Do you have a furry escape artist who you struggle to outsmart?
Some dog breeds have earned reputations for being expert escape artists such as Siberian Huskies and Shiba Inu.
I’ve got two Alaskan Klee Kai who don’t need a lot of encouragement to break free from their crate or their pen.
So I’ve spent some time researching the best heavy duty dog crates for escape artists to keep my Klee Kai safe.
There’s a big range of options available to buy online or at your local pet store. So how do you know what’s the best crate for you and your dog?
In this article, we’re going to take a look at the best heavy duty dog crates for escape artists.
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What Makes A Good Dog Crate For Escape Artist
So you’re thinking about getting a dog crate to keep your escape artist contained and safe whether that’s in your home or on the road.
There are a number of factors that we believe you should consider before you decide to open your wallet and spend money on a dog crate for an escape artist.
Like I mentioned in the introduction, I’ve got two Houdini-like dogs who always amaze me with their ability to escape dog crates or dog pens.
• Sturdy Construction: Whether you’ve got a Rottweiler or a Spaniel, you’ll want a high-quality dog crate that is made from heavy duty metal or reinforced plastic. It needs to be able to withstand the force of your dog should they try to find the weak points in the crate. It should be durable and resistant to bending or breaking.
• Escape-Proof Design: If a crate has been designed to house escape artists, you’ll want peace of mind that the crate has an escape-proof design. This includes a secure locking mechanism with multiple latches and high quality materials.
• Chew-Resistant Features: Dogs like Siberian Huskies have a reputation for being devastating chewers who can easily destroy furniture or plastic that’s not reinforced. We only considered dog crates that have chew-resistant features to withstand persistent chewing. Features such as reinforced corners, rounded edges, or heavy-gauge wire can help.
• Proper Sizing: As is the case with any dog crate whether it’s for an escape artist or a dog with separation anxiety, dog owners should make sure the crate is the appropriate size. For example, your canine companion should be able to stand up, turn around, and lie down comfortably, but not so spacious that it allows for leverage or excessive movement that facilitates escape attempts.
• Solid Flooring: Our furry friends with a penchant for escaping will need to be housed in a crate that has a solid and sturdy floor. It’s probably a good idea to avoid crates with mesh or wire flooring because these are likely to be less secure.
• Visibility and Ventilation: While you want to keep your dog safe and secure, it’s important that it has adequate visibility and ventilation for your dog’s comfort. We only considered crates that had a design where dogs can’t squeeze through gaps in the bars or mesh but allow proper airflow and visibility.
• Professional-Grade Crates: During my research into dog crates for escape artists, I found some manufacturers who produce crates specifically designed for escape artists or dogs with a tendency to break out. They’ll often incorporate reinforced panels, extra-strong locks, and heavy-duty construction.
Best Heavy Duty Dog Crates For Escape Artists 2023
Now that we’ve taken a look at some of the factors to consider when looking for a dog crate, let’s highlight some of the best heavy duty dog crates for escape artists.
1) Impact High Anxiety Dog Crate
Where To Buy: impactdogcrates.com
German Shepherd sit next to Impact’s High Anxiety Dog Crate (Photo: Impact Crates)
We’re starting the breakdown of the best dog crates for escape artists with Impact’s High Anxiety Crate. Frankly, we consider it to be the best in class. This crate has been designed with escape artists in mind. Impact explain on their website that the High Anxiety crate has been thoughtfully engineered to protect and outsmart pets who suffer from severe separation anxiety. The High Anxiety crate has a welded structure and is constructed using 62% thicker aluminum alloy. The reinforced material is able to withstand even the most destructive of dogs thanks to the unparalleled structural integrity of the crate. It has excellent security with four additional butterfly latches to provide maximum strength and security. The crate has cleverly designed ventilation rounded circle holes to provide ample ventilation and ensure big chewers can’t get their teeth stuck into the crate. Impact are so confident that their High Anxiety crate is a match for escape artists that they’ve got a 10-year Dog Damage warranty on this specific crate – if your dog damages a part of the crate causing a malfunction or compromising the safety of your dog and the crate, those parts (or the crate) will be replaced for free. The High Anxiety crate does carry a big price tag – the smallest size starts at $999 and the largest costs $1699.
You can get 15% off your Impact Dog Crates order when you use our exclusive discount HELLOBARK at the checkout. To get this 15% discount on your Impact Dog Crate, click here.
