When you first get your dog, whether he is a puppy or an adopted dog, one of the easiest ways to make him feel at home is a safe and sturdy dog crate. Everyone needs their own personal space where they can rest and relax, including your dog. Every dog naturally has the instinct to den, and loves to have a place of their own to retreat in to for a little personal "me" time. A dog crate creates a safe place to contain your pet when you are not at home, as well as makes housetraining a lot easier because most dogs will not soil their space.
Choosing the Right Crate Size
There are tons of dog crate sizes available to consider, and picking the right one for your dog is critical in ensuring a positive experience from day one. If the crate is too small, your dog will feel cramped and uncomfortable; while if the crate is too large, your dog will have too much open space, creating a possibility for accidents within the crate. The right size crate should allow your dog to comfortably stand, turn around, and lie down.
3 Things to Consider When Choosing Crate Size:
- How big is your dog? The crate should be at least 2 to 4 inches longer than their body length and 2 to 4 inches higher than their shoulder height for adequate comfort.
- Will your dog grow? Puppies need a smaller space right now, but plenty of room as they grow bigger. Consider using a crate with divider panels that can be removed as they grow into the crate.
- Will your dog try to escape? You don't want a dog that injures himself trying to escape from a wire crate by chewing or clawing his way out. A soft sided crate or a thicker metal crate would help prevent them from breaking their teeth and toenails.
Use the chart below to help give you an idea of what size dog crate you should get for your dog.
| Size |
Crate Dimensions (in) |
Max Height (in) | Max Length (in) | Breed Weight (lbs) | Breed Recommendations |
| 18" | 18 L x 12 W x 14 H | 10 | 14 | up to 6 | Chihuahua, Pomeranian |
| 22" | 22 L x 13 W x 15.5 H | 11.5 | 18 | up to 12 | Toy Poodle, Yorkshire Terrier |
| 24" | 24 L x 18 W x 19.25 H | 15.25 | 20 | 13 to 25 | Havanese, Pug |
| 30" | 30 L x 19 W x 21 H | 17 | 26 | 26 to 40 | French Bulldog, Miniature Pinscher |
| 36" | 36 L x 23 W x 25 H | 21 | 32 | 41 to 70 | Beagle, Bulldog |
| 42" | 42 L x 28 W x 30 H | 26 | 28 | 71 to 90 | Golden Retriever, Pitbull |
| 48" | 48 L x 30 W x 32.5 H | 28.5 | 46 | 91 to 110 | German Shepherd, Doberman |
After figuring out what size dog crate you should buy for your dog, you should consider the layout of your home when choosing what type of crate you want. Will you put your dog crate away when it is not in use? Then a collapsible crate is easier for storage. Do you want the crate to match your home décor? Then consider a multi-functional crate and furniture dog crate.
Ready to shop for dog crates? Check out your options below:
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