Disclaimer: this article contains affiliate links, and we may receive a commission on sales when you use those links, at no additional cost to you. We only recommend products we use and genuinely love.
As pet owners, it is our responsibility to provide our dogs with a safe and secure environment. Dog crates provide a private space for your dog where they can relax and feel comfortable. Crates keep dogs contained and safe, and are the absolute best option to avoid behavioral nonsense at any time a dog can’t be under supervision. Many experts recommend dog crates for house-training puppies, especially to manage common young dog behaviors like chewing and eliminating indoors. Dog crates are useful when traveling or on vacation, and they can help manage a multi-dog household. They’re also an indicator for downtime; when your dog is crated, the expectation is to be calm and relax, which is invaluable for dog owners during moments of the normal chaos of life.
There are many different dog crates available in the market, varying in size, shape, material, and durability. Ensuring that you pick the best one for your pet is often difficult to do. There is so much to consider when picking a crate, and the options can be baffling, especially to first-time owners. We’ve compiled a list of things to consider when picking the best crate for you, to help you and your dog both rest easy.
Crate Size
Choosing the right crate size for your dog is very important. Crates come in many sizes, and it’s usually not as cut-and-dry as determining if your dog is “small,” “medium,” or “large.” There is no universal standard for sizing, meaning that different brands will manufacture different sizes. Therefore, it’s crucial to know the measured size of your dog and the dimensions of the exact crate you are considering.
When it comes to sizing of “every day” crates, a good rule of thumb is that a dog should be able to stand up, turn around, and sit down comfortably. In a standard down, the dog should have room both behind them and in front of their paws, with the door closed. To get a better idea of how that translates to numbers, you can measure your dog’s height when standing as well as their length from nose to the tail. For each of those measurements, add at least four inches to each to determine the exact dog’s ideal crate size. If your dog seems to be between sizes, we always recommend sizing up slightly rather than down. If you plan on leaving any objects in the crate with your dog such as a food dish or a chew toy, account for these as well and add size accordingly.
In the case of puppies, you can either upgrade their crate periodically, or save yourself the money and trouble by simply planning ahead. While puppies need smaller space while they are very young, keep in mind that your puppy will be a full-sized dog in a few short months, requiring a significantly larger space in little time at all. Our recommendation for puppies is to select a crate that is sized appropriately for their adult size, and use a divider while they are still small. The divider will give them a more appropriately-sized space while they are young, and can be moved or taken out completely when they approach their adult size.
Crate Material
Dog crates are made from many different materials such as metal/wire, wood, plastic, and even fabric. Every dog crate material has its advantages and disadvantages. In the following lines, we will discuss the crate materials and their pros and cons.
Wood crates are a little less common than other materials, and are most often seen as furniture crates that double as a table, TV console, or nightstand (more on this below). The good thing about wooden dog crates is that they are resistant to bending and can look much nicer in a room than other materials. However, wooden crates can be damaged from moisture (like puppy urine), usually do not break down or move easily, and are not suitable for puppies or destructive dogs because they are easily damaged by scratching and chewing. Some wood dog crates avoid this issue by using both a wood surround and a wire structure, allowing the aesthetics of the wood crate as well as the security of a wire crate. We recommend fully-wood crates for the reliable crate-trained dog with a track record of good crate behavior, and for people who will not be needing to move their dog’s crate around often.
Plastic crates have their advantages, but are usually not advisable for daily use because they are bulky and difficult to assemble and disassemble. That said, plastic crates are recommended for dogs with anxiety issues as the plastic is more difficult to compromise with damage than wire crates, and usually provide a more “enclosed” feel from the solid material. Plastic crates also tend to come smaller than other varieties, as they are usually intended as travel or shipping crates. If you size a plastic crate appropriately, however, it can make a perfectly reasonable daily crate for your dog. We recommend plastic crates for puppies (for the aforementioned “enclosed” feel and reduction of outside distraction) and for traveling, but we usually advise a different option for long-term use.
Metal wire crates are easy to assemble, simple to clean, and can be customized using dividers. A folding wire crate has a grid of thick wires that make a secure place for your dog. Wire crates allow your dog to see the surrounding area, and the open design allows for steady airflow. There are wire crate options with one entry point, or two, so that you can position the crate in any spot and still provide good access for your dog. They typically come with a plastic bottom pan, which removes for easy cleaning, and they fold down for transport fairly easily in a minute or two. Metal wire crates are a great option for most pet dogs, and what we recommend for most dogs.
Fabric crates are not usually ones we advise for daily use, but they can fair well with dogs with a track record of being well crate-trained, mild -natured, and non-destructive. Dog owners usually select fabric dog crates because of the enclosed feel, ease of transport, and the washability of the Nylon fabric. The fabric crates are typically made with waterproof and very breatheable material, and they are incredibly lightweight and easy to break down, which makes them ideal for camping or touring. That said, fabric crates are possibly the easiest for a dog to damage and, in turn, to escape from. We usually only recommend fabric crates for occasional use while traveling, but have seen them used with success as everyday crates by clients in the past.
Alluminum or heavy-duty crates are the absolute best-of-the-best, but they cost as much as the best-of-the-best should cost. Heavy-duty dog crates are ideal for high anxiety or high drive dogs that could feasibly break other crate types. Alluminum dog crates are incredibly sturdy, made of solid metal panels that leave no room for a dog to bend or break out. The metal panels fold down just like a standard wire crate, and they are remarkably lightweight and easy to transport for the overall bulk of them.. An attractive feature of an aluminum dog crate is that they are resistant to corrosion and provide the security of a wire crate (and then some) paired with the enclosure and solidness of a plastic/shipping crate. Heavy-duty crates are commonly favored by people who own very high-drive or working dogs
Location, Accessories, and Other Considerations
Before you choose any size or make a final decision on material for your crate, it’s a good idea to decide the general area you’ll be keeping your dog’s crate to ensure that the one you end up getting fits for both your dog and your intended space. It’s generally advised to pick a quiet spot for your dog’s crate, as that is the calm spot where your dog will sleep at night and relax when not under supervision. For a place to hang out with the family, we recommend a dog bed and teaching the place command; crate time, though, is typically alone time. It’s a good idea to plan ahead with this in mind.
Although crate time is typically alone time, that doesn’t mean that your dog needs to have no stimulation at all. We advise against loud or exciting toys, but Kongs and other solid and sturdy/”chew-proof” toys are usually fine, as long as they are removed when the dog is finished. Our strong recommendation is to not leave objects alone in the crate with your dog for long periods of time as a safety precaution to prevent choking. And if any toy causes your dog to become overly-excited in the crate, it’s best to remove them to maintain that the crate is a place for calm. This is very much a your-mileage-may-vary situation, and it’s best to evaluate the dog in front of you and make adjustments based on results. For the purpose of training, toys are really not necessary, and it is completely optional to the owner whether or not to include them.
Covers and dog beds are another option that comes with some consideration. For a wire mesh crate, many dog owners opt to include crate covers or blankets draped over, to decrease external stimulus and facilitate the calm environment. Adding cloth over the crate can create a comfortable and peaceful environment for some dogs, but it is fine to skip them if your dog has a habit of pulling them into the crate and destroying them. Usually, this is less likely in crate covers than it is for blankets. Similarly, dog beds can make the crate more physically comfortable for some dogs, but they can also be chewed and ripped, and then become a safety hazard on their own. It is fine to forego the dog bed if your dog shows destructive tendencies, and adjust as needed.
What do you think? Did we miss anything? What kind of crate is your favorite, and why? Let us know in the comments!
