AmazonBasics Folding Soft Dog Crate - Detailed Review

The AmazonBasics Folding Soft Dog Crate comes from a brand that probably needs no introduction- Amazon.

When it comes to AmazonBasics, Amazon has kept the definition quite streamlined. Their intention is to simply offer everyday products at a value price. So, customers usually don’t expect anything too fancy here, just value for their money.

And with that, we begin our review on its AmazonBasics Folding Soft Dog Crate. Let’s check this crate out and see if the brand promise here checks out.

Table of Contents

Who Is The AmazonBasics Folding Soft Dog Crate For?

The AmazonBasics Folding Soft Dog Crate is made from polyester fabric. So, naturally, it lacks the strength to keep up with rambunctious dogs. However, a well-trained dog, a senior, or a recuperating dog will find this a comfy unit to live in.

What Are The Features Of The AmazonBasics Folding Soft Dog Crate?

The features of the AmazonBasics Folding Soft Dog Crate are listed below:

Made from poly fabric.

Plastic frames.

Two entries (one top door)

Mesh screens on all sides of the crate.

Available in five different sizes.

1. Material

The AmazonBasics Folding Soft Dog Crate is made of poly fabric. Poly fabric (as well as other kinds of fabrics and nylon material) is the material used to make most soft crates. And yeah, it’s the reason they are referred to as “soft crates”.

Now, there’s good news and bad news when we discuss the material of this crate.

First, the good news. Poly fabric is lightweight, and you could say somewhat sturdy, at least when considering soft crates. So, being lightweight, this material makes the crate lightweight too. Plus, it also makes the crate easy to fold so you can easily transport it and store it if need be.

Also, being soft, it makes a nicer, more forgiving surface to lean against than metal or plastic. So, seniors and recuperating dogs will find this very relaxing.

Now, the bad news. Being soft and lightweight, it can easily be destroyed with some effort from your dog. Don’t get us wrong, this is solid by soft crate standards, more solid than many soft crates we have seen. But still, you need to be careful, especially with destructive dogs or dogs that tend to get separation anxiety (you can read more about that in our article: Dog Separation Anxiety: Causes, Prevention, Symptoms, Treatments. Click here to read it).

2. Plastic Frames

The plastic frames of this crate give the crate its shape and stability. However, they are still easy to set up and fold down. We didn’t pick up on any complaints with the frames so we guess the frames are pretty okay.

3. Multiple Entries

The AmazonBasics Folding Soft Dog Crate comes with two doors. There is one in the front panel and another on top of the crate.

Multiple entries are always best because they make a crate more convenient to use. It would have been really nice though if the crate came with a side door. This would have made it easier for your pooch to come in and out of his crate.

As for the zippers, they aren’t heavy-duty. They look like they can’t take too much of a beating. From our research, we saw that dogs with separation anxiety were able to destroy the zipper and get out of the crate.

4. Windows

This is a well-ventilated unit, no doubt. There are mesh screens on all the sides of the crate, one of them being the door and the other three being the windows. These screens ensure that the crate is always well aerated.

Don’t get too mad if your dog somehow damages them a bit, they are not made of steel, after all.

5. Available Sizes

This crate comes in 5 different sizes. So, there’s a crate for nearly every dog here. From the extra small dogs to the large breeds.

What Are The Benefits Of The AmazonBasics Folding Soft Dog Crate?

The following are benefits of the AmazonBasics Folding Soft Dog Crate

This is a roomy and spacious crate.

Pretty lightweight and folds easily which makes it convenient for storage and travel.

Comes with three mesh windows which allow your pet’s crate to be properly aerated.

This is a pretty solid crate by soft crate standards.

Relatively affordable especially for all the features it offers.

Pretty versatile and can work both indoors and outdoors.

What Are The Cons Of The AmazonBasics Folding Soft Dog Crate?

Zippers aren’t exactly heavy-duty. And even though you can secure with clips, some dogs might still be able to break it and get out.

There’s no way to secure the front door to the roof so that dogs can freely wander in and out on their own.

This does not come with a carrying handle which would have made this crate super easy to carry.

It does not come with a crate pad, mat, or bed for your pet.

Check out these other helpful articles below:

Large dog beds — the complete know-it-all guide.

What Are The Alternatives To The AmazonBasics Folding Soft Dog Crate?

If you want something different from the AmazonBasics Folding Soft Dog Crate, you could consider these other options:

Go Pet Club Soft Dog Crate: comes with handles.

2Pet Foldable Dog Crate: comes with a crate pad.

Arf Pet Soft Dog Crate: three entry points.

Petsfit Indoor/Outdoor Soft Portable Dog Crate: higher-end option.

Option With Handles — Go Pet Club Soft Dog Crate

We think Amazon missed a pretty obvious point when making our featured crate. Even though the crate comes easily foldable, the mere fact that it does not come with handles makes the crate difficult to tote.

If you’re one of those intending to travel with your crate and desperately need handles, then check out this crate, Go Pet Club Soft Dog Crate. The crate doesn’t just come with handles, it also folds and sets up easily like our featured product.

Soft Crate With Crate Pad Included — The 2Pet Foldable Dog Crate

A couple of customers hoped to see a crate mat in the AmazonBasics crate. Now, if you’re one of those, and you feel like it’s a deal-breaker for you, then check this crate out. The 2Pet Foldable Dog Crate comes with a crate pad included in the crate.

Of course, it might not be as plush as crate mats you buy but it will serve. The mat is waterproof and also comes with a fleece cushion pad which you can wash when you have to.

A Crate With More Entries — Arf Pet Soft Dog Crate

More entries, more convenience. The Arf Pet Soft Dog Crate comes with three doors which makes the crate really convenient for all involved.

