Pvc Dog Enclosures Vs Wire Enclosures

Rover PVC Enclosures vs Wire Enclosures
There are a few primary differences between metal wire enclosures and PVC vinyl enclosures; Metal enclosures are more affordable, but tend to be less effective when a dog learns how to escape, and vinyl enclosures are entirely rust proof and offer a rigid, durable construction and your dog wont get its coat caught on the enclosure.
Susceptibility to Rust
Depending on how well you take care of your metal enclosures, you can typically get several years use out of each one. However, like all metal materials, the wire enclosures will eventually fall victim to rust and potentially become a safety hazard. PVC enclosures are entirely rust proof, and they can last many times longer than metal enclosures.
Keeping Your Dogs Contained
Traditional enclosures are made of metal wire and require multi-directional supports. The combination of vertical and horizontal wires creates a ladder that many dogs can learn how to climb up, and eventually out of the enclosure. In addition, if a metal enclosure isn't properly supported, it could easily be knocked over or bent out of shape.
Because of their rigid construction, PVC Vinyl enclosures don't need as much cross-directional support. Shorter enclosures don't need a middle support, and even the largest sizes only need one middle support. This design prevents dogs from climbing up the sides and out of the pen.
Affordability
Wire enclosures are less expensive than vinyl enclosures and, if taken care of properly, they can last for several years. Vinyl enclosures are the more expensive initially, but with a longer expected life, they cost less in the long run.
Compact Design
Vinyl enclosures are much thicker than metal, taking up much more space when you need to store them. A usual wire enclosure is only 1/4 inch wide, so when you stack 8 panels together it takes up less than 2 inches; Compare that to vinyl, that are 3/4 of an inch to a full inch wide, and a stack of 8 panels takes up more than 6 inches.
Rigid Construction
When it comes to the strength of construction, PVC Vinyl enclosures win hands-down. Vinyl pet enclosures are much more rigid, and they even include locking pieces to keep straight sections and hold corners firm. When your dogs jump against a metal enclosure, the sides flex and the joints bend. If a dog places their legs through the wire enclosure and it flexes, it could cause a painful pinch or even break their bones.
So which one is the best choice?
In situations where you are on a tight budget, have significant space limitations, or only need a short term solution, a wire enclosure can do the trick. For the majority of situations though, I would recommend a vinyl enclosure because of the safe, durable, long lasting design and your dog wont break a tooth on the PVC enclosure.