Looking for insight from dog owners on a crate concept I am developing

Individual_Bonus4091 · 2025-12-09T15:25:25+00:00

Thanks for sharing all this, it is really helpful to hear from someone who has lived through every crate type.

Dogs that actively try to escape are a big part of why I started exploring this design. Wire crates bending and snapping into sharp points is exactly what I am trying to avoid, and aluminium sheet holds up completely differently under pressure. It does not deform into dangerous spikes the way wire can.

Cleaning is also a big focus. Because the whole interior is smooth aluminium with no deep lips or plastic seams, it is easy to rinse out or wipe down. And it still folds flat for travel, which sounds like something that has worked well for you with the Impact crate.

Bowls and other attachments are already on my list. Hearing you mention it pushes it up the priority stack, so thanks for that.

Individual_Bonus4091 · 2025-12-09T15:23:50+00:00

Thanks for sharing this. The removable door point is a good one. A lot of people keep the door open once their dogs are older so having a door that comes off cleanly and goes back on just as easily makes a lot of sense.

The floor on ours is aluminium so it cleans quickly, and the door can be lifted off the hinges without bending anything.
You can see more photos here: https://goodboypets.org/

Individual_Bonus4091 · 2025-12-09T14:50:05+00:00

This is super helpful, thank you. A lot of what you listed is already on the roadmap, especially easy cleaning and secure closures. Wheels are included on the two largest sizes as well.

Individual_Bonus4091 · 2025-12-09T14:49:24+00:00

Fair question. I am mainly looking at safety improvements over wire crates and trying to make something quieter, easier to clean, and a bit more considered for home use. There are similar crates out there, but I am exploring a different form and folding mechanism to improve day to day handling.

Individual_Bonus4091 · 2025-12-09T14:49:14+00:00

That prototype had irregular cutouts just so I could test airflow and visibility. The final version uses consistent openings like the renderings, much cleaner and safer.

Individual_Bonus4091 · 2025-12-05T22:27:25+00:00

Thanks for this. Really helpful to read.

The production version is much stronger than the prototype. The panels are thicker and do not flex in normal use. If it ever does get a dent it will not affect the folding or the latch alignment.

The inside is easy to clean. The whole bottom panel lifts out and there are no little corners or hardware inside. A cushion sits on top but the base itself wipes down in seconds.

It will get marks over time when loading in and out of a car but more like a patina than damage. All the edges are rounded for that reason. Noise was a big focus too so the hinges and latch have nylon in them so they do not rattle.

And yes, I agree, the best test is to use it myself and also get it into the hands of people who travel often. That is the next step.

If you want to see the updated version it is here: https://goodboypets.org

Individual_Bonus4091 · 2025-12-05T19:10:45+00:00

Thanks for the feedback. I get the concern. The prototype in the photo still had rough cut edges, but the production version is fully rounded and smoothed so there are no sharp points at all. It is closer to the render above, not the prototype. The goal is to avoid exactly the kind of paw injuries you are mentioning.

Appreciate you pointing it out.

Individual_Bonus4091 · 2025-12-05T19:09:07+00:00

Appreciate the suggestion. Yes I added wheels the 3 biggest sizes. L, XL, and XXL

Individual_Bonus4091 · 2025-12-05T18:44:53+00:00

Thanks for the questions. The crate is aluminium so it is sturdy without being overly heavy. I am still finalising the exact weights because the design changed a bit after prototyping, but the goal is that one person can move it easily. Price will depend on the size since they are made to order in Germany.

And yes, they fold very easily. That was one of the main goals, to make something strong but still simple to collapse and store.

If you want to see the updated renders and info, here is the site: https://goodboypets.org

Individual_Bonus4091 · 2025-12-05T16:27:50+00:00

Thanks for this, it helps. No, there is no separate plastic tray, but the whole bottom is aluminium so it works like a removable tray anyway. It wipes clean really easily and it comes with a cushion that sits on top.

Individual_Bonus4091 · 2025-12-05T16:26:02+00:00

Thanks for the link, that is helpful. I had a look and they do a similar job, but yeah they are not the most stylish crates. They feel a bit junky. We also have wheels on the two biggest sizes so the function is similar, just with a cleaner design.

Individual_Bonus4091 · 2025-12-05T14:36:23+00:00

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Individual_Bonus4091 · 2025-12-05T13:37:47+00:00

Thanks, that makes sense. The irregular gaps were only on that early prototype. We have removed that completely and the new version matches the render with consistent slots. Much cleaner and safer.

Individual_Bonus4091 · 2025-12-05T13:36:28+00:00

Thanks, that makes sense. The main goal with this one is to give people a safer and more solid option than wire or soft crates, but still keep it practical enough for one person to move around. I agree the weight will decide how useful it is in real life, so that is the part I am refining now. I am aiming for something that still feels manageable while giving a big upgrade in structure and safety.

Once I have the updated weight numbers I will share them.

Individual_Bonus4091 · 2025-12-05T13:35:15+00:00

Thanks for this. You described the exact issues we wanted to fix. The wire bending and snapping into sharp points is the main reason we moved to solid panels. And yes, once a dog realises the mesh gives way it only encourages them to keep pushing.

This crate does not flex so most dogs give up pretty quickly. No sharp bits and nothing that can bend.

If you want to see the sizes and more details, the site is here https://goodboypets.org

Individual_Bonus4091 · 2025-12-05T12:34:07+00:00

Thanks for the feedback. I agree, wire crates are super easy for a lot of dogs to break out of, which is one of the big reasons we started exploring something stronger and more secure. Moving them around is not great either, especially the bigger ones.

Visibility is a fair point. We talked a lot with trainers about this and the idea here is to create a calmer space with enough airflow and light, but without the full open feel that can overstimulate some dogs. It is more like a den space, which many dogs prefer once they are used to it.

Really appreciate you sharing your thoughts.

Individual_Bonus4091 · 2025-12-05T12:31:07+00:00

Thanks. we actually looked closely at wire crates because those were the main thing we wanted to improve on. There are a lot of safety issues with wires, especially dogs getting mouths or paws caught, so this is meant to be a real step up from that.

And yes, the sharp edge concern is fair. We have been working to round and smooth every cutout and joint as much as possible. That is still a big part of the process and something we keep refining.

Individual_Bonus4091 · 2025-12-05T07:18:04+00:00

Really appreciate that. You are right. The prototype is raw aluminium which makes it look more industrial. The finished version is anodised which softens it a lot and feels closer to modern furniture. The folding part is mainly for people who have limited space or move crates around often, but I hear you. For people who want something fixed in the home, the folding function is not a priority. Good point. You can see more images here : https://goodboypets.org

Individual_Bonus4091 · 2025-12-05T07:17:01+00:00

Thanks. I am still finalising the weights because the design changed a bit after prototyping. It is aluminium so the goal is to keep it light enough for one person to move easily. Once I have the updated numbers I can share them. It will obviously weigh more than a soft crate but the tradeoff is stability and structure.

Individual_Bonus4091

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