Best Escape Proof Dog Crate

If your dog is a dedicated escape artist, then leaving them home alone can become a bit of a nightmare. While some dogs might mostly behave while they have free run of the house, others can be destructive or put themselves in danger by trying to escape the home or ingesting dangerous household items such as plastic or cleaners. Keeping your pet safe while you’re at work or otherwise out of the house is a very important part of being a pet owner. If you frequently come home to your dog roaming free, then this article will help you find the perfect crate for your pet.

What makes a crate escape-proof?

This is a common question that anyone who has adopted a new canine companion just to find that they break out of their crate. The factors that make a crate escape-proof generally depend on a dog’s strength and how they prefer to escape. Some dogs in plastic crates will attack the plastic rim around the door, others might chew on plastic ventilation holes. Some dogs will push out grates if a crate has ventilation grates in a different material. In wire crates, many dogs chew on the bars to weaken them, either by finding faulty welds or causing rust that weakens the crate structure.

For the worst escape artists or dogs with serious issues like anxiety or destructive tendencies, you need a heavy-duty crate that can handle whatever your dog throws at it while you try to address the underlying issues behind your furry friend’s behavior. The most well-reviewed options are made of heavy steel, though the dog’s preferences when it comes to crates will change how your pet reacts in any particular crate.

What to look out for when buying an escape-proof dog crate?

As such, these are the points that must be considered when picking a crate for your furry Houdini. Leaving a camera to record your dog can be very helpful to determine how they prefer to try to escape. Many dogs, particularly intelligent breeds like border collies will try multiple methods of escape, so it’s important to understand what they will try. If you’re not sure or can’t afford to do so, then just cover everything to be safe.

How do I get my dog to stop escaping the crate?

The answer to this heavily depends on why the dog is escaping. Is your dog properly crate trained? Did you try to force them to go in it too quickly and made them fearful of the crate? Are they a rescue with an unknown past? Do they have storm anxiety? Most of these can be fixed with patient training. Some dogs might just dislike the type of crate. In this case, you need to try a different type of crate. Some dogs hate having low visibility and prefer wire. Others like feeling like they’re enclosed in a den and prefer dark crates.

However, some dogs are escaping because of medical issues or because of separation anxiety. Both of these require a visit to the vet to make a treatment plan. In the meantime, this list has a good list of crates for dogs with separation anxiety. With all this in mind, let’s move on to the reviews.

Guardian Gear ProSelect Empire Dog Cage

Best Indoor Escape-Proof Dog Crate

Things to Watch For

Some customers have reported broken welds. Others have noted that their dog can access the latches and the tray on the bottom. There have been reports of dents on the tray. A few users have noted screw holes not lining up properly. Most customers also recommend a lock for the latch since a smart dog can easily figure out how to access the latch and open it. Several customers reported the hinges having poor welds that resulted in the hinges popping off. The attachment for the casters is also noted as having the same issue with welding.

Pros

• Heavy-duty steel construction
• Two sizes
• Removable, lockable casters for easier movement
• Well-reviewed

Cons

• Wheels can shear off
• Hinges can have welding issues
• Latches are accessible to the dog

LUCKUP Heavy Duty Dog Cage

Best Escape-Proof Outdoor Crate

The LUCKUp Heavy Duty Dog Crate is another heavy steel cage. It comes with lockable wheels and multiple door latches. The top opens as well, allowing more options to access your dog. It has a rust-resistant coating, meaning it can be used outdoors as well. It has a removable tray for easy cleaning. The bars are spaced at 2-inch intervals, which can help keep large dogs from accessing the latches or anything in their vicinity. As some dogs will drag in items to destroy while they are attempting to escape, this can be very helpful. If your dog is large and ingests items when distressed, this crate could be a good option for you. It comes in 4 styles, 2 of these are sizes, the others are an upgrade to the 42-inch size, and the other has a house shape which gives extra vertical room. This cage is well-reviewed by people with dogs that have separation anxiety as well as dogs that were so destructive when loose that they were nearly rehomed. Many people state that the sturdiness of this crate seems to calm down dogs that were otherwise anxious while in a crate. It is very heavy as a steel cage, so it isn’t the best option if you need to move it regularly. It’s cheaper than many other steel crates.

Things to Watch For

Pros

• Price is lower than many other steel crates
• Rust-resistant
• Extra doors for easier access to your dog
• Wheels for transport
• Removable tray for easy cleaning

Cons

• Quality issues with welding
• Locks and hinges can be broken off by strong dogs
• The slatted floor can catch a dog’s paws if not covered
• The top door isn’t as secure
• Hollow bars could be damaged by a dog with a strong bite

MidWest Homes for Pets Dog Crate | iCrate Single Door & Double Door Folding Metal Dog Crates

Best Wire Dog Crate

If your dog isn’t rough enough to justify a heavy steel crate, or you want one you could use for travel in your car or contain your dog while visiting, this MidWest Homes for Pets crate could be your solution. It comes in multiple sizes with dividers, making it a great crate for growing puppies since you can section it off to make it the proper size. It has a tray and roller feet to help prevent floor damage as well as a handle to help move the crate around. It assembles without tools and folds flat for easy storage or transport. As a wire crate, it gives excellent visibility, which is perfect for dogs that get anxious when they can’t see their surroundings. It’s noted for being very roomy, and 72% of the over 20,000 reviews recommend it highly.

