Hi Kimberly, Leerburg doesn't sell wire cages. They have one aluminum crate, more than I need. I looked before I bought the one I have at home. I didn't want to use the one I have at home in the SUV, it's kind of cumbersome and heavy, very rectangular. It seems a plastic crate in the car versus metal would work better, a bit less heavy to lift in and out. I had thought of using it, just didn't want to hassle with it. But thanks for the input!

Personally I have a plastic crate at home and find them a pain to travel with. Just the whole procedure of taking them apart and the possibility of losing pieces. If I had an SUV I would just leave a wire crate in the back of it because of the reasons I mentioned before, but also because it can be folded down easily and left in the vehicle, but I wouldn't want to have to move it around from place to place.

Truth be told, I'd rather have no crate in the SUV at all, not just cause they're so big, but I don't think any of them, except the one Ed sells (not sure) would stand up to a crash, especially getting hit from behind since it would be in the back of the SUV. The thought of my dog being crushed back there, well, can't handle that. Right now I put my 3 mo old pup in a travel harness that ties to the middle seat belt in the back seat. That is my preferred method of travel with a dog. Seems safer cause of the distance between the rear of the vehicle and the rear seat in case of a rear-end collision. But want a crate for the trip (9 days) most especially to have a place for him to nap and sleep at night when we're in a motel or at my friend's house. And hopefully I'll be doing a little more car traveling as time goes by so the crate will be handy then as well. The pup is in process of getting used to riding in the car, and hope he'll be used to it by the time we leave in November. The crate may help him be calmer (or it may have the opposite effect!), won't know till I get it and try it out before the trip.

For THAT situation, a plastic travel crate is ideal because you can uncouple the peices stick them in each other and pack stuff in the crates.

I do not like my dogs all they way back and my homeade crates are right behind the drivers seat and held to anchor points in the vehicle with ratchting tie downs.

My set up is permenant (so much so that the rear seat is long gone and been replaced by a bolted down wooden platform that goes all the way back) and I think sealt belts probably are safest for dogs but I cannot leave them for hours in the car strapped in, hence the crates.

I like the idea of packing stuff in the 2 halves of the crate. I'll probably have to give the pup something to calm him down for the long trip if he's not happy in either the harness or crate for long periods. Won't have a chance to test him on long distances to see when he starts whining, howling, and barking.

To some degree the function of your dog is the real issue. If all you want to do is to transport the dog safely measure your dog and continue to add larger crates as the dog grows. If your dog has a protection function (and is properly trained) add a device that will prevent the dog from hitting you in a fast stop situation. My personal protection dog lays on my back seat untill he is told to either exit the car or is in a position that he needs to defend either via a command or a situation. A crated dog in a car will not be able to assist you in a dangerious situation.

That being said, I transsport most of my dogs to the vet ect in a straped down crate.

Great point Chris, definitely agree. Protection training my GSD is going to be the goal. Very sad story I heard a year or so back; police dog in the back of the K9 squad car saw his handler being killed by a thug, couldn't get out to help him cause all windows were rolled up. The dog was going nuts in the back of the car trying to get out. Very sad.