Having a dog crate will provide you and your dog a ton of benefits. There is no doubt about it. Dog crates are often seen as a cruel way to keep your dog in one place but they actually offer a lot in terms of anxiety regulation and comfort. A dog, when conditioned, will actually prefer to stay in the dog crates opposed to the sofa because of the den-like feel crates provide. Because of this comforting feel crates provide, they can be used in a wide range of situations, including travel.
Pet crates are fantastic for travel and are essential if you want to fly. They can also be used in cars to prevent accidents from happening because a pet managed to climb in front of the driver. If you like to take your dog on walks in the park, pet crates stop the mud from touching your seats and if you have a dog crate tray, you can slide the dirt out and remove it with ease.
Dog crate trays are one of few things that make cleaning pet crates incredibly easy and if you have a crate, you need a tray (also known as a replacement pan). They allow you to remove any debris and dirt with quick success. This article will be covering these useful applications and will teach you everything you need to know. If you’re interested to learn more, continue to read the article.
What is a Dog Crate Tray?
So, to put things simply, a dog crate tray is a device that sits at the bottom of the crate and catches any dirt and fir that is released from your dog. They are commonly seen with wired crates and are used with dogs who like to roll in the mud and malt. The tray can be slid out, wiped and slid back in without any hassle. They are an incredibly efficient way to clean without the need for sponges and brushes.
With some crates, the replacement pan will sit below the base so you can remove it even if the dog is still inside. Of course, they are also seen above the base and these are more useful if you want to take the crate to the skies. They stop the dog having an accident in the cargo as a result of the added stress of flying, which is useful for everyone else’s luggage.
How Can They Be Used?
In general, these dog crate trays are excellent if you are looking for a solution to pet crate cleaning. However, these might be a little more useful for certain individuals. They are very useful if your dog likes to get muddy and they are useful if you have a dog that sheds a lot of hair. Below you will find a number of ways that these trays can be utilized.
After Long Muddy Walks
If you and your dog enjoy long walks no matter what the weather, chances are you’ve probably had to clean the seats a few times. Even with a pet crate, a fully muddy dog will ruin it and if you have plastic the crate will retain any smells that linger. With a dog crate tray, you can make sure that cleaning is a little easier. If your dog is caked in mud and is literally dripping, any drips will land on the tray. This means that to remove the bulk of the mess, you only need to remove the try. It is as simple as that.
For Fluffy Dogs
Pet crate trays are not just good for the dirt that your dog brings in but for the hair that they shed naturally. This point will only apply to the owners who have dogs that malt but that happens to be the majority of people. If you have a big fluffy dog, the hairs are going to fall all over the base and if you have wired crate, they’re going to land on your floor/carpet.
Having a replacement pan is one of the best ways to make sure that you can easily clean up all the hairs without the need of a vacuum. Simply slide off the pan and brush off all the hairs your dog has released. Unfortunately, dogs cannot help shedding, a natural way of life for them. However, everything can be cared for quickly if you have a dog crate tray.
During Crate Training
Crate training is a difficult and long process. It can take a few weeks to get a dog conditioned to a crate and in this period, they may have a few accidents. When you crate train, you are forcing the dog to hold in their mess, which helps to make them realize that the crate is their den. Dogs will not mess in their dens, so they will hold in any wee or poo for as long as they can. As a result of this, sometimes, they can let go and accidentally “go” in their crate.
Never punish them for this. Just take them outside and start to clean the crate immediately. With a pet crate tray, the mess can be cleaned up a whole lot faster and will make sure that you can place your dog back in sooner rather than later. This is even better of the mess is urine because it will congregate in a puddle that you can easily dispose of.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Dog Crate Tray
There are a lot of dog crate trays available on the market these days and it can be difficult to make a definitive decision as to which one to buy. This is more of a problem for new buyers who are not experienced in this industry. It is not uncommon for a new buyer to buy the wrong pan that doesn’t fit in their crate. They are not cheap objects either, so you don’t want to waste valuable money on a wasted product.
