Review on Training Retreat 🏠 Wire Kennel for 2-Door Access by Sharon Weaver

I have a standard poodle puppy and as he grew I needed a bigger kennel. At first we had a small wire shack from Petmate, about 24 inches long, but it has outgrown it. I've shopped at pet stores to see what they have for full size dogs. First I came home with one of those pieces of plastic that broke in two. Although the maximum dimensions were quite large, I found that the space inside for the dog was reduced due to the beveled sides. And they are huge. I couldn't fit it into the space I had. I came back and chose this cattery for several reasons. 1. It fits in my space but has enough room for a dog. Because the sides are straight, floor space is maximized. Our pup is not fully grown yet but he should fit as well at 60 or 65 lbs 2. It folds up for travel and is much easier to get through doors and into the car. The metal feels solid and I wouldn't want to wear it too far. Even when disassembled, plastic containers are inconvenient to transport. 3. It has two doors so it works whether the long or short side is out and has a divider for when the pup is not potty trained. Didn't try it as our pup never messed up the kennel. 4. It is not suitable for shipping, but most of us will not need it. 5. It's a lot cheaper than pet stores and seems more substantial. The instructions state it is not for dogs that are not kennel trained and are trying to escape. A severely frightened dog may break into the kennel or injure itself in the panic. This is great for my pup who has taken root in the kennel very willingly. My son's dog hated his plastic kennel and his teeth hurt trying to chew through the metal bars on the door. Proper training and temperament are very important no matter what kennel you use. 6. Before putting the pet in the kennel, the collar must be removed. When our puppy was about 12 weeks old, she woke us up one night with her scream. I thought she caught herself in the kennel and hurt herself. In fact, her dog tags got stuck and she couldn't free herself. If we weren't there, she might have injured herself trying to free herself. That's why we always remove the collar before she enters the kennel. So far she's been enjoying her new "bed" and going to bed without a fuss.