Dakota 283 G3 Framed Door Kennel - Medium - Sandstone

We were hoping this would be the one—the kennel that could take a beating, keep our dog safe, and last us for years on the road. And in many ways, it delivered. From the second it showed up, you could tell this wasn’t your average plastic crate. Thick walls, a sturdy door, and ventilation that actually makes sense (with holes on all sides). It’s basically the fortress of dog crates.Why It Worked for Us:• Super rugged. You could probably drop this thing out of a truck and it’d survive.• Latch is metal and lockable—huge peace of mind if you’re storing this outside or in a truck bed.• The built-in handle makes moving it around easier (though not easy—more on that below).• Ventilation holes are actually useful and well-placed.What Fell Short:• Our dog didn’t. Literally. He didn’t quite fit. Length-wise it’s fine, but the overall internal space side to side felt cramped for our large pup to turn around.• It’s heavy. Not the end of the world, but if you’re moving it in and out often, your back might not love it.We’re actually considering sizing up because the build quality is that good. But for dogs on the bigger side, double-check dimensions before committing.

The media could not be loaded. I have been searching for a kennel to save my sanity!! I have a kelpie/heeler mix that has severe anxiety with storms and car rides. We’ve tried all kinds and he tears them apart and finds ways to escape them and I’m left to wrestle him out of my lap while trying to drive. I am so impressed with this one! It’s sturdy, all one piece (aside from the door), so there’s no where for him to escape from. The wire on the door is small enough squares that he can’t get his mouth around it to pull it apart. He settled right in and I didn’t hear a peep out of him for the 3 hour journey. The medium size is what I have, fits him perfectly at 60lbs. Snug enough that he seems to feel safe but big enough he can turn around inside and lay down. It’s light weight enough I had no trouble getting it and out of my car. I have a small SUV, no trouble there. It comes in once piece also so no assembly needed. He likes it so well, I think I may see if this helps his anxiety in the storms. It’s more expensive than I wanted to spend but you can’t put a price on your sanity and your pups safety!

1. My 20 lb Blue Heeler puppy broke out of my last two dog carriers. (He has never been in a crate for more than 3.5 hours, but I rescued him, and he has separation anxiety.) After his escapes created a bad habit, I corrected the dangerous habit with this wonderful MEDIUM kennel. He tried (evidence of teeth scratches on the door -- see photo) but couldn't get his mouth around anything. He can't destroy it, so now he doesn't try anymore. The seamless design gives him almost nothing to chew/grab on other than the chew toy I leave in the create with him.2. Dogs instinctively feel safe in a den, not a cage. Unless there is a heat problem, a solid one-piece kennel makes my dog feel more secure than any cage (or doghouse). My dog happily naps in it throughout the day. He feels more like he is hiding in the bushes than in a jail.3. The handle design is located, so I can carry it alone and NEVER rip the handle off. The MEDIUM kennel fits in the back seat of a truck. My (now grown) 30 lb adult Blue Heeler has more than enough room (see photo).*NOTE: Without a thick pad, it would be too big for short, bumpy hunting trips in the back of a truck (because he could fly around inside), but for long road trips and being kenneled overnight at any location, it is the ideal amount of room. People argue about ideal kennel size, but the purpose and length of time the dog is expected to be in the kennel are essential factors. Kennel size = Do they need to stretch as much as possible for overnight motel & and family stays, OR do they need to easily brace themselves to avoid injury during short, exciting offroad hunting trips (when they'll get frequent exercise and stretching breaks)?4. This is the best dog carrier I've ever owned and the first one I feel may outlast my dog.5. It is easier to clean than most.6. I did not buy this for car wreck safety, but I feel confident it is all I will ever need when transporting my dog. I'm 200 lbs, and I can jump up and down on it. You can pay twice as much for a more robust crate, but I don't think it would improve a dog's safety. If this crate does not survive a wreck, no other creature in the vehicle will likely survive. My point is that it doesn't matter if a dog kennel can survive being dropped onto concrete from a ten-story building when nothing inside it would survive the impact.I highly recommend this dog kennel.

We feel these crates will keep our whippets safe while traveling. The only thing we would ask to change is for more ventilation. There are plenty of holes on the sides, but not on top or in back. We will probably modify our crates and add more ventilation, but the seller said this would void our warranty, so we’re a little hesitant. It took a while for our dogs to get used to these crates because they are so different from the wire crates they are used to, but once they got in and out a few times they seem to like them. These crates are heavy, but perfect if you don’t plan on hauling them in and out every day. We keep ours in the car.

This is my second Dakota 284 kennel, which I bought because we got another dog. I like how sturdy the kennel is and the quality hardware they use for the door and latch. While bulky, it's pretty easy to move around. It stays in my vehicle 100% of the time and we bring them into our hotel rooms when we travel with the dogs.

Sturdy good quality