It’s very important for your Whippet to be crate trained, but what kind of crate is best? Some of the most popular dog crates on the market today come at a very steep price point. Are they worth the hype? Let’s take a look at the top contenders (price ranges are for Whippet size options of Intermediate – XL) and see how they stack up!
Brand: Impact Dog Crate
Price Point: $1000 – $3000 USD
Pros: Comes in several versions (high anxiety, collapsible, standard), nice aesthetic and range of color options.
Cons: Pricey and has not shown to always hold up well in some car accidents, low visibility does not allow you to see your Whippet inside.
Brand: Gunner Kennels
Price Point: $700 – $900 USD
Pros: Crash tested and extremely well-built, comes with a lock for even more security. Good range of color choices.
Cons: Pricey and low visibility does not allow you to see your Whippet inside.
Brand: Dakota Kennels
Price Point: $409 – $629 USD
Pros: Extremely well-built, several styles available, also comes with a lock for even more security, good range of color choices.
Cons: Semi-expensive price point, low visibility does not allow you to see your Whippet inside.
Brand: Diggs Dog Crate
Price Point: $595 – $675 USD
Pros: Nice aesthetic to fit into your home decor, allows for full visibility to see your Whippet inside.
Cons: Quite heavy and bulky for the intermediate size, pricey for a home crate as it cannot also be used as a travel crate.
Brand: Ruffland Performance Kennels
Price Point: $279 – $415 USD
Pros: Very fair price point, well-built and has great reviews for holding up in a car accident, good variety of color choices, has one and two door options.
Cons: Works best with a custom fitted pad (extra cost and must from Ruffland website), some anxious dogs will chew on the plastic door, low visibility does not allow you to see your Whippet inside.
Depending on your budget, we prefer either the Ruffland, Dakota, or Gunner kennels for optimal safety when traveling. All these options can also work to keep your Whippet safely crated at home. For more cost effective choices, the tried and true basic wire crates (for the home) and the classic Sky Kennel crate (airline approved for travel) will get the job done adequately.
Tip: Sometimes you can find pricey second-hand crates for sale on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, and Offerup. There is now a “dupe” version of the Impact Dog Crate by K9 Kennel Boss.
What is your favorite Whippet crate and would you add any other brand to this list?
Note: This is not a paid post.