubbys to hold remote or books.Amber

This is a nice looking crate and it is substantial. It is also easy to move around. The main problem with it is that the clips to open and close the doors are annoyingly difficult. Also the side garage style door is difficult to operate as well. Sometimes I just leave the top open and take my little schnauzer out the top – it's easier.Joyce

Very hard to use. Clips and clamps are very poorly made. Aside from the fact that I've asked for refund and donated them, I did try to utilize them to no avial. I purchsed the large one and a small one. The garage door + top door feature is cool, but the locking mechanisms are very difficult to use. Terrible choice if you have arthritis! Its impossible to open the clips while holding the puppy in your other hand. 🙁 The cozy bed is the nicest part of this setup.Hard2Open

terrible! did not last 16 hrs literally . my puppy was able to chew thru it in no time at all . maybe it's my fault I should have just went with metal and not something nicer looking . I was under the impression this wasn't just wood and would sustain some scratching nibbling but as soon as I put it together I knew it was a mistake (screwing some of sides in by hand and being able to see it just is cheap) for it being this expensive I would expect better quality!Brian

DO NOT BUY FOR A PUPPY!!!! These are so beautiful, I bought two for both my Boston Terriers. My 7 year old loves it, he didn't mind at all. My puppy was in it for literally 5 mins, he broke the piece of wood in the front and busted out. AGAIN, DO NOT BUY FOR A PUPPY!!!!Danielle

There are a few things you need to know about this product before purchasing… 1. It says it can fit a 18-50lb dog in here, but I disagree. It’s a little smaller than I was expecting, so I say a 30lb MAX could fit in here depending on the dog. 2. There is NO bottom piece, ONLY a plastic tray. I was expecting a bottom piece under the plastic tray, but I understand that it is for easy cleanup reasons. Overall, I gave this a 3 out of 5 stars because I’m not as happy with it as I could’ve been. Hopefully it holds up and lasts, we’ll see.Joanne

This kennel looks great in your home. It’s much more decorative than a traditional crate. And for the price of why not? Well that’s easy. It’s not as functional as a traditional kennel. I read reviews before buying this, and a lot of those reviews stated that their dogs tore this kennel apart. But I thought my dog shouldn’t have a problem with that because she is crate trained. As a matter of fact she went into her old kennel willingly without anyone asking all of the time. It was her safe space I think. Never tried to break out. But the thing with this kennel is the material that it is made out of is weak and if you’re a pitbull, very soft. My dog chewed the bars out with ease and the fake wood was like bubblegum to her. I love this kennel because of the way it looks in my room but for how strong it is NOT, it is incredibly over priced.BrianaL02

This kennel will work for now but I fear over time that the weight of a dog laying against the side of it will make it fall apart. Easy to put together…the screws are literally plastic. When I searched for “wooden dog crate” this came up and I purchased it but it’s not wood lol.PorshaPants

DO NOT BUY!!! Our puppy was sleeping in her kennel when she woke up whining in pain. Come to find out one of the wires were loose and she got it stabbed through her paw pad. I’m beyond mad at this point. Highly don’t recommend. If you already own it make sure to check all wires are properly welded to the kennel. You can barely see some blood on her fur and she won’t let me look at it more. Thankfully we just happen to have a vet appointment today. I hope this doesn’t prevent my dog from her training and be scared to go in. Do better vibrant pets.Oakleigh

There are so many issues with these crates I don’t even know where to begin. We didn’t just get one and have it malfunction, every single crate is horrible. We have 6 currently and they are all destroyed in one way or another. First off is the metal, it breaks so easily!! My dog broke off a metal bar up top, my sisters dog has ripped off multiple bars, one bar broke and pierced right through her paw pad, she ripped off another bar on the door and ripped one off the bottom. And the bottom part of the crate is horrible!! It looks sturdy but in reality it’s this incredibly flimsy plastic material that is easily ripped apart so now our dogs don’t have bottoms for their crates🤦🏻‍♀️ Our dogs are also no older than a year, 4 of them still being puppies with the youngest being 6 months and they managed too easily destroy these crates. Another issue we have is they do not stay up! They are collapsible crates and two of our puppies have learned how too collapse the back of the crate and escape so we’ve now had too tie them off. Overall these crates are horrible, highly dangerous and a complete waste of money.Justine Farnan