Issues to Watch For

Strong dogs can bend the crate or break out. The top can be bent enough for a dog to attempt to escape that way. People have noted their dog getting their head stuck while attempting to escape, which is very dangerous for an unsupervised dog. There have also been reports of the bars being sharp and causing cuts to the owner. The latch is also straight which means many dogs can work it open. The wires are also noted as being flimsy compared to some other wire crates on the market. People have also noted their dog getting their jaws stuck when they try to chew it, which is another dangerous situation.

Pros

• Comes with divider
• Tray for easy cleanup
• Folds flat for storage
• Good for dogs who need to see their surroundings

Cons

• Cheap construction means sharp edges that can cut people and pets
• Thin wires can be bent easily
• Latches are straight so they can be rocked open

Sliverylake Dog Cage Crate Kennel – Heavy Duty Double Door Pet Cage w/Metal Tray

Best Large Metal Crate

The Sliverylake Dog Cage is another heavy-duty steel crate for your determined canine Houdini. It’s made entirely of square-bar steel, which means it is more resistant to dogs with strong bites. It has two doors, one on top and one on the front. Both the grate floor and steel tray slide out for easy cleanup. It comes with wheels (two of which are lockable) to make moving the crate easier. The bars are spaced more closely than many other models to ensure it is more resistant to chewing. It comes in 3 sizes, covering most dog breeds. It’s one of the cheaper steel crate options available.

Things to Watch For

The locks are a noted weak point, particularly on the top door. The tray isn’t secured, so dogs can push it out. Repeat customers have noted that the quality has gone down, resulting in a weaker cage with design issues. Some dogs have managed to break the bars and escape that way. The floor is also grating, so something needs to be put in for comfort and to keep paws from getting stuck. The latches are also sharp, so dogs that do manage to escape have cut themselves on them. There have been reports of the screws for the latches not being flush, which leads to the latch getting stuck and trapping the dog inside. Many dogs have also managed to bend the bars, leading to escapes. The welds on the grate can also fail over time, leading to dangerous gaps.

Pros

• Heavy steel construction
• Lockable wheels
• Two doors
• Removable steel tray and grate for easy cleanup
• 3 sizes to cover more breeds

Cons

• Locks are flimsy
• Construction issues like screws that aren’t flush
• The tray can be pushed out to allow the dog to access the flooring under the crate
• Welds fail over time leading to dangerous gaps

SMONTER Heavy Duty Dog Crate Strong Metal Pet Kennel Playpen with Two Prevent Escape Lock, Large Dogs Cage with Wheels

The SMONTER Heavy Duty Dog Crate is a steel crate meant for dedicated escape artists. It comes in 4 sizes with multiple color options to fit more tastes. It’s corrosion-resistant, so it’s suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. The coating is non-toxic, so it won’t be an issue with chewers. It includes lockable wheels for ease of movement. There are also two doors and it comes with a removable plastic tray for easy cleanup. The crate is also shipped partly assembled, so it can be used more quickly.

Things to Watch For

Pros

• Steel construction
• Anti-corrosion coating
• Lockable Wheels
• 4 sizes and multiple colors
• Ships partly assembled
• Lower cost than many steel crates on the market

Cons

• Bars are tubes, so they might not stand up dogs with strong jaws
• Quality issues like loose bolts and weak hinge welds
• Bars are spaced far enough apart that dogs can stick snouts or paws out
• Latches are a design that needs separate clips to hold them closed

New Age Pet ecoFlex Pet Crate/End Table

Best Looking Dog Crate

The New Age Pet ecoFlex Pet Crate/End Table is the perfect option if you’re looking for a crate that doesn’t stick out from your decor. It comes in multiple sizes to fit many breeds of dogs, and in 4 colors to match your other furniture. It’s made of a plastic/wood polymer that is resistant to splitting, cracking, and warping. The largest sizes include two latches, with the smaller options just having one. The latches and tubing are made of stainless steel, so they won’t rust or corrode even if chewed. It needs no tools to assemble and all the materials are non-toxic. It’s easy to clean thanks to the materials used to make it.

Things to Watch For

Pros

• Made of a plastic/wood composite for easy cleanup
• Blends in with most furniture styles
• Multiple sizes and colors
• Needs to tools to assemble
• Metal is stainless steel to avoid corrosion

Cons

• Can’t stand up to chewing
• Frequently ships with damage
• Hardware is plastic that can work itself loose
• Not the sturdiest since it is ultimately plastic