2) Revol
Where To Buy: diggs.pet
The Revol crate by Diggs (Photo: hellobark.com)
Next up we’ve got the Revol which has been created by pet product company Diggs. Now it differs from the High Anxiety crate because the Revol hasn’t been designed with escape artists in mind. However, I’ve got this crate in my home and I’m confident about its ability to thwart our Houdini-like pets. Diggs reveal on their website that the Revol’s design was inspired by baby industry quality standards, incorporates premium materials and ergonomic, easy-to-use doors. The Revol has a aluminum frame made of non-toxic, premium materials. Putting it together, it’s clear this product is made from high quality materials that will stand the test of time. Unlike the High Anxiety crate, the Revol has a wire mesh design. It’s diamond shape ensures your dog can’t stick their snout through the gaps and protects their jaws and teeth. While you may be familiar with wired crates that you can buy on Amazon, the Revol is on another level with the heavy duty materials used to crate this safe space for your escape artist. The Revol has a more competitive price point. The smallest crate starts at $375 and the large crate will set you back $675.
We can offer helloBARK! readers 11% off their first Diggs order when you click this link.
We also have a limited time offer for our readers. You can get 15% off Charcoal and Grey Revol in sizes S and M with code EXTRA15. To avail of this offer, click this link.
3) SMONTER Heavy Duty Dog Crates
Where To Buy: amazon.com
SMONTER Heavy Duty Dog Crate (Photo: Amazon)
I’ve got two escape artists and I’d consider the High Anxiety or Revol crater ahead of a dog crate purchased on Amazon. Having said that, I wanted to share an Amazon option for pet parents who prefer to do their shopping with the online retailer. The Smonter Heavy Duty Dog Cratehas a number of features to cater to canines that may have a tendency to try and escape their crate. Smonter’s crate has adopted a Y-pattern design to make a bite-proof shape to prevent dogs from sticking their snout through the bars. There’s a big safety element with a double lock alongside safety buckles. Smonter used a sturdy metal frame and welded steel bars to create a heavy duty dog create. It has 360-degree wheels so it’s portable whether you want to place the crate in different areas of the house, in the yard or on the road. The larges size is 42 inches in length. The Smonter Heavy Duty Dog Crate has an average score of 4.5 stars based upon 5 stars on Amazon.
How We Picked The Best Dog Crates For Escape Artists
As I mentioned earlier in this article, I’ve got two Alaskan Klee Kai who are expert escape artists. So I’ve done a lot of research into the best dog crates for escape artists.
Before I started this feature, I did some research into what makes a good dog crate and especially a dog crate designed to keep an escape artist safe.
I checked out what dog trainers, dog behaviorists and veterinarians had to say about dog crates for dogs with separation anxiety or Houdini-impersonating pups.
Once I made a shortlist of options, I managed to get my hands on some of the dog crates in this article to test them out to see if they lived up to the online hype.
I scoured other reviews of the products as well as carefully reading through customer reviews to see what pet parents had to say about these crates.
I considered a number of important factors such as the materials used, the thoughtfulness of the design, the safety features and indestructibility of the crate.
The list above represents what we believe to be the best dog crates for escape artists, and it’s updated often for accuracy and integrity. It was last updated June 2023.
Do Impact or Diggs Offer A Coupon Code Or Discount?
In case you missed it above, Impact and Diggs do offer a discount to dog owners who are readers of our website.
You can get 15% off your Impact Dog Crates order when you use our exclusive discount HELLOBARK at the checkout. To get this 15% discount on your Impact Dog Crate, click here.
Don’t forget that Impact offer a 10-year Dog Damage warranty on their High Anxiety Crate. So if your dog manages to damage their crate in their efforts to escape, you can get the damaged part or in some cases, the entire crate replaced.
We can offer helloBARK! readers 11% off their first Diggs order when you click this link.
Wrapping Up – Our Final Thoughts
We’ve reached the end of our feature on the best dog crates for escape artists.
I’ve explained some of the key factors to consider when picking a dog crate for your Houdini-like pet.
If budget isn’t a concern and you want to invest in a dog crate specifically designed for escape artists, I’d go for Impact’s High Anxiety dog crate.
You’ll also get added peace of mind that it comes with a 10-year Dog Damage warranty to cover your big investment.