There’s a door at the top and one each on the front and side panels, respectively. So, your pet should be able to wander in and out easily. And you can also take care of some crate chores conveniently too.

Mind you, this is a pretty large crate, so large some people found it awkward to move around even with the handles. You should keep that in mind when getting this crate.

Higher-End Soft Crate Option — Petsfit Indoor/Outdoor Soft Portable Dog Crate

If you’d prefer something fancier and higher-end, then check out the Petsfit Indoor/Outdoor Soft Portable Dog Crate. It comes in a sophisticated black color which gives the crate an elitist look. It comes in two sizes which are great for medium-sized dogs.

This crate is actually best for an open dog bed than a crate. It sets up fast without tools and is also pretty sturdy.

Quick Comparison Table

	Featured	More Travel Friendly	Soft Crate With Crate Pad	More Entries	Higher End Option
Product	AmazonBasics Folding Soft Dog Crate Click here for details	Go Pet Club Soft Dog Crate Click here for details	2Pet Foldable Dog Crate Click here for details	Arf Pet Soft Dog Crate Click here for details	Petsfit Indoor/Outdoor Soft Portable Dog Crate Click here for details
Material	Poly fabric	Heavy duty polyester with PVC backing	600D Oxford fabric	Tightly woven mesh	Fabric with metal frame
Sizes Available	5 sizes	All sizes	5 sizes: 20 inches, 24 inches, 28 inches, 32 inches, and 36 inches	2 sizes: 27.5 inches and 36 inches	2 Sizes: 30 inches and 36 inches
Doors	2	1	2	3	2
Colors Available	Green	Green, Brown, and Blue	Biscuit Beige, Bonny Blue, Grizzle Grey, and Rawhide Red	Blue	Black
Assembly Required?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Best For	All sizes of crate-trained dogs	For crate-trained dogs only	Crate-trained dogs	Small to medium crate-trained dogs	Crate-trained dogs

What Are Customers Saying About The AmazonBasics Folding Soft Dog Crate?

Customers love the AmazonBasics Folding Soft Dog Crate for quite a number of reasons. For one, they’ve found this to be quite sturdy for a soft crate.

A lot of customers also found this easy to move around with. However, there was a small issue. No handles. This was a big problem for most people as it made the crate somewhat difficult to carry. In fact, for most people, it defeated the portability of the crate. A few pet parents had to just use the crate as a house crate instead of a travel crate.

As for size, many customers were satisfied with this crate as it came spacious and roomy enough for most pets. Some pet parents were even able to carry two pets in the crate at the same time without so much stress.

Now, to the zippers… They aren’t the highest quality zippers in the world and customers seem to agree with that. They work well only if the dog in question is the docile type.

Altogether, this crate did fine in the assessment of most customers. However, some customers hoped to see some improvements. For instance, they hoped AmazonBasics would include a crate mat and a door that can be attached to the roof when opened.

So, for most customers, this crate is pretty good.

Should I Get The AmazonBasics Folding Soft Dog Crate?

The AmazonBasics Folding Soft Dog Crate is a pretty good crate. It’s solid and obviously well made. Plus, it’s also quite durable and looks good too. It would have been better if this crate came with handles, though. It’s probably the biggest regret with this crate. But besides that, the AmazonBasics Folding Soft Dog Crate makes an excellent choice if you’re looking for a soft crate.

However, you want to ensure that you don’t use this as a travel crate or a pet carrier. It will work best as a house crate.

AmazonBasics Folding Soft Dog Crate FAQs

Is The AmazonBasics Folding Soft Dog Crate A Good Crate For Dogs?

The AmazonBasics Folding Soft Dog Crate is definitely a good buy, especially for the price. The quality is decent and people who have used the crate have good reviews.

We must caution, though, that this is a soft crate. Hence, it should not be used by dogs that are not fully crate-trained yet.

Why Won’t My Dog Go In Her Crate All Of A Sudden?

If you’ve properly crate-trained your dog and she suddenly refuses to go into her crate, there a few possible reasons behind that:

She’s being over-crated.
She might be experiencing some kind of pain.

She might have developed some bad associations with her crate.

Why Is My Dog Suddenly Whining In His Crate?

A dog that is properly crate-trained should not whine in his crate but if yours is whining, then it’s possibly because he’s feeling lonely or bored and he really needs to get out of his crate.

Now, please note that whining in the crate is very different from separation anxiety. A dog with separation anxiety will go to great lengths to escape confinement including destroying the crate if possible. If this is your dog, you’d need to consult an expert to help your dog.

Should I Force My Dog Into His Crate?

You should never force your dog into his crate otherwise you risk your dog developing crate hate.

When introducing your dog to her crate, remember to start slowly. Make sure the crate is as comfortable as possible and don’t forget to put her favorite toys into the crate.

It might take a bit of time for your dog to get used to her crate but your patience will yield results, so, be patient. Finally, don’t forget to praise and reward her when she does go into her crate.

Do Dogs Get Bored In Their Crate?

Whether or not your dog gets bored in his crate would depend on your approach to crating. Normally, a dog’s crate is a safe space for him to relax and freely express his den instincts.

However, dogs still need to exercise. So, if he stays in there for over-extended periods at a time, he could get bored, even destructive.

That said, even when crating your dog for a relatively short period, you want to put his favorite toy in his crate as well and put his crate in a part of the house where people frequent. This will keep him mentally stimulated and keep him from feeling lonely which can lead to boredom.

How Long Can You Crate A Dog While At Work?

How long you can crate a dog generally depends on their age.

8 to 10 weeks: 30 to 60 minutes max.

11 to 14 weeks: 1 to 3 hours max.
15 to 16 weeks: 3 to 4 hours max.
17 weeks plus: 4 to 5 hours max.

Healthy, adult dog: 8 hours max.