Zinger Dog Crates

A tough and durable heavy duty dog crate made of aluminum and customizable for any purpose.

Zinger Crates — Why Serious Dog Owners Choose Aluminum Over Everything Else

Plastic crates crack. Wire crates bend. Dogs that are determined to get out usually succeed — and the ones that try hardest are often the ones you least want loose in a vehicle doing 70 mph down the highway. Zinger aluminum crates exist for exactly that situation. Built from aircraft-grade aluminum, they're roughly one-third the weight of a comparable steel crate but stronger than anything plastic or wire will ever be. A dog that has destroyed every other crate it's ever been in meets its match in a Zinger.

The construction is straightforward and honest: welded aluminum frame, full-length piano hinge on the door, striker plate latch, and vented panels on all four sides for airflow. No plastic corners to crack in cold weather, no wire to rust or bend. Every crate ships factory direct and is built to order — which is why there's a 3–7 business day processing window before it ships. That's not a delay, that's a crate being built specifically for you.

Nearly 30 Years of Getting It Right

Zinger Winger has been manufacturing aluminum dog crates and sporting dog gear since 1995 — nearly 30 years of building one thing and building it right. What sets a Zinger apart isn't just the material, it's the details: aircraft-grade aluminum construction with a silver hammertone powder coat applied inside and out, so your dog's coat never picks up the grey oxidation residue that bare aluminum crates leave behind. The lockable slam latch is flush-mounted and keyed — someone can't just walk up and open it. Ventilation runs down every side and across the back wall with triple rows of upper and lower vent holes, and aluminum's natural heat-dissipating properties keep the interior cooler than steel or plastic in warm weather. The door is built on a full-length piano hinge, reversible for left or right-hand opening, and reinforced with solid welded bars. These aren't mass-produced crates sitting in a warehouse. Zinger builds each one to order, and the company has stood behind them long enough to earn the trust of gun dog trainers, AKC handlers, law enforcement K9 units, and serious pet owners across North America who tried everything else first.

Which Size Is Right for Your Dog?

Zinger sizes run from the 3000 (30") up to the 6000 (44"). The number in the model name roughly corresponds to the interior length in inches. For a proper fit, your dog should be able to stand up fully, turn around, and lie down stretched out — but the crate shouldn't be so large that it negates the den-like security that makes crating effective. When in doubt, size up rather than down.

Customize Your Crate — Options Available at Checkout

Every Zinger crate can be configured at the time of order. The base crate covers most needs, but several add-ons are worth considering depending on how you use the crate:

Airline Travel Kit (IATA 82 compliant) — If you fly with your dog, this is required. The kit adds ventilation rails along the sides and back wall, carrying handles, food and water bowls, ID tags, Live Animal stickers, and deadbolt covers. Without this kit, the crate does not meet IATA 82 airline specifications. With it, it does — and it's one of the lightest airline-approved crates available.

Escape Proof Upgrade (Professional Heavy Duty Door) — For dogs that have broken out of everything else. The upgraded door adds welded cross-bars, secondary locking plates, and a reinforced piano hinge. If your dog has ever opened or bent its way out of a crate, order this upgrade. The standard door is very strong; this one is in a different category entirely.

Caster Wheels — High-quality wheels that attach to the base, making it easy to roll a loaded crate through a vehicle, kennel building, or show hall. If you're moving dogs frequently in a heavy-use environment, these are worth it.

Additional Door — Adds a second entry point, useful for vehicle configurations where you need access from multiple sides.

Drain-Thru Mat — A fitted floor mat with drainage perforations. Keeps the dog up off any moisture and simplifies cleanup after travel.

Carry Handles — Overhead handles for two-person lifting. More useful on the smaller sizes where one person can manage the weight.

Shipping & Processing

Because every Zinger crate is built to order with your selected options, each one requires 3–7 business days of processing time before it ships factory direct to your door. Expedited shipping is available but the clock starts from the ship date, not the order date. If you have a hard deadline — a hunt trip, a flight, a dog show — order with enough lead time built in.

Free ground shipping applies to all Zinger crate orders to the lower US 48.