We are adopting our first greyhound - Ester from GFNC. She will be joining our family next weekend. We have read conflicting information regarding the best size and type of crate to get. We were wondering everyone's thoughts on the 48" vs. the 40" size and plastic vs. wire. Our girl wieighs about 65 pounds but we are unsure of her height. She will be crated while we are at work, approximately 8 hours per day.
Any thoughts on this would be appreciated. Thanks.

Congreytulations! She's a beauty. I love those dark brindle girls.

I have the Extra Large Vari Kennel and the dimensions are listed as 40 L x27 W x 30 H. My girl weighs about 64 lbs. She ducks her head to go in since the opening is lower in the plastic ones, but can stand up once inside it. She loves it and spends a lot of time in it even with the door open. To me it seems like tight quarters, but she's perfectly happy in it.

I've had the collapsible wire crates in the past and I actually prefer them and have been looking at possibly replacing hers, but this one seems to suit Carly just fine. Some dogs, like my Carly, seem to like a closed-in feeling more than others.

Some people swear by the plastic airline type like the Vari Kennel and others by the wire ones. In the end it's a matter of personal preference.

Good luck with your new girl!

Hey! All of my newly adopted greys were happy in the biggest size of plastic kennel. Whatever material you choose, you want to make sure your dog has room to stand up and turn around in her kennel. Take into consideration that you will probably have a few inches of bedding in the bottom of the kennel.

Best Wishes!
Karen

I used an extra large vari kennel (hard plastic) for my 65 lb female. It had enough room for her. My 75 lb males have the Giant plastic crates. They can lay down, with their legs stretched out (on their side) and gives them plenty of room. I prefer the plastic crates over the wire crates. Seems more "cave" like and mine use theirs during the day just to nap (keeping the door open - they go in and out as they please)

Good luck with your new pup!

Regardless of size, some dogs like the plastic ones and some dogs hate them and can only tolerate the wire ones. And some dont care which crate they are in, they are content in either.
Some dogs can get out of the wire ones, but I like the folding wire crates as I like to travel with them. I dont have to worry about my dogs when I am not with them.
Good luck with your new baby

Congratulations!!!

I would use the biggest wire crate you can get, 48", especially if you work all day.
I personally think that most dogs are happier in a wire crate where they can see what's going on.
Ebay has good deals on new crates, you can find Midwest wire crates for about $65 including shipping, I think.

Get a folding one, its always nice to have it fold down.

I use UPCO becuase they are cheap and have free shipping.
It arrives on your front door step in a few days.

My newest one has a goofy door that folds up into the crate which I really like becuase it is not out there for the dogs to run into. Its a little weird for them to get used to at first but then they are fine with it. When Smooty lost some of his vision it was nice not to have to worry about him crashing into the edge of the door. He couldnt see it very well, also when you have multiples they jump around and sometimes crash into the door hanging open. that hurts!!

I have wire and plastic. My favorite is the wire crates but...
I have a foster that got out of a wire crate. I got home one day and it looked like a truck ran over the crate. It could not be repaired and he was roaching on the couch. So he is now in a plastic crate and cant get out of that one.

We have 3 greys and we don't crate at all.So I have no ideas what kind of crate to buy.Congratulations on you new grey!!
Sandy

I only crate one of my five and only when I will be gone 4 or more hours. I only work part-time but if I was going to crate all day I would get a larger one with lots of room.

As everyone knows by now I'm no fan of crating, but if You are going to crate at least make it big enough to be comfortable for Your hound.

Gary

Just a reminder: Your greyhound needs a crate that is big enough to allow him/her to turn around and get comfortable and stretch as he/she may need to do over a long day, but not so large that your dog might be tempted to "set aside a distant portion" of the crate as a potty area. Sometimes, some dogs mis-perceive an abundance of space as making this possible (usually not our beloved greyhounds though!! ).

Another vote for wire. Couple of reasons:
-Portability: easy to take with you.
-If they do prefer a "closed in/Cave" type of environment, you can always put blankets over it to close it in.
-If you decide later that you don't want to crate them, you can take the wire one down and slide it under your bed, etc. The plastic one is a bit more trouble.

Maddie hated both the plastic and the wire crate. She ate her way out of the plastic and then destroyed 1 wire crate that was huge. I bought another but I stopped crating her as she was more destructive in the crate then out. I closed off doors to rooms I did not want her to be in and baby gated the rest. Now she sleeps on a dog bed in my room when I am at work making money for her toy habit.

Amy