The 5 Best Heavy Duty Dog Crates in 2019

If you frequently take your dog in the car or like to travel with him wherever you go, a dog crate is the first thing you want to purchase after your new pup. A dog crate normally becomes a sacred spot for most dogs, it’s the place where they’ll spend a fair amount of time after all.

For this reason, a heavy duty dog crate should be spacious enough for them to get comfortable in, be strong enough to keep your furry friend safe from injury and be inviting enough for them to jump right on in.

By far the most important consideration when buying a dog crate is the size. Never, ever put your dog in a crate which is too small for them because it’s just about the cruelest thing you can do. Keep it spacious, clean and put their most favorite toys in there too.

That way wherever you go with your pooch, he’ll be safe, secure and happy.

Why Heavy Duty?

This is a great question and one that’s a one-brainer once you realize what a dog crate has to put up with on a daily basis.

• Travel tends to put lots of stress on items. That’s why suitcases, travel bags and roof racks are built so strongly, they need to put up with a lot of abuse.
• Your crate not only keeps your dog inside; it also protects him from the outside world too. When traveling your crate needs to be able to take the occasional knock, bump and scrape without falling apart.
• Airlines or Ferries require a quality crate. If you’re taking your dog on board a flight or ferry, the operator will always require your dog crate to be safe, secure and strong. Taking a flimsy device with you is always a fast track to being denied boarding, not good for anyone!

What Are the Best Ones On the Market Right Now?

We’ve scoured the internet searching for heavy duty dog crates that are not only strong, safe and secure, but reasonably priced too. All these crates we’ve found are also available on Amazon for immediate delivery.

The Top 4 Heavy Duty Dog Kennels

Proselect Empire Dog Cages – The Bulletproof and Safe Option

If you want something just a little safer and more secure for your dog, then the Proselect Empire cage should be all that you need. They make the pretty outrageous claim that the Proselect Empire is virtually indestructible and should be able to protect your dog from almost anything!

The ProSelect Empire dog crates are considered by many dog owners to be the strongest dog crates on the market, perfect for those dogs whose escape strategies consist of brute force attacks on their confines. This is a strong crate, built tough to contain even the strongest, most powerful breeds of dogs.

When first inspecting the crate, we couldn’t help but be impressed with the quality of the welding, locks, and hinges; all more than up to the title of “indestructible and bulletproof”.

This cage uses very strong 20-gauge steel and reinforced ½ diameter tubing to make up the inserts. All you need to know is that this cage is outrageously strong! Although not made of stainless steel, the metal is well coated with a rust preserving and should last more than long enough. The door is secured with not one, but two solid sliding latches to keep even the most determined dog from breaking out.

I tested this crate at home. We did have the option of taking the crate on a plane from Heathrow to JFK earlier this month but because of the weight (This crate comes in at a whopping 76 pounds), we felt it wasn’t a good candidate for travel.

Still, that extra weight can easily be seen in the construction and could be the perfect choice for more boisterous breeds like Border Collies. During the few weeks I had it, the crate stood up to any punishment we could throw at it.

Cleaning is easy due to a steel tray situated under the floor grate. Simply slide the tray out, dump the contents, and spray with the hose. While this cage is heavy, maneuvering is made a lot easier due to four removable caster wheels situated on the underside of each corner, making it a snap to roll the cage outside to make cleaning even more convenient.

As this cage is manufactured from coated mild steel, I’d recommend keeping it indoors and away from the rain. However, the steel used is of superb quality so it should provide long-term usage for many, many years.

There are absolutely no sharp corners on this crate (As with all the crates we tested) and my own dog was more than happy to be crated for hours at a time. The casters serve a dual purpose against crafty dogs who think scratching at your floor might be a good idea while they are contained. As the bottom of the cage is raised to the height of the casters your floor is not in any danger of being damaged, so you are able to position the cage in any room of the house without any worries..

Product Conclusion

The price is slightly higher than the Cruising Companion, although if your dog is strong and boisterous, then it’s probably a no-brainer to choose this one – it’s just so strong and up to the task. There are two sizes available in this range – a 42” and a 37” and both are very easy to assemble. 

OUR RATING:

Stackable Open Top Heavy Duty Cage

The Stackable Open Top Heavy Duty Cage is a very useful crate for your home or a big car.

It’s been manufactured from metal with anti-rust finishing, which means it won’t afraid rain and should provide ample protection for your dog from the outside world. There are plenty of ventilation and drainage ducts at the bottom to keep your dog cool and dry.

We found the Stackable Open Top Heavy Duty Cage easy to assemble. We were impressed with the strong construction and the heavy duty locks . Plastic floor grid may be not suitable for agressive dogs with brute force strategies of escaping, but for others it will be more comfortable and safer environment in this cage than in other options with metal floor.

Tray are made from ABS plastic, it can’t rust, lightweight and easy to clean. Small feeding door is a great options to feed your cunning canine, who can run away if you open the main door.

Product Conclusion

Overall, we were impressed with the quality of materials and intelligent design. Using of plastic does your pet environment better and your life easier when the cage need cleaning.

OUR RATING:

LUCKUP Heavy Duty Dog Cage – With Four Wheels

This crate divided opinion amongst our testers. For many, wheeled crates are easy to move about the home, whilst our more well-travelled friends hate the wheels and prefer an easily stackable crate that won’t cause airport or ferry terminal staff too much trouble.

Personally, I believe that wheeled crates are an “at home” solution and shouldn’t really be thought of as a travel companion unless wheels are a pre-requisite for travel. (As with some ferry terminals and providers)

I tested this with my own dog at home and found it to be easy to use and move around. The front lock is strong, although I rarely use it because my dog is quite well trained and “goes crate” without too much fuss and bother.

The cage is made from high-grade steel, not stainless but does come with a strong coating that should last the test of time. If you crate your dog outside, you’ll probably prefer to purchase a stainless steel version to be doubly safe.

For those of you who will need to stop your little terror from escaping, you can fit additional small padlocks to the doors which should be all that you need to keep your dog safe. This crate has three doors actually: the front door, the top door, and the small door incorporated into the front door. The latter one is a very convenient feature that allows the pet owner to feed or water the dog inside the crate without opening the entire front door thus giving the animal a chance to escape.

Overall, I thought this crate was a perfect budget choice with enough heavy duty credentials to keep any pooch safe. Obviously, some savings have been made in the manufacture, such as using non-stainless steel but the overall construction is more than enough.

Product Conclusion

At below $300, the LUCKUP crate is brilliant value and I couldn’t recommend it enough for use in the home, or any situation where a wheeled crate could be an option.

OUR RATING:

SMONTER Heavy Duty Dog Crate Strong Metal

This crate is manufactured from high-grade steel with a large door and two locks. It also features 2 plastic trays, which easy to clean and remove.

Ventilation is well taken care of on all sides and as with all good quality dog crates, drainage is located on the underneath.

Metal frame of this crate are made from thick steel with multi-layer hammer-tone coating, which defense metal from scratching, corrosion, scuffs and perfect for indoor and outdoor use. Safe and non hazardous for your dog, when him lick and bite it.

Made from reinforced steel, prevent the most aggresive dogs from escaping. Sturdy metal frame provides good ventilating and visibility for your canine. Suitable for medium and large dogs with a large space inside. Locks suitable for the most cunning dogs with patented lock system with the safety buckles

Product Conclusion

For this price, we think this crate is a good choice for your big canine, who needs a lot of space. With rotating wheels it’s easy to move and lock wheels when it necessary.

OUR RATING: