A dog’s crate size is one of the most crucial aspects to consider when you’re purchasing a crate for your furry friend. Learn how to choose a dog’s crate size perfectly.
Introduction
At least half of all households in the United States consist of one individual and a canine. Usually, such co-habitations start off nicely without any strife. After all, the primary reason why you decided to get a dog in the first place is for his company. But, as days go by, you find it difficult to tolerate his somewhat uncouth behavior. He bites and chews on your documents.
The truth is, living together with an undisciplined, untrained creature that is a far cry from the human species is no small task. To prevent strife and unwelcome behavior from your dog, experts recommend crate training. With the ideal crate training schedule, your dog will learn the dos and don’ts of cohabiting with mankind. But, for such a program to be successful, you have to start by investing in the right crate. So, just what size dog crate should you choose? This article serves as a guide to choosing correct dog crate sizes.
Factors to Account for When Determining Dog Crate Size
To find a crate size that your furry friend will love, consider the following aspects:
Size of your Dog
For the best outcome, pet experts recommend measuring the size of your dog before rushing to purchase just any crate. The two important dimensions you should take are his height and length.
- Length – you will need to measure his length starting from his nose to the tail. Once you have this value, add approximately 2 to 4 inches to get the overall length to look for.
- Height – to determine the crate’s height, measure your pooch from the top of his head to the floor. In case your mutt has naturally upright ears, measure from the tip of his ears to the ground.
Furthermore, if your dog is not fully-grown, you should find out just how fast and how big he is likely to grow.
Type of Dog
Another aspect to account for entails the type of dog that you own. Some have small breeds or medium-sized pooches while others keep giant dog breeds. Let’s look at the best crate size for each kind.
Crates for Small Dog Breeds
The smallest dog crates are approximately 24 inches in depth. However, you may find slightly larger crates that stretch to 30 inches. Remember that manufacturers rely on different dog cage size and length charts, so you should add or subtract a few inches for the length dimension of each size.
Essentially, these crates are designed for small dog breeds weighing between 30 and 40 pounds. These include the Jack Russell terrier, the French bulldog, the Maltese and the miniature poodle. These kennels will also perform well for pups. But, this is only if you intend to use the crate during his puppy stage. If you are not certain of the kennel to purchase, it’s more prudent to overestimate by a small margin than to underestimate.
Crates for Medium and Large Dog Breeds
Most medium-sized crates will have a length of 36 inches. They are designed to accommodate dogs weighing between 40 to 70 pounds. Such crates should be used for breeds such as Bulldogs, American Eskimos, and Cocker Spaniels.
As for the large crates, they are likely to have a length of 42 inches. They are suitable for dogs that weigh 70 to 90 pounds. If you own an adult Labrador Retriever, a Golden Retriever, a Border Collie, or a Dalmatian, this crate will is a perfect fit.
Crates for Giant Dog Breeds
On the highest spectrum, we have dog crate dimensions for extra-large and jumbo dog cages. Extra-large kennels are approximately 48 inches long and are designed to accommodate dog weights ranging from 90 to 100 pounds. They are suitable for the Alaskan Malamutes, Bloodhounds, and German Shepherds.
On the other hand, jumbo crates stretch up to 54 inches in length. They are fit dogs that weigh more than 110 pounds such as Mastiffs, Saint Bernards, and Great Danes. Learn more about crates for giant dog breeds by visiting.
Purpose of Buying
Aside from the size and breed of dog, choosing the correct dog crate sizes depends on the purpose for which you are purchasing it. Primarily, there are three reasons why you may want to buy a dog crate, that is, for housebreaking purposes, travel, or containment.
Dog Crates for Housebreaking Purposes
A common reason for buying dog crates is housebreaking. The size of the crate plays a crucial role in the success of a potty training program. You can learn more about the potty training process here. Naturally, dogs are den animals, meaning that they inherently tend to keep their sleeping areas clean. It explains why crate training is so efficient. As soon as your dog becomes accustomed to his crate, he will treat as a safe haven, which means he’ll avoid urinating or defecating in his ‘refuge’ at all costs.
But, there is an exception to this. If you choose dog crate that is too big, your pooch might just decide that the crate provides ample room to separate a sleeping zone from the toilet area. However, if you purchase a well-sized dog crate, then he won’t have any motivation to potty in the crate.
Dog Crates for Travel
Another reason why individuals buy crates is so that they can utilize them when traveling with their pets. For anyone traveling by air with their dogs, you are likely to encounter different regulations based on the airline that you use. Ideally, most airlines require the crate size to be large enough for your pooch to stand upright and lie down in a natural position. However, it should also be small enough to prevent your pet from being thrown around during transit. You should inquire the specific regulations that apply to your airline.
Dog Crates for Containment
Other dog owners purchase crates because they want to confine their dogs to certain areas and activities. As previously stated, untrained mutts can wreak havoc on your home. To avoid this, you may consider purchasing a dog crate. With this regard, you should buy dog crate sizes that can accommodate your dog. It should neither be too big nor too small.
Common Types of Dog Crates
Apart from the different sizes, dog crates also come in different styles. You will come across metal wire, plastic, and soft-sided dog crates, each of which has certain perks and limitations.
Metal Wire Dog Crate
It’s the most common type of dog crate. Most metal dog crates have a single door, although it’s not unusual to find models with doors on the sides. If your pooch likes knowing what’s going on in his environment, this crate fits the bill.
They are also an excellent choice for dog owners who live in hot climates. A metal crate will provide good ventilation. By contrast, if your area is prone to cold weather, you should opt for a more sheltered dog crate.
Wire dog crates are also common because of their collapsible designs. The fact that you can easily fold it up into a compact item makes it the most portable dog crate.
Plastic Dog Crate
They are the second most common dog crates. The good thing about this crate type is that it’s incredibly light; hence being portable. With most plastic dog crates, you can stack up one inside the other for easy storage. Even then, plastic crates take up more space since they are not collapsible.
Another perk of purchasing plastic dog crates is that they are airline approved. As such, if you travel by air frequently and you like taking your pet along, a plastic dog crate is a great deal. Perhaps the only drawback is that it has less visibility. This cage would be an excellent choice for pooches that are easily distracted or ones that get anxious upon seeing new surroundings.
Soft-Sided Crates
Soft-sided crates look very similar to cages. Like plastic and metal wire crates, the soft-sided types are also convenient to use for travel. Whether you’re going for a picnic, to the garden, or taking a trip to the beach, a soft-sided crate will provide ample and quality shelter to your pooch.
Soft-sided dog crates are also machine-washable. You can just throw them in the wash and not get your hands dirty. This feature makes them easy to maintain. Unfortunately, the soft fabric means that they are not all that durable. If you have at one point, found your dog chewing on your clothes or papers, the soft-sided crate is not a prudent choice. He can easily chew through the material and escape.
Conclusion
Crates are essential accessories for anyone who cohabits with animals. Whether you are living with a furry or feathered friend, it’s imperative that you select the correct cage size.
A good rule of thumb is that your furry friend should be capable of moving around, sitting down and standing upright in this crate. All in all, some of the factors that you should account for when determining the crate size include size of the dog, the dog breed, and the purpose of buying.
