$90 sounds absurd to me for a plastic kennel. Thats just me though. I happened to get all 4 of mine (a wire and plastic one for both dogs) from the rescue I managed for free with the dogs. Once each when I got each dog, and another when the rescue closed and was getting rid of everything.

You're welcome to it! (L, or XL, whichever we decide JD will be most comfy in)

Edited by Kelly Byrd (02/23/2011 11:01 PM)
Edit reason: sizes

Well, to buy an XL crate in a store up here, you're looking at well over $200... so if you find a used one in GOOD shape for $80 or $90, I would take, but that's just me... I don't have a abundance of crates, sadly.

 Quote: phaedra rieff

Well, to buy an XL crate in a store up here, you're looking at well over $200... so if you find a used one in GOOD shape for $80 or $90, I would take, but that's just me... I don't have a abundance of crates, sadly.

HOLY ****!!!!!!!!!!

Wow. I lucked out I guess. My XL (Was) in perfect condition(pre Koenig). The inside of the large is scratched, but perfectly functional. My wire crates are rusty, but nothing a bit of black spray paint wouldn't fix if I had the urge. Thanks for that insight Phaedra. I had NO IDEA they were that expensive! Once again, something else I'm eternally grateful to that rescue/farm for.

 Quote: Kelly Byrd

 Quote: phaedra rieff

Well, to buy an XL crate in a store up here, you're looking at well over $200... so if you find a used one in GOOD shape for $80 or $90, I would take, but that's just me... I don't have a abundance of crates, sadly.

HOLY ****!!!!!!!!!!

Wow. I lucked out I guess. My XL (Was) in perfect condition(pre Koenig). The inside of the large is scratched, but perfectly functional. My wire crates are rusty, but nothing a bit of black spray paint wouldn't fix if I had the urge. Thanks for that insight Phaedra. I had NO IDEA they were that expensive! Once again, something else I'm eternally grateful to that rescue/farm for.

Phaedra,

Yep, the XL Veri Kennels here are $200+, too. That's why I jumped on this one. I haven't heard back yet, so I may email them again just in case something happened with the first one.

You are lucky, Kel. These kennels aren't cheap. I have time, though, since the course isn't until Sept.

I have a Toyota Sequioa, and I love the crate I have. I have a wt-metall Autobox. It is a two dog setup with a removable divider to create one big crate.

@Dana - if you decide you want a plastic crate, and you have time to get one, look at ordering it online. Many times you can get them cheaper, even with shipping. Also try putting a wanted ad out there on CraigsList, and hitting the local second hand/goodwill type stores. Many times you can find used crates for a fraction of what a new one costs. I'm also not sure which size you are looking at, but for most Malinois a "400" is fine. Some of the manufacturer's have changed their sizing numbers, I just bought what I call a 400 and it said 600 or 700 on the label, but it's 27 inches tall. 97.00 plus tax at PetCo. 89.00 if I'd got to a different PetCo, a friend had just bought one the week before. Also, if your dog isn't into busting out of crates, WalMart has a cheaper line of crates. Cheaper in make (lighter weight plastic and the doors are also less sturdy) but also quite a bit cheaper in price, a big crate is around 60 or 70.00 Works fine for dogs who don't try to bust out.

@Kelly - what type of door do you have on the crate your escape artist is getting out of? I've had a few Mali's like that, and most of them were contained by getting a different style of door. I don't know if they are making them for the new domed vari-kennels, but the old flat topped ones have a door you can order that is like the one that comes standard on the 700 crates. With wire parts that go not just up and down, but also side to side when you turn the wheel to open/close the door. I've ordered a number of them over the years, they are around 20-25 and the only way I've had a dog get that door open is if they actually broke the plastic of the crate. For the dog that did that, I just reinforced that area with a piece of metal. I'm not sure if I have that crate anymore, I think I used it to ship a dog and the crate was never sent back to me, but if I do and you are interested I can take a photo of how I did it.

Thanks Kadi!!!!

Is http://www.petmate.com/vaulted-kennel-door-extra-large the door you are talking about? Our crate is the VariKennel Ultra, XL. Koenig has simply rammed himself into it so many times the door is bulged and bent.

Great idea, I never though about looking into a different style door. Thank you!

That's very similar to what I'm talking about, looks like it's the door for the newer style crates with the domed top.

This is what I have for my older style flat topped crates.
http://www.petmate.com/vaulted-kennel-door-giant

Thanks for the ideas about where to look for a kennel. The really great news is that Lynne Peck has a VariKennel that she's very generously giving me for just the price to UPS it to me!!! How great is that?? Lynne really is the best

I doubt that JD will be the type to try and bust out of a kennel, but the only one he's ever been in is a wire crate so I'll have to see how he does in this one. Fortunately I have until Sept. to get him used to being in it.

Thanks again for the tips that I'll keep around just in case (like JD decides he really doesn't like the kennel idea and decides to bust out and destroy it!)

PetEdge is always worth a check!

Not everything they sell is the most amazing quality, but its cheap and it works. I got a large wire crate there on sale for $60, brand new. That's over $100 off what I would have paid anywhere else for the same exact crate.

Its the catalog that a lot of groomers and vets use, you will see a lot of the stuff they sell marked up substantialy other places.

The warehouse store is in MA, but anybody who wants to can order from their website or catalog.

I know you have your crate issue settled, but if you need anything like that in the future they are worth a try.