Midwest Dog Crate Pans

There is no doubt that both owners and dogs love their Midwest Dog Crates. These crates are well made, well designed and last a for very long time. Among all the positive feedback we get, we do get one complaint; the pans. Midwest Replacement Pans are made from ABS plastic. They are tough, durable, and under most circumstances they will last a lifetime. However, some owners report persistent problems with the pans breaking while others state that they last forever. We decided to do some research and find out what is happening.

The Midwest Dog Crate Pan sits on top of the wire bottom of the crate. If your dog is active in the crate, is heavy, or just stands up a lot it, causes flexing between the ABS plastic and the wire bars of the crate bottom. Over time (and with some dogs that is not long) the constant flexing can cause the pan to break. We recommend putting some cushioning between the pan and the crate to reduce this flexing. Suitable materials may include plywood or cardboard, but in our experience the best material for this purpose is carpet.

If you have some left over carpet, you can use this, but even if you do not, you can purchase remnant material from a home improvement store very inexpensively. Home improvement stores cut sections of carpet to length for customers, and often what is left of the roll is not big enough for regular resale. These pieces become remnants and are sold at a discount. We recommend a thicker piece of carpet for this purpose. Simply measure the size of the pan and ask for your local store to cut you a piece the same size. To install, simply remove your Midwest Dog Crate Pan and place the cut piece of carpet on the base of the crate. Next, replace your pan and use your crate as normal.

We hope you have found these tips useful and they lead to extended pan life for your Midwest Dog Crate. If you are in need of a replacement pan, please visit the Midwest Replacement Pans page.