Crate size for Weims

[Irena]

Can someone please tell me what is the typical crate size for an adult Weimaraner? Approx. weight of the dog is 30 kg. Those who have flown yours, what is the best size to go with to avoid any problems (crate too small - crate too big)?

I have called a company here and they could only tell me that for a 20 kg dog the crate should be 120 x 80 x 87 cm. So for a larger dog it should naturally be larger, or it won't fit on the plane then?

Sizes in inches are welcome too. Any advice will be much appreciated.

[Kobie]

Hi Irena,

If the crate need to be used on a airplane, be sure the crate is allowed to fly !
I have one in plastic who is accepted for a airplane (brand: petmate - vari kennel).
A crate is big enough when the dog can stand up in the crate, during the flight.

[marjolein]

Here's some usefull advice nicked from the KLM website:

www.klmcargo.com/tds/frameset.jsp?http&&&www.klmcargo.com/tds/p_s/fit/fitpets.jsp

[daniela]

Hi Irena

If the dog is going on a flight, you are best to go direct to the airline and find out what its requirements are.

British Airways here, has a leaflet detailing what kind of 'kennel' you need (it has to be airline approved) and it also provide guidelines on how you go about measuring your dog to find the best possible 'kennel' size.

[daniela]

I recently purchased a sky vari kennel (airline approved) for my bitch, Eden.

I have not used it yet for the purposes of flying but it is in my living room, door open, for her to become acquainted with so that when we eventually travel, she's not totally bewildered.

[Ilana]

Irena,

I use Vary Kennel model 500 for my males that are 40KG,


size: 40"L x 27"Wx30"H

Ilana

[Irena]

Thank you very much!

I found out that the one I have is an ATLAS 70 and its parameters are 101 x 68.5 x 75.5 cm - the closest to Ilana's crate. The airlines told me that it has to be confirmed by them (if I may fly my dog in this crate on that particular day and flight) because it is a large crate in their opinion. But I guess that is the best size for Audry too, as she couldn't possibly stand up in a smaller crate.

[Leslie]

admin said:

Thank you very much!

I found out that the one I have is an ATLAS 70 and its parameters are 101 x 68.5 x 75.5 cm - .

This is the same one that I have. It's a good one. It has locking latches instead of bolts which is so much more convenient when you're trying to put it together/take it apart at the airport or for storage. I've lost half the bolts from my Vari-Kennel. It also has a locking door latch which airlines are supposed to insist on, but in reality never check. But, in case they do... This model also comes with optioinal wheels and a pulling handle, which is very good because at some airports they require you keep your dog in it's crate until you leave the airport. At SFO (San Francisco) the luggage carts are too small to fit a a crate, so I always have to flag down porter service, which delays you getting out. This crate also has a removable floor protector where any urine could seep away from the dog. This is a quality traveling crate that is airline approved.

www.polytrans.fr/fiche_produit.php?num_article=501096

Always get the biggest crate. You are more likely to be turned away with a crate the airlines deem to small (I've seen it happen) than with one a bit too big. BUT do check with your airline ahead of time for any size/weight restrictions. I did have a big problem with TWA once as they had a weight restriction they didn't tell me about. (I had to eat the cost of a ticket) I've never had problems with Air France.

I also recommend buying a Lix-it water distributer for traveling:
www.gundogsupply.com/-0032-.html
Those dishes they provide - I'm sure all the water sloshes out by the time they are loaded on the plane. (If that's all you have, you might freeze the water so it stays in the dish at loading and gradually melts.) There is a bit of dripping with the lix-it, so have a few layers of cushion so it wicks to the bottom.

I use a bed with batting and a removable cover. The water (and pee) tends to wick down to the bottom. When I arrive, I wash the cover and throw away the batting and put in fresh batting.

[Irena]

lnicole said:

This model also comes with optioinal wheels and a pulling handle, which is very good because at some airports they require you keep your dog in it's crate until you leave the airport.

Oh darn, the wheels!! Mine is on wheels already, I hadn't even thought about that - would I have to take them off somehow before loading?? I guess so...

[Ilana]

Irena,

You should take the wheels off somehow before loading,
it wan't be saftely with it!

[Leslie]

I haven't actually used the wheels yet. I just got back from a trip to San Francisco where I used this crate for the first time. I bought it just before leaving because I couldn't find all the bolts for my vari kennel and they didn't have the wheels in stock when I bought it. It looks like you bolt in these adaptors to the base of the crate (the crate has indentations to accomodate this.) and then the wheels just snap in and have a quick release button, so shouldn't be too much of a hassle.

[daniela]

Fantastic idea about freezing the water, I would not have thought of that.

Out of interest, do you use a metal or plastic drinking dish?

My girl is not a chewer but I recently heard of a dog chewing its plastic container whilst in transit and unfortunately died as a result.

[Leslie]

Wow, what a sad story.

My girl isn't a chewer (my boy wasn't either) and travels well. I have used the little plastic dishes that come with the crates and snap on, but this last time I used a lix-it bottle. It's a plastic bottle with the metal nozzle. It attaches to the outside of the grill door with the metal nozzle entering into the crate. I think it would be pretty much impossible for a dog to manage to chew up the bottle on the outside of the crate.

I don't feed my dogs any food during the flight and they don't eat anything before-hand that they wouldn't have a chance to eliminate before the flight.

[daniela]

Do you mean those bottles that you see on rabbit hutches?

I am not sure whether my girl would drink from a bottle but I would be interested to try it.

[Leslie]

daniela said:

Do you mean those bottles that you see on rabbit hutches?

Yes, same thing, but bigger for a dog. I'm sure she would use it if she was thirsty. They are attracted by the smell of water and naturally lick it. When they do, the water comes out.

[Leslie]

lnicole said:

I use a bed with batting and a removable cover. The water (and pee) tends to wick down to the bottom. When I arrive, I wash the cover and throw away the batting and put in fresh batting.

I think next time I'm going to instead have layers of absorbant materials like whelping pads and Dry-beds so that it's super absorbant and everything can be washed.

[daniela]

Well, I am definitely going to try the drinking bottle.

Thanks for the tip.

[europeword]

My dog has 45kg and the crate has the following dimensions: 42"L x 30"Wx32"H. Maybe this helps.
Good luck.