MidwestPetProducts.com

Mon 14 Feb 2011 7:00:00 PM GMT

How Do the Life Stages Single Door Crate and iCrate Compare?

We wrote two previous entries about the differences between the iCrate and Life Stages crates and the iCrate and Life Stages Double Door crates. You may want to check out those articles also. This article completes the series goes into more detail about the differences between the single door versions of the iCrate and Life Stages crates.

In short, model for model, although they are designed for similar situations, the Life Stages crates are heavier than the comparable iCrate and they feel more substantial when compared side-by-side.

Life Stages Single Door Dog Crate Compared to the iCrate

And now for the numbers. The table below lists each of the double door models available and provides some significant statistics. The crates are listed side-by-side for models starting at 22".

Property	Life Stages Single Door	iCrate Single Door
Model: Size: Mesh: Wire Gauge: Weight: #Latches	Life Stages 1622 22"L x 13"W x 16"H 1½" x 4¼" 3, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12 10 lbs One latch	iCrate 1522 22"L x 13"W x 16"H 1½" x 4¼" 3, 7, 9, 12 9 lbs One latch
Model: Size: Mesh: Wire Gauge: Weight: #Latches:	Life Stages 1624 24"L x 18"W x 21"H 1½" x 4½" 3, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12 16 lbs Two Latches	iCrate 1524 24"L x 18"W x 19"H 1½" x 4¼" 3, 7, 9, 12 14 lbs One latch
Model: Size: Mesh: Wire Gauge: Weight: #Latches:	Life Stages 1630 30"L x 21"W x 24"H 1½" x 5⅛" 3, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12 21 lbs Two Latches	iCrate 1530 30"L x 19"W x 21"H 1½" x 4½" 3, 7, 8, 9, 11 18 lbs One latch
Model: Size: Mesh: Wire Gauge: Weight: #Latches:	Life Stages 1636 36"L x 24"W x 27"H 1½" x 5⅛" 3, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12 30 lbs Two Latches	iCrate 1536 36"L x 23"W x 25"H 1½" x 5½" 3, 7, 9, 11 22 lbs Two Latches
Model: Size: Mesh: Wire Gauge: Weight: #Latches:	Life Stages 1642 42"L x 28"W x 31"H 1½" x 5½" 3, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12 42 lbs Two Latches	iCrate 1542 42"L x 28"W x 30"H 1½" x 5½" 3, 7, 9, 11 32 lbs Two Latches
Model: Size: Mesh: Wire Gauge: Weight: #Latches:	Life Stages 1648 48"L x 30"W x 33"H 1½" x 6" 3, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12 48 lbs Two Latches	iCrate 1548 48"L x 30"W x 33"H 1½" x 6" 3, 7, 9, 10 40 lbs Two Latches

Mon 6 Dec 2010 7:00:00 PM GMT

The iCrate Double Door and the Life Stages Double Door Seem Similar - What's the Difference?

We wrote a previous entry about the differences between the iCrate and Life Stages crates and you may want to check out that article first. This article goes into more detail about the differences between the double door versions of the iCrate and Life Stages crates.

Our opinion is that the Life Stages crate is a tougher and more durable product, and that the differences are significant beyond how they appear on paper. For example, the wire pieces that hold the crate together (they clip over the top and sides at the front and back) are much longer on the Life Stages crate.

Our experience is that this makes it much harder for a dog to exploit the folding mechanism and escape from the crate. If you think your dog may be a bit of a Houdini, we recommend the Life Stages model.

Side-by-Side Comparison Table, Double Door iCrate and Life Stages

And now for the numbers. The table below lists each of the double door models available and provides some significant statistics. The crates are listed side-by-side for models starting at 22".

Property	iCrate Double Door	Life Stages Double Door
Model: Size: Mesh: Wire Gauge: Weight: #Latches	iCrate 1522DD 22"L x 13"W x 16"H 1½" x 5" 3, 6, 7, 9, 12 10 lbs One latch	Life Stages 1622DD 22"L x 13"W x 16"H 1½" x 4½" 3, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12 10 lbs One latch
Model: Size: Mesh: Wire Gauge: Weight: #Latches:	iCrate 1524DD 24"L x 18"W x 19"H 1½" x 5" 3, 6, 7, 9, 12 15 lbs One latch	Life Stages 1624DD 24"L x 18"W x 21"H 1½" x 4½" 3, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12 16 lbs Two Latches
Model: Size: Mesh: Wire Gauge: Weight: #Latches:	iCrate 1530DD 30"L x 19"W x 21"H 1½" x 5" 3, 6, 7, 9, 12 19 lbs One latch	Life Stages 1630DD 30"L x 21"W x 24"H 1½" x 5⅛" 3, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12 21 lbs Two Latches
Model: Size: Mesh: Wire Gauge: Weight: #Latches:	iCrate 1536DD 36"L x 23"W x 25"H 1½" x 5" 3, 6, 7, 9, 12 24 lbs Two Latches	Life Stages 1636DD 36"L x 24"W x 27"H 1½" x 5⅛" 3, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12 30 lbs Two Latches
Model: Size: Mesh: Wire Gauge: Weight: #Latches:	iCrate 1542DD 42"L x 28"W x 30"H 1½" x 7⅞" 3, 6, 7, 9 35 lbs Two Latches	Life Stages 1642DD 42"L x 28"W x 31"H 1½" x 5½" 3, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12 42 lbs Two Latches
Model: Size: Mesh: Wire Gauge: Weight: #Latches:	iCrate 1548DD 48"L x 30"W x 33"H 1½" x 7⅞" 3, 6, 7, 9 43 lbs Two Latches	Life Stages 1648DD 48"L x 30"W x 33"H 1½" x 6" 3, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12 48 lbs Two Latches

Mon 29 Nov 2010 7:00:00 PM GMT

I Need a Replacement Pan for my Midwest Crate, but How Do I Identify It?

