[OrangeDog]

I am moving into a new house next week. The house is going to be GREAT for my dogs, much better layout and a fantastic yard setup but my crate room will be MUCH smaller than I have now. My question is: How do you feel about stacking crates? They are the strong folding wire type (42" long) and I plan on using a TON of bungies to really make sure everything is not going to shift. I will only be stacking one row (a crate on another crate not 3 or 4 on top of eachother) what do you think? Thank you

[OrangeDog]

just bumping this up hoping for an answer

[CorkyMax]

Not sure I am picturing this right!
If one is on top of the other--Won't you have to have ramps to the top ones!?? (Which also would take up some room) What kind of dogs do you have and how many? Would you be placing a plywood board or something on top of the bottom crate? Sounds not very 'doable' to me. If they are small dogs would be more seeable but personally I wouldn't like it---Course I don't like crates anyhow! If large dogs--Will the ramp (if using) be in the way for the dog in the bottom crate? Hey, now don't come back and make me look 'stupid' but I do have a hard time getting this picture, lol!:mrgreen:

[OrangeDog]

They are the 42" crates so they are large dogs & large crates. I never thought about ramps as my dogs can easily jump up the 2 feet or so it would take them to get into the upper row. I LOVE your idea of putting boards between the two rows... I think I will do that.

The room is 10x7 and I need to fit 7 large crates in it

[CorkyMax]

Originally Posted by OrangeDog

They are the 42" crates so they are large dogs & large crates. I never thought about ramps as my dogs can easily jump up the 2 feet or so it would take them to get into the upper row. I LOVE your idea of putting boards between the two rows... I think I will do that.

The room is 10x7 and I need to fit 7 large crates in it

Wow! That is going to be some tight quarters! Hope the door going into this room is centered and hopefully on the 10 foot wall!--That would give you about 3 feet to walk in. I don't see how you can do it otherwise! And you said the crates are 42"---How tall are they--If 42" tall that is a 3 and a half 'jump' plus the dog won't be able to just jump in--too narrow an opening isn't it? I mean I would think it would have to be more like a climb/crawl to get in something that high wouldn't it? Maybe you have tested it out to see how they do getting in, lol, and if not maybe you should check it out! Curious-Are these hunting (hounds) dogs?

[Yogi]

I do not know why I did not see this before but apologize.
Many of mine are stacked. It actually works out great for me. Dogs have no problems jumping right up into them. It took a little coaxing initially but once they caught on, no problems. Mine are the Vari kennel models.

[OrangeDog]

They can jump into their crates in the back of my suburban and I think thats the same height or higher... plus I can lift back ends if they need help getting in

They are Golden Retrievers. They have a big yard and all get time in the house (in groups) the crates are just for night and when I am out.

[Yogi]

I don't see where there would be a problem. Mine go in and out of theirs all day long. Whether napping for feeding time and then at bed time. They go into only their own even if it is the top one.

[OrangeDog]

Thank you Yogi. Looks like I will stack them and just use a lot of bungies. How do you keep yours from falling?

[Yogi]

In my case first to note the dogs are smaller but I use a piece of old thick carpet. It serves as a cushion but at the same time the crates are not prone to moving when the dogs jump in and out. It seems to work fine. The other way is to attach a frame work against the wall then attach plywood sides to both ends to keep the crates from moving side to side.

[OrangeDog]

I had thought of that. Having somebody build a bench with a lip that I can put the crates under and on top of that will keep them steady. This is great, thanks for the help!

[CorkyMax]

Originally Posted by OrangeDog

They can jump into their crates in the back of my suburban and I think thats the same height or higher... plus I can lift back ends if they need help getting in

They are Golden Retrievers. They have a big yard and all get time in the house (in groups) the crates are just for night and when I am out.

Glad to hear that you aren't crating them all the time and what I was picturing wasn't the way it is! I was picturing hunting dogs/hounds that were kept in 'cages' and mostly never got out except to take hunting. Pleasantly surprised that you have Goldens--one of my favorite breeds--I have a cocker/golden mix. Sorry though but I have to say this-- I would be a little concerned of having them jump down that far---I'm sure you know how easy it is for a dog to damage their vertabrae/spine from even less space jumping than that. I had a patio table on my patio (cement block floor) that was next to the steps and my 2 dogs use to go from the steps up on that table but they would jump off the table onto the cement floor instead of coming back down on the steps----So when the:idea: went off in my head--I moved the table so they couldn't get on it anymore. I feel lucky that something bad hadn't happened before--They did it all the time! Actually if you check out my album you will see a pic. of them on this table next to the steps before I moved it. You can find threads/posts in here about some members having this happen to their dog and some pretty sad endings too.

[OrangeDog]

A couple of them are agility dogs so the jumping is not an issue really. And the younger dogs will be on the bottom row to keep their joints safe (no jumping until 2 years old in this house).

Somebody suggested to me that I just put the crates in the garage to which I replied are you crazy they will FREEZE! They are getting a bedroom in my house so they can have the heat and central air. They are house dogs but to keep them safe when I am not around I use the BIG crates... I can actually fit 2 dogs in these crates but it's nice that way. They each have their own big crate so they can stretch out and they have a bed and a kong and a nylabone

[Lara's mom]

You mentioned that these are wire crates. What happens if one of the dogs in the top crate pees or poops? Does it fall down into the lower crate?

[OrangeDog]

my dogs are all crate trained so they would never "go" in their crates... secondly they are only in their crates for a couple hours so there is no need for them to go.

[Yogi]

I am pretty sure but maybe you are using a different wire crate than I have used in the past but the ones I use to use have a tray in the bottom that covers the wire completely.

[OrangeDog]

those are the ones I am using also Yogi... midwest, Precision and ProSelect 42" models

[Lunareclipse]

I use a wire crate for Buster, but it has a tray that covers the bottom.

[Ward9320]

I am not against staking the creates at all but have you thought about building shelves that will hold the creates. Some ply wood and 2x4's should do the job