What Size Crate Does Your Dog Need? Crate Training Part 3 of 3

The third and final installment of our Crate Training Series is about choosing the right size crate for your pet. It’s much like choosing the right size home or car for your family. Size is dependent on a few things.

The crate should be big enough for the dog to stretch on his side, and get up and turn around without his head hitting the top. A crate that is too big is better than one that is too small.

For an adult dog, measure from the tip of the dog’s nose to the base of his tail for the proper crate length, and from the ground to the top of his skull for height. For puppies, do the same, and add about 12” for his anticipated adult height. With puppies, you may want to block out the extra area of the crate so that he does not eliminate in the far corner. You can buy a smaller crate and buy a new, larger one when he becomes an adult, but many crates can be bought with “dividers” so that you do not have to buy a brand new one when your dog grows older.

Crates come in wire mesh or in plastic “Varikennels” that have a wire grating on the door and along the sides. The wire mesh crates are usually collapsible which makes for easier storage, and you can easily place a blanket or towel on top of them to provide more privacy for the dog. Either crate works fine, although we prefer the wire mesh crates.

Use the chart below to help give you an idea of what size crate to buy for your dog.

*The sizing recommendations and breed examples listed below are manufacturer standards, intended to give very general idea. Please size according to the size of YOUR dog.

And when you are on the go or travelling, remember to have a Portable Crate like this one or the Sky Kennel for air travel.

Crate Size	Approximate Weight of the Dog	Example of Appropriate Breeds
18″x18″ or 18″x24″	Under 24 lbsUnder 30 lbs	Chihuahua	The New Age EcoFlex Crate comes in sizes small, medium and large. Find yours here.
24”x18” or 24”x24”	Under 30 lbsUnder 38 lbs	Affenpinscher, Cairn Terrier, Havanese, Japanese Chin, Maltese, Norfolk Terrier, Pekingese, Pomeranian, Scottish Terrier, Shih Tzu, Skye Terrier, Silky Terrier, Toy Poodle, Toy Fox Terrier, West Highland White Terrier, Yorkshire Terrier	Merry Pet 2-in-1 Configurable Pet Crate n Crate is ideal for the under 40 lbs pet. Get yours here.
24″x30″ or 24″x36″	Under 40 lbsUnder 40 lbs	Cocker Spaniel, Australian Terrier, Basset Hound, Bichon Frise, Boston Terrier, French Bulldog, Bull Terrier, Cardigan Welsh Corgi, Dachshund, Italian Greyhound, Jack Russell Terrier, Lhasa Apso, Poodle, Schnauzer, Parson Russell Terrier, Wirehaired Fox Terrier	Heavy Duty Dog Crate Metal Dog Kennel and Playpen for Medium and Large Dogs with Double Doors, Removable Tray and Four Wheels
30″x24″ or30″x30″ or 30″x36″	0-40 lbs40-50 lbs50-60 lbs	American Eskimo Dog, American Staffordshire Terrier, Basenji, Beagle, Brittany Spaniel, Chinese Sharpei, Chow Chow, German Pinscher, Irish Terrier, Keeshond, Kerry Blue Terrier	The MidWest Exercise Pen / Pet Playpens \| 8-Panels Each w/ 5 Height Options Ideal is ideal for Any Dog Breed
36″x24″ or36″x30″ or 36″x36″	40-60 lbs50-60 lbs60-80 lbs	American Pit Bull Terrier, Australian Cattle Dog, Border Collie, Bull Terrier, Dalmatian, Old English Sheepdog	The Elite Field 3 Door Soft crate is great for indoors or out.
42″x30″ or 42″x36″	80-100 lbs80-100 lbs	Airedale Terrier, Alaskan Malamute, American Bulldog, Boxer, Briard, Malinois, Tervueren	New World Folding Metal Dog Crate; Single Door & Double Door Dog Crates Comes in 24 to 48: accomodating your Airedale, Briard, Malinois and Malamute. Find it here.
48″x24″ or 48″x30″	80-90 lbs80-100 lbs	Airedale Terrier, Alaskan Malamute, Boxer, Briard, Dalmatian, Malinois, Tervueren	New World Folding Metal Dog Crate; Single Door & Double Door Dog Crates Comes in 24 to 48: accomodating your Airedale, Briard, Malinois and Malamute. Find it here.
48″x36″	Up to 100 lbs	Afghan, Akita, Bloodhound, Borzoi, Chinook, Doberman Pinscher, German Shepherd, Gordon Setter, Greyhound, Irish Setter, Leonberger, Neopolitan Mastiff, Newfoundland, Pointer, Rottweiler, Siberian Husky, Standard Poodle, Weimaraner	The MidWest Homes for Pets Crate has either Single Door or Double Door Folding Metal and will be dieal for Standard Poodle, Rottweiler, etc. These are available from 18″ to 48″. Find them on Amazon here.
60″x36″ or 72″x36″	100-150 lbs150-180 lbs	Akita, Anatolian Shepherd Dog, Bernese Mountain Dog, Bullmastiff, Great Dane, Great Pyrenees, Irish Wolfhound, Leonberger, Mastiff, Newfoundland, Scottish Deerhound, Siberian Husky	The MidWest Homes for Pets XXL Giant Dog Crate 54-Inch Long and a Ginormous Double Door is the right size for these very large breeds. Find yours here.

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