Naturally, dogs are den animals, which is why dog crates help dogs achieve a sense of security in the absence of a suitable natural environment. As a dog (and many other animals) will not soil its den in a natural setting, a dog crate will provide sufficient house training to keep it from soiling parts of your home. It acts useful during the puppy period and prevents dogs from developing destructive habits, keeping furniture safe from all the jaw fury. Looking for a dog crate might sound easy, but certain factors require attention when doing the job. Your dog will probably spend a lot of its time inside the crate, so make sure it doesn’t turn out as a punishment. Various factors like dog crate sizes and the materials they contain play major roles in determining the eventual comfort for your dog.
Several Factors That a Dog Owner Should Keep in Mind
From soft-sided to plastic dog crates, it is not easy to pick the most suitable one for your pet. In most cases, the selection depends on the pooch. Dog crates sizing is the top priority, but other properties and qualities play a vital role too. One should consider the following when picking the right crate:
- The style that suits home
- The age of your favorite pet
- Preferences of your pet that might give a clue on the size
- The preferable climate
- Travel opportunities
- Proper measurements of the dog (estimated length, width, and height)
So, these factors are necessary. Keep in mind one important thing: the stronger your pet is, the stronger the crate has to be. Once again, what is the proper crate size for dogs? Keep on reading to find out!
What Is the Recommended Size of a New Kennel for Your Puppy?
The medium one. You see, the primary question is related to the kennel’s properties. Its size may either fit your pet or not, making it feel uncomfortable or even scared. Of course, all pets sooner or later accommodate, but it is crucial to make them love the new “shelter” from the first sight. Your dog should feel both comfortable and safe.
What does the process of sizing a dog crate look like? To begin with, it is necessary to take a tape measure. Start with calculating the length. To do so, command your dog to stand on its back paws. Estimate the height while the pet remains in that posture. Start doing it from the nose if the head looks up and moves it to the ground. You should not consider the full length of a tail.
Measure the dog from its nose to the base of the tail. That would be the length. After that, command the pet to sit down and take additional measures. Add between two and four inches to the obtained numbers to obtain the perfect dog crates size. Remember that you’re doing this so that your dog or puppy will not feel uncomfortable in their temporary “shelter.” After all, it will serve them as a second home.
Dog crates come in various sizes, and going with the wrong one can produce some long-term problems for you and your dog. You should consider the following when trying to choose a dog crate:
- Make sure it’s not too small. The crate should be large enough for your dog to be able to stand, sit straight, turn around, and lie on its side with its paws stretched. If it’s too small, the limitations in movement produced by the crate can result in cramps for your dog, and possibly some of the worse internal injuries after regular use.
- The crate being too large isn’t any good either. You might think that you’re doing your dog a favor, but large dog crate sizes aren’t too nice for your dog’s house training. Your dog should have enough space for comfortable movement, but not enough to reserve an area for dumping its waste.
- Do not rely on ‘ideal sizes’ for particular ages or species. Dogs vary in almost every physical characteristic (except being a dog), including size. Individual measurements should be considered when looking for a dog crate.
Tips and Tricks for Measuring Grown-Up Dogs
Estimating the Length
You should start by estimating the length. Your dog must obey your commands. The idea is to make it stand on both back paws. The dog should keep its head up. Once again, start from the nose and move down to the tail (the tail must also be included). However, do not take into account the full tail’s length to avoid the oversized kennel. You might have to add four inches to the obtained results. It is required if the pet is large. It would be enough for the rest of the dog types to add only a couple of inches to get the perfect crate picture.
Measuring the Height
Do you know how to put your pet in the upright position? If no, you may need to study some guides explaining this and how to make them stand and obey your commands. You will need your puppy in this posture for some time, so it should obey you. You may begin the process with the floor. Finish with the top dot of the head. Many people ask whether ears count. Well, in most cases, no. Add 2-4″ like in the previous case, and here you go! That is how you size crate for the dog.
Choosing the Right “Shelter” for Your Cute Puppy
The crates for dogs’ sizes are special for small pets. A puppy, or just a small dog, requires a different type of kennel. The tiniest one is roughly 24″. A crate of the same size from different brands can vary in terms of comfort. Except for the color and other small nuances, the owner should start by estimating the length.
Both puppies and tiny breeds may benefit from wearing the same kennels. Pick one that is 18-22 inches (in most cases). They would fit the following dogs:
- Mini poodle
- French bulldog
- Jack Russell terrier
- Maltese
- Most of the puppies
Recommended Dog Crate Sizes for the Popular Breeds
We have mentioned that the size of dog crate often depends on the breed. There are large, intermediate, small, and extra small doggies. The basic rules to keep in mind are:
Consider the pet’s gender and ancestry as these factors impact the dog’s size.
XS Dog Breeds (e.g., Affenpinscher, Boston Terrier, Chihuahua, Japanese Chin, Russkiy Toy, Yorkshire Terrier, etc.): the minimum length is 18 inches; the minimum width is 14 inches; the maximum length is 22 inches; while the maximum width is 16 inches.
S Dog Breeds (e.g., Australian Silky Terrier, Chinese Crested, Dachshund, Fox Terrier, French Bulldog, Lhasa Apso, Miniature Schnauzer, Tibetan Spaniel, etc.): the minimum length is 24 inches; the minimum width is 19 inches; the maximum length is 25 inches; while the maximum width is 21 inches.
M Dog Breeds (e.g., American Pit Bull Terrier, Basenji, Cocker Spaniel, German Pinscher, Shetland Sheepdog, Tibetan Terrier, etc.): the minimum length is 30 inches; the minimum width is 21 inches; the maximum length is 31 inches; while the maximum width is 24 inches.
Intermediate & L Breed Dogs (e.g., Australian Shepherd, Bearded Collie, Boxer, English Setter, Golden Retriever, Irish Water Spaniel, Labrador Retriever, Thai Ridgeback, standard Poodle, etc.): the minimum length is 42 inches; the minimum width is 30 inches; the maximum length is 43,25 inches; while the maximum width is 30,25 inches.
Those are the recommended dog crates sizes concerning the breed. Now, we should speak about specific types of kennels for your pets.
What Kind of Cages to Purchase Today? Four Basic Options
Nowadays, the range of zoo products impresses. You may order online, but the best idea is to go to the zoo store and try it on. It is possible to pick one of the listed kennels:
- Metal
- Plastic
- Soft-sided
- Metal heavy
They all possess different features. Thus, they suit different dogs. Once you type in “sizing dog crates” in Google, you’ll get the list of recommended stores and models.