Looking for a crate for your new dog or puppy? Here are some of the best crates and how to choose the right one!
By MICHELLE MCCRORK | Published 3/3/2023
Different dogs will need different crate requirements. Some factors to consider include: What size is my dog, what size will they be, what my dog’s personality is like, and what kind of training am I hoping to undergo with my dog?
The size of your dog’s crate is possibly the most important decision. You don’t want to get your dog a crate too big and you don’t want one too small.
You should always buy a crate based on what size your dog is going to be. If your dog is a small puppy but will grow into a big saint bernard you are going to want to buy the size of the cage for the adult saint bernard. Most crates will have a size chart listed so you know what size you will need.
You want the crate to have enough room for your dog to comfortably move around and lay down but you don’t want to get much bigger than that. If your dog’s crate has too much room it may encourage them to use a corner of their crate as a restroom.
As your dog is growing into their crate you can use dividers to make the size of the crate smaller until your puppy is ready for the full size of the crate.
Open wire cages will work for most dogs but may not be a good choice for all of them. A good example of this is if your dog is anxious. An anxious dog may enjoy a darker more enclosed crate than another dog.
If you have multiple dogs getting an enclosed crate may also be a good option. Often times when dogs are housed in crates beside each other it can raise their anxiety due to seeing each other and being separated. Having a barrier between crates helps with this.
The type of crate you need may be impacted by the training you are going to undergo with your dog. If you are planning of traveling with your dog or your dog is a working dog you may want to get a crate that you can easily transport or take with you.
Steel
Metal
Plastic
Single door
Double lock
No assembly and foldable
Easy clean removable plastic tray
Comes with a divider panel
Steel
Metal
Plastic
2 doors
Enhanced lock
No assembly and foldable
Easy clean removable plastic tray
Comes with a divider panel
Includes crate mat
Steel
Metal
Plastic
Multiple Doors
Carry handle
Color Options
Good For Travel Or Home
Steel
Mesh
Fabric
Multiple Doors
Carry handles
Color Options
Good For Travel Or Home
Curtains
Mesh for sunlight and air flow
Now that you have chosen your crate the next step is training. For tips and how to crate train
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