This cage came bent up like something heavy was sitting on it. Also the bottom lock on the cage looks stretched out. For $78 this cage seems extremely flimsy. I wish I would’ve went with a plastic crate instead. This was definitely not worth $78 . However customer service said the store will contact me tomorrow to deliver a non damaged cage and pick up this one. When someone is customer service gives their word, from my experience with walmart they do not follow through. Then when you call back the next person has no idea what you’re talking about and apologizes that you have misinformation. I hope they come tomorrow like I was advised. However I would return this cage for a crate instead. The quality sucks. I should’ve went to unleashed or petco or ordered from Amazon. Instead I was being cheap at Walmart so I guess this is my fault and you get what you pay for….sort of anyway….Tiffany

If you are needing to purchase a new dog crate, this is the brand and model I highly recommend. Midwest had several levels of crates but I have found that you cannot go wrong purchasing the Lifestage's model. They are solidly made and last forever. I always purchase the double door crates. They have cheaper models & more expensive ones too. I would not recommend their icrate as they are cheaper but they are also not had solidly made as the Lifestage's. Spend the extra $10-$15 and purchase the Life Stages model. It is well worth the money. I have had great success purchasing there crates at Petco.com. I always receive my items within a couple of days. It is also nice when you have a Petco store nearby where you live. If you have any issues with the merchandise you received, they have always been very accommodating and made sure they did whatever was necessary to correct the problem, return the merchandise at a full refund and/or replaced the item. I have been very happy with Petco and the merchandise I have purchased!!!Shari L

I just received this crate a couple of days ago for my Saint Bernard mix pup. The size is perfect and he has tons of room to grow in it. The doors latch nicely and the crate is very sturdy. We received this very fast! The only downfall I had with this purchase was that when we removed it from the box and set it up, there was a decent sized crack (all the way through) on the tray. I won't be replacing the tray as I've spent enough on this crate. And fortunately for me, my 5 month old pup doesn't have accidents in his crate, but I'm sure if others received this, they would not be happy.tsjackie

I had been looking at the end table style crates thinking that would look nicer and less bulky then the 4' x 4' X-pen I have in my living room. But, comfort is the main criteria and I wanted my Whippets to feel they could stand and dig through a deep pile of bedding, so I went with this crate. I like to rearrange the furniture so I bought the double door style to keep my options open. For my two Whippets I bought the 42" x 28" size which has been more then enough room for them to lay side by side or end to end. It arrives flat, but you just fold out the sides and it is ready to go. It came with a handle so it could be 'portable', but at this size it is heavy and I don't plan to take it anywhere, so I didn't attach that. I left the X-Pen up for them while they made the transition, but they hopped into the new crate the minute I put it up and haven't been back in the X-Pen (even though it still has more bedding in it). The black wire instantly looked better then the metal of the X-Pen and I'm staining a piece of wood I put trim molding around for the top (I had it cut to size at Home Depot) so I'll have an end table style look, but the height and comfort the pups want for their 'cave.' Very happy and buying a second one to have at the office for the days they come to work with me. Both crates and the wood top are costing less then the end table style crate, so all three of us are happy!psh1

Not quite what I expected based on the price. . . I was expecting more of a Trex like material based the price and description however, it is just a heaver plastic with a wood like graining to it. Overall pretty nice and I do like the metal rails. Assembly was very quick and easy (although probably would have been quicker not to try and decipher the directions) A vast upgrade from the ugly basic metal crate.Nick in FL

Great elegant crate that was super easy to assemble. Looks great perfect for our french bulldog but our cat also goes in it to sleep! Matches our home decor. So glad i went with this crate i would definitely recommend mend!Kasarah

We have tried many Kennels/Crates for our dog, she suffers from Anxiety and nothing has kept her as safe as this kennel. Any metal kennel, regardless of how indestructible it has advertised to be, we have come home to a scraped up bleeding dog that is out in the house and destroying things. She is a pitbull and she chews through anything. The kennels that are plastic with the metal grates on the side she chews on the door and breaks the metal on the sides and at this point has ruined her teeth. We have put her in the Ruff Land Performance kennel twice, once for two hours, great success and once for an entire day. She was calmer, and no blood or destruction to the crate. Wish I had seen this crate 9 years ago. Another feature we like is that it has a flat floor, rather than one that is either metal grating or has a few round circles protruding to allow stacking of kennels. We are amazed and so thankful to have this crate. I would recommend this crate to any dog owner. I can't say enough good about it.Diana B

We tried the reinforced wire crates with no success. If he could get out, he would. The next step was possibly getting those ultra reinforced crates that cost almost a thousand dollars and almost require financing. This has been the perfect compromise. It’s sturdy and durable. It obviously has a little weight to it, but it’s definitely manageable. Hands down if something happens to this crate that isn’t caused by our dog, I’ll buy it again and again.Jennahboo92