Below are a few tips and factors to consider before you go ahead and buy a replacement pan for your dog crate. There are only two main factors when it comes to dog crate trays and that is size and durability. Among these two, size is probably the most important.
Size
As we just suggested above, size is one of the main factors to consider when you purchase a pet crate replacement pan. The reason being is that all dog crates are different, as are all dogs. As a result, the type of pan you get will depend on what brand crate you have and the size of said crate. Always make sure that you measure up the crate and know the dimensions before you purchase. Have a look on the manufacturer's website or check out one of our helpful guides here, on the blog.
Durability
There have been a number of cases where the owners have witnessed a broken crate. This is normally the result of getting a poorly made brand or because you have a larger dog. In most cases, it will be because you have a larger dog and it is not uncommon for them to snap. If you have a larger dog, we suggest you go for a metal pan and there are plenty to choose from. The most recommended being Zinger.
As well as having a larger dog, pups have been known to chew their way through a dog crate tray. It is important to make sure that the pan sits beneath the crate if you have pups and make sure the edges are not exposed. If they are, the pup will do all it can to start chewing the corners.
Different Brands of Tray
As with all things in the pet crate world, there are a ton of different brands you have to choose from. At Pet Crates Direct, we only sell the reputable and trustworthy brands, so we will be explaining those in this section. Pet crate trays are made by most sellers but there are a few that shine above the rest. You can probably guess who they are if you’ve read our previous blogs. These brands also tend to differ in terms of material and will only fit into a crate of the same brand. This is something to remember before you go ahead and purchase
Zinger
Zinger is one of our own personal favorites when it comes to pet crates. They offer some of the stronger crates around and are designed to hold and crate larger dogs in volume. They are commonly used by trainers and breeders who need a lot of crates that can be stacked and fitted together. Zinger specializes in full metal crates and is loved all over the nation. They can be used for transport and are praised for their ability to pass airport regulations. They are a little heavier than most crates because of their superior strength and security, many owners favor them over other.
Their dog crate pans are no exception and are incredibly durable. They are great when it comes to collecting any mess that your dog makes and raise the dog up off the floor, meaning they don’t have to sit in their own urine during transport. The pans are also thick and prevent the dog from grabbing and chewing the product.
Midwest
Midwest is another household name when it comes to dog crates. They provide a number of high-quality replacement pan and crates that are loved all over the US. They provide a number of high-quality wired crates that are very popular among larger breeds. In particular, they are one of the few brands that specialize in larger crated suited towards breeds like Great Danes. They are a strong brand to use and are well-known for their ability to be folded and transported very quickly and effectively.
Their replacement pans are no different and will stop your dog from getting messy and your floor getting stained. They are sized according to the crate they’re assigned too and for this reason, you should also check the sizes. We have a guide on our store that will give you all the information you need to make a better buying decision.
Precision
Precision is the final brand on this list and they also specialize in wired crate designs. Again, this is another brand that focuses on all breeds and sizes as they have a number of crates designed for bigger dogs. They are incredibly strong and efficient, as they normally feature multi-door designs and advanced security locks. They are commonly used for car transport and for this reason, a tray is required so your boot doesn’t get messy.
Their replacement pans are the same as Midwest, as they will be determined by the crate and sizes you have. It is important to measure the crate and identify the correct replacement pan. Again, we have a guide on the store that will give you all you need when it comes to choosing the best Precision replacement pan.
Final Words
A dog crate will provide you with all you need when it comes to keeping your dog happy. A lot of people tend to think them as cruel but they actually provide a lot of benefits for both you and your little friend. One of the largest benefits is the fact that you can toilet train your dog a hell of a lot quicker and the crate will keep them calm when you’re away, preventing them from biting furniture in the process.
One thing that many crate owners do complain about, however, is the fact that cleaning them is a pain. If you have a plastic crate, the smell of the mess will also linger in the material. With a dog crate tray, you can make the cleaning process of dog crate so much easier. All you have to do is grab and slide out the tray, wipe it off and then slide it back in. It is as simple as that. We have a range of pans and brands on our site. We suggest you take a look.
