Choosing the Right Crate for your Dog

Decisions, decisions. You've made the wise decision to crate train your dog, but now you have to figure out what kind of crate to buy and how big it should be. Buying the wrong crate can mess up your training program, so here are some guidelines to remember when you're at the pet store or online purchasing Fido's crate.

The biggest mistake dog owners make when choosing a crate is getting one that's way too big. For housebreaking purposes, Fido's crate should be just big enough for him to stand up, turn around and lie down in. This will help your housebreaking program, since Fido has a natural tendency to not want to soil his sleeping area. If you get a crate that's too big, he'll use one half as a bedroom and the other half as a bathroom. Not good.

There are 4 basic crate types to choose from - wire crates, plastic crates, soft-sided crates and cute crates. There are advantages and disadvantages to each, which we'll discuss here to help you choose what's best for you and Fido.

WIRE CRATES

PROS:

  • Good for dogs that get hot easily, either due to living in a hot climate or having a heavy coat
  • With many wire crates, you can buy a divider to section off the crate so Fido's area in the crate starts out small and gets bigger as he grows
  • Many models fold flat for carrying or storage
  • Removable floor tray is easy to clean

CONS:

  • Tend to be noisier than plastic crates when Fido moves around, but this can usually be resolved by placing a thick piece of cardboard between the floor tray and the wire bottom of the crate
  • Some dogs that are escape artist types find that it's easier to break out of wire crates
  • Large sizes can be heavy and difficult to move
  • Some dogs will pee and poo through the wire onto the floor outside so they're still in a comfy, clean crate (seriously!)
  • Not too attractive to have around the house

Drs Foster and Smith "Gorilla Tough" wire crates icon are not the cheapest, but they may be the best. All the features we like and a lifetime guarantee! iconicon

Try the Life Stages Folding Cage icon as a less expensive option.

PLASTIC CRATES

PROS:

  • Good for dogs who like cozy spaces and tend to sleep in corners or under tables
  • Can be used for airline travel - if Fido is acclimated to this type of crate flying with him will be easier
  • More difficult for escape artists to get out of - if your dog is good at breaking out of crates, you may need to get him a plastic crate that's one size too big for him to prevent him from breaking out
  • Available in different colors
  • Top half of crate comes off and can be stacked inside bottom half for storage

CONS:

  • Fido might get hot in there, since there isn't as much air circulation
  • Some dogs that like to be able to see what's going on around them may get frustrated that they can't see out the sides
  • You may have to break out the hose or climb inside the thing to clean it out if Fido has a tragic diarrhea incident in it
  • Not too attractive to have around the house

Drs Fosters and Smith have good prices and very inexpensive shipping on Vari-Kennels Ultra, our favorite plastic crates

SOFT-SIDED CRATES

PROS:

  • Very lightweight and portable
  • Good for light use with small, non-destructive dogs
  • Good for car travel, camping, picnics, etc.
  • Very easy to store when folded

CONS:

  • May be difficult to clean in the event of a major potty accident
  • Destructive dogs can eat their way out
  • Clever dogs may figure out how to unzip and open the door panel

Sof-Krate N Series Dog Cratesicon iconicon

CUTE CRATES

PROS:

  • Finished wood or rattan and wire crates look great around the house
  • Some can be used as furniture to replace an end or side table so you
    won't need extra space in the house for your crate

CONS:

  • Can't be used for destructive dogs, as they can chew the wood or rattan
  • If crate has a finished wood floor, it can be damaged if Fido has an accident in his crate
Fabulous! The crates we
dream about at night...

In Conclusion

If you're still unsure as to which kind of crate to buy, don't let it stop you from getting one. Remember, just about any crate is better than no crate at all!

Another little crate buying tip for you budget-minded types... most people use their crates only during the early training period with their dogs. That means you can always find used crates on eBay or in the classifieds... and they're usually dirt cheap! If you choose to get a secondhand crate, just be sure to clean and disinfect it thoroughly before using it.

Once you've got a crate for Fido, you're ready for the first step of crate training, Acclimating Fido to his Crate.

  
 

Acclimating Fido to his Crate

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