Wire or plastic may be better under certain circumstances. Wire crates provide more ventilation and leave the dog open to the environment. Some dogs love that. They’re confined, yet still part of the action. Plastic crates have a more enclosed space but still have four-sided ventilation. This gives the dog a place to escape from what’s going on outside of the crate. Plastic crates are designed for travel, though they can be used at home, too. They’re lightweight and sometimes include top-carrying handles. Both plastic and wire should resist chewing, but both can succumb to a determined chewer or anxious dog.