My chabrador (chow-labrador mix) has plenty of space to turn around and lay down in this kennel. He is kenneled while I'm working, and he easily goes to lay down when it's time for me to leave in the morning. At night and on the weekends, my rat terrier likes to claim this kennel as her own spot. Very sturdy and fairly light weight. Not too wide, so it's easy to find a place to make space for this kennel.Shane

Not quite what I expected based on the price. . . I was expecting more of a Trex like material based the price and description however, it is just a heaver plastic with a wood like graining to it. Overall pretty nice and I do like the metal rails. Assembly was very quick and easy (although probably would have been quicker not to try and decipher the directions) A vast upgrade from the ugly basic metal crate.Nick in FL

Great elegant crate that was super easy to assemble. Looks great perfect for our french bulldog but our cat also goes in it to sleep! Matches our home decor. So glad i went with this crate i would definitely recommend mend!Kasarah

Good quality heavy duty cage for my Doberman puppy. The chewed the wires off the regular cage. Only concern is the tray goes under the metal grate at the bottom of the cage. Not good at all. He got his foot pad/toe caught in it. Also his collar caught in it. I forced the tray to go into the cage on top of the grate. Problem solved. Need to have an option of where to put it. Would recommend with supervision of your dog. No collars on when grate is not covered. Good tough cage. Neighbor bought same fir her bull dog puppy same age as my dobie. She likes it also. If wasn’t for grate at bottom would be a 5FLORIDAMOMOF8

*The price was very reasonable and the size/construction was surprisingly sturdy. *As an added bonus, our cage has a side door that wasn't advertised. We almost didn't purchase this one since it appeared to only have the one door at the end. But our cage has a second door that swings out from the side panel. *We have always taken small (4" size) zip ties and secured the corners of our cages to provide added strength – in case dogs paw at the cage. I would still recommend zip ties although the cage seems to snap in place tightly. Of course, if you frequently fold down the cage, replacing zip ties can become cumbersome. *The plastic pan on the bottom is thinner than our last cage, but our dogs have not chewed or scratched at them previously, so this won't be a problem for us. *The carrying handle appears strong enough to lift the empty cage and will be useful. *Upper and lower slide latches are provided on each door. All latches have a rod bent at the end to help secure the latch. In the past, our dogs learned to shake the door until the latch slid over but this new design prevents the latch from sliding open.KYMom

I bought one of these and liked it so much that I just purchased another one. Both are the 42 inch size.I have 2 older 42 inch similar type kennels but they are a different brand and I paid a lot more for them. I think that the BestPet brand wire pet cage/crate/kennels are just as good as the more expensive ones that I have. In fact I was able to purchase two of the BestPet kennels for what I paid for one of the older kennels I have. I like the latches on the Best Pet kennels. They have a little "crook" on the end that prevents the latch from sliding open accidently. But it is easy for a human to open and close. I am an older woman and the kennels are easy for me to move around to the areas I desire to put them. They are sturdy, but easy to handle,and have the plastic slide out tray at the bottom for easy cleaning, I was unsure about this Brand at first because the price was so GOOD that I figured something had to be flawed with this kennel but I was very wrong. I do think it is a good idea to buy a couple of extra plastic trays or if you are crafty cut a piece of heavy duty plastic to have on hand when you change out a tray for cleaning. Plastic is just plastic so a heavy dog could cause damage to the tray .But the trays I got with my kennels are not flimsy at all. The kennel comes with a plastic handle that can be attached at the top. I live in a rural and at night the coyotes and other undesirable critters come out and I have had problems with Tom cats just mauling my young cats. So now I can put my kittens or young cats and puppies in kennels at night and I don't have to worry and fret about what is happening in the dark to them. Also, this will save me money in Vet bills. The cost of just one of the large kennels is about the cost of an office visit to the vet so I am very pleased to wake up each day and know that all of my "babies" are safe and happy. Included with the kennel is a wire divider that can be put in the kennel so you can keep pets separated from each other. I had one particular cat that had an injury that seemed to outsmart me and escape from any cage I tried to keep her in. She can't get out of this Best Pet kennel. I will buy a couple more of the 42 inch size kennels to have on hand because the price and quality is so great and I plan to buy a couple of the smaller wire ones to transport cats and pups to the vet in. I find the plastic cat carriers to be attractive but not so practical when you have a heavy cat or a "wild" cat or unhappy dog that needs an injection from the vet before it can be removed from the carrier to be tended to. These kennels come with a very fair 3 month Limited Warranty. (Send in the Warranty Card !!) Keep your receipt and KEEP THE BOX it came in if you need to return it for any reason.A customer service ph. number is provided. You can also order parts, etc., if needed.Elizabeth