Submitted by: Esm e La Fleur

Choosing the best type of crate for your dog depends on the purpose for which you intend to use it. When I first brought my German Shepherd Dog Sasha home to live with me as an 10 week old puppy, I started with a wire dog crate. I had three primary objectives at the time: first, I wanted to potty train him in the simplest manner possible; second, I wanted to keep him safe and out of harms way during the times I could not give him my full attention; and third, I wanted to prevent him from damaging or destroying furniture, carpeting, drapes, shoes, and other belongings in our home.

The crate that was the best match for all of these needs in one package was made from wire and came with a divider panel. The divider panel allowed me to buy a crate large enough to accommodate Sasha when he was full-grown, but it also gave me the ability to reduce the space in the crate that would be available to him while he was small. The divider panel also gave me the ability to slowly expand the space available to him as he grew, giving him just enough space to move around but not so much that he was inclined to go potty inside the crate itself.

Dogs are inherently very clean animals. By nature, they do not like to soil themselves, and will do almost anything to avoid that from happening. If you put a small puppy inside a large crate, they have the option of going potty in one corner of the crate and keeping themselves from being contaminated by the results. Having a wire crate with an adjustable divider panel was the perfect solution for helping me to teach Sasha to relieve himself outside. If a puppy does not have enough room inside the crate to go potty and remain clean, he or she is far less likely to have an accident in the crate.

This arrangement will encourage your puppy to let you know when they need to go potty, so you can take them outside. It will also reduce the number of messes you have to clean up. This method and approach worked brilliantly with Sasha. He never once relieved himself in his crate. When he had to go potty, he let me know — in no uncertain terms — that he needed to go outside. But, I had to keep him in his crate, whenever I could not watch him like a hawk. A puppy s bladder is extremely tiny and cannot hold much urine. Sasha had to urinate about every 45 minutes, like clockwork, for the first few weeks that I had him.

As he grew, and his bladder got stronger, Sasha could go longer and longer periods before needing to relieve himself. But if I was unable to keep a close eye on him, I had to keep him in his crate or there was a high probability that I would find a puddle somewhere or other. After playing for a certain amount of time, Sasha would need to go potty also. So, even when I was watching him, I had to stay on my toes and be ready to get him outside quickly at the first indication that he needed to pee.

This wire dog crate worked just as well for keeping Sasha safe and out of trouble. Puppies will chew just about anything they can get their teeth on, from your sofa to the electrical cords that run your computer. Nothing is immune to a puppy s curiosity and natural propensity to explore the world through his or her mouth. If you want to keep your home intact, and prevent your puppy from hurting him or herself, a crate is absolutely essential in my experience. It is really quite amazing just how much damage can be accomplished by a puppy in a stunningly short period of time.

I remember one day I was cooking in the kitchen while I was taking care of Sasha s younger brother Blitz, who was then about 6 months old. I was keeping my eye on him but, as it turned out, I was not watching him closely enough. I had my back to him for about 2 minutes. In that time, he managed to drag a 1 gallon plastic container of canola oil, that I was using to keep the pantry door open, into my living room, chew the cap off, and allow the contents to drain right onto the middle of the carpeting. I honestly could not believe he did that but, by the time I caught him, it was too late and there was nothing I could do but laugh at the absurdity of it all. So much for that carpet! A very expensive lesson learned.

So, in summary, wire crates are probably the best dog crate to choose when you have a new puppy that needs to be potty trained. It also serves to protect your home from your puppy s strong proclivity to chew anything and everything in sight, while simultaneously preventing him or her from accidental harm when left unsupervised. For example, if your puppy decided to chew through the electric cords of your entertainment center, he or she could easily be electrocuted in the process. There is also a high probability that your puppy could swallow something dangerous when you are not watching, which could turn into a very expensive veterinary bill or even a life threatening event.

The other neat thing about wire dog crates is that they fold down compactly and take up very little storage space when not in use. They can also be easily stowed away in a trunk or roof rack cargo carrier during a road trip, and then quickly popped open once you arrive at your desired destination. Depending on the size of your pup and the size of your vehicle, this type of crate can also be used to contain your furry friend in your vehicle during the trip.

However, while many people use wire dog crates to contain their dogs while traveling in a vehicle, I personally prefer to use a plastic dog crate for this purpose with Sasha. In part 2 of this article, I will explore the unique advantages of plastic dog crates, and why I believe they are a superior choice when traveling with your dog.

About the Author: Esm e La Fleur has always been passionate about animals, especially dogs. In addition to sharing her life with her German Shepherd Dog Sasha, she currently helps run a website where they sell a wide variety of dog crates in many different sizes and styles. To learn more about dog crates and how they can make your life with your dog safer and easier, please visit

QualityDogCrates.com

and browse their broad selection of wire, wood, and plastic dog crates today!

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