Most likely this question is being asked because you are not sure which model crate you have. This is OK, since we should be able to identify the correct pan from finding out a few things about your crate.

The following information is required:

Crate Style: There are two basic types of crate style.

Folding Crates: These crates fold down without tools and without any disassembly. The panels are all joined together and the crate can be folded, but the panels can not be separated.

Drop Pin Crates: These crates do not fold down, but can be disassembled. They have long pins in the corner (called drop pins) that secure the panels together. In order to disassemble the crates, you must remove the pins and all the panels separate and come apart.

Outside Crate Dimensions: Obtain these measurements with your crate assembled and we need the outside measurements - imagine a box that fits over your crate.

Crate Length: This is the longest horizontal dimension.

Crate Width: This is the shorter of the horizontal measurements.

Crate Height: In a few cases, this is the only way to tell two different crates apart.

I Have the Information, What's Next?

Folding Crates: Select Pan by Folding Crate Size.
Note that there are special types of folding crates called “SUV Crates”.

Drop Pin Crates: Select Pan by Drop Pin Crate Size.
Note that there is a special category of drop pin crates called “Giant Crates”.

Mon 22 Nov 2010 7:00:00 PM GMT

Can I Get a Replacement Pan for my Midwest Championship Collection 500, 600, or 700 Series?

The Midwest Championship Collection were folding dog crates available in a range of finishes and sizes. There are three basic series that were available: 500 Series Gold Finish, the 600 Series Bright Zinc Finish, and the 700 Series Black Electro-Coat Finish. The crates were available in sizes for dogs 11 - 110 lbs.

Championship Collection 500 Series	Championship Collection 600 Series	Championship Collection 700 Series

Model 506 36"L x 24"W x 28"H	Model 606DD 36"L x 24"W x 28"H	Model 710BK 48"L x 30"W x 35"H

The table below lists the Midwest Championship Collection Models, Dimensions and the Compatible Replacement Tray. Clicking on the pan link will take you to the correct product.

Models	Crate Size	Pan Model
502 602 702BK	24"L x 18"W x 21"H	Model 6 Pan 502, 602 & 702BK
504 604 704BK	30"L x 21"W x 24"H	Model 7 Pan 504, 604 & 704BK
506 606 606DD 706BK	36"L x 24"W x 28"H	Model 8 Pan 506, 606, 606DD & 706BK
508 608 608DD 708BK	42"L x 28"W x 32"H	Model 9 Pan 508, 608, 608DD & 708BK
510 610 710BK	48"L x 30"W x 35"H	Model 10 Pan 510, 610 & 710BK

Click on the following link to see the range of pans available for the Midwest Championship Collection:

Replacement Pans for the Championship Collection

Mon 15 Nov 2010 7:00:00 PM GMT

Can I Join Together More Than One Exercise Pen?

Midwest Exercise Pens are a great solution for containing your pet. They each have eight panels, each panel is 24" wide, making the panel sixteen (16) linear feet.

The panels are attached together using clips that function as hinges, allowing the panels to be folded back and forth into almost any shape you desire.

Eight Panels - Open Ended

The pen is open ended, which means that you can stretch it out for the full sixteen (16) feet. This makes the pen very flexible because you can deploy it into a number of shapes, and it allows you to clip two pens together.

How Do the Pens Attach Together?

Each of the Exercise Pens comes with four (4) slide clips that allow you to close the pen. Using these clips, you simply clip together as many pens as you need.

Three Styles, Five Sizes

Midwest Pens are available in three styles: Gold Zinc with Door, Black Electro Coat With Door, and Black Electro Coat Without Door. Each pen has eight 24"W panels and the pens vary in height by model from 24"H to 48"H.

Midwest Exercise Pens

Mon 8 Nov 2010 7:00:00 PM GMT

Heavy Duty Dog Crates

This is a subject that comes up a lot. In many cases, a requirement for a heavy duty crate is due to behavioral, or owner issues rather than a problem with the crate. Dogs that are well socialized, exercised, and not kept in the crate for too long will, in general, be better behaved.

You may want to consider these issues prior to purchasing a heavy duty crate. The crates we sell are fit for purpose, but they are not indestructible and are intended to supplement a good crate and dog training regimen rather than fix a particular behavior problem.

Reasons for Wanting a Heavy Duty Model

There are still many reasons for you consider a heavy duty crate. Some dogs can become alarmed by a knock at the door, a thunderclap, or from another unexpected stimulation. Rescue dogs can carry trauma and require special handling.

The heaviest duty crate we currently carry is the Midwest Ultima Pro Heavy Duty Triple Door Folding Dog Crate.

The Ultima Pro is manufactured from heavier gauge wire equivalent to some of the older Midwest drop pin crate models. In addition, the spacing on the wire is closer together than on most of the other crates. It also features three doors, removable without tools, a divider panel, black ABS plastic pan, a crate training DVD, and fold and carry convenience.

Heavier and Stronger

To compare the Ultima Pro against the most commonly sold product - the iCrate Folding Dog Crates - the Ultima Pro is (in general) 50% heavier and the wire spacing is approximately 30% closer together. Both of these measurements contribute to the overall strength of the crate along with the heavier wire gauge.

For Dogs 11 - 110lbs

As usual, the Ultima Pro is available in a number of different models from the 724UP for dogs 11 -25lbs to the 748UP for dogs 91 - 110lbs. To view the Midwest Ultima Pro product, and to purchase one, just click on the link below.

Ultima Dog Crate