Anyone use soft dog crates?

Just wondered if anyone has one and has an opinion on them, are they any good would you recommend them etc?

Thinking ahead to Crufts I think I'd rather have Isla in an enclosure of some kind. She's never been a fan of her metal crate and it's a nightmare to lugg around, so though I might try one of the "soft" versions. At least then if she doesn't like it, I can just stow it away.

She's perfectly happy being benched with a benching chain, but I just get the feeling people will have more of a tendency to pet her at Crufts, which I don't think she'd be too impressed about!

Plus it would be a long day, for both of us!

So post away your opinions people and thanks in advance!

you can buy 'fronts' for the benches, - although they are wire.

Ooh God no, she'd hate that!

Thanks for the suggestion though.

I have one sitting in my garage having only used it twice. Fudge felt more constrained in hers. I think it was the noise and the lower visibility. It is a mesh( a bit like a fly screen) rather than the grille of the metal crates. It is however lighter, easier to move and pops up and down in no time. I think it would depend on your dog as to how they would like it.

I have one I bought it for when we go camping as Len's crate is too big for my car even when folded, I have only used it once at a show and it was a godsend although I didn't leave them unattended in it.

£40 inc postage from ebay.

thats true mine seemed more calm in there than on the lead.

Thanks for the replies people.

Lovely pics hayleybella, that crate looks enormous!

I guess I'll have to have a good think about it, I think I thought that cos I liked the look of them Isla would like them too! But of course dogs don't think like that do they?!

We took one camping for Max and got one big enough to put him and Murphy in.

Much lighter and easier to manage than our metal one, and Max didn't seem to mind not being able to see out

Well I used one for almost two years then Fizz decided she wanted out and so out she came through the mesh

I have 1 for camping at agility shows, my 12 year old goes in it usually, but I have used it for my 9 year old and my 6 year old (I normally take their metal crates). I think unless they are used to a metal crate they would feel more constrained in. I wouldn't put a young dog or anything that chewed in them as my youngster chewed the zip on 1 when she was a puppy and she wasn't even shut in it at the time. I've also known a few dogs scratch at the front with their claws and break the fabric.