Equipment
Choosing a Dog Crate: Size, Material and Setting It Up Right
How to size a crate correctly, the trade-offs between wire, plastic and fabric, and why the crate itself is never the training.
Size for lying flat and turning around, not for a puppy that will grow
A crate should let the dog lie fully stretched out, stand without stooping and turn around comfortably. For a growing puppy, a divider panel lets you buy one adult-sized crate and reduce the usable space as needed, rather than a too-large crate that undermines toilet training or a too-small one you must replace.
Wire, plastic or fabric
Wire crates fold flat, ventilate well and suit dogs that like to see their surroundings; a cover can make them feel more den-like. Plastic crates are required for most airline travel and feel more enclosed, which some anxious dogs prefer. Fabric crates are light and portable but unsuitable for a dog that chews or scratches at boundaries, and provide no security against a determined escape.
The crate is a tool, not a solution
A crate only becomes a place of safety through careful, gradual, positive introduction — feeding in it, tossing treats inside, closing the door for seconds before minutes. Buying a crate and shutting a distressed dog inside it solves nothing and can create a lasting fear of the space.
- Never use the crate as punishment
- Cover with a breathable blanket to reduce visual stimulation if the dog seems to prefer it
- A crate is not appropriate for extended confinement beyond what house-training genuinely requires
Frequently asked questions
- How long can a dog be crated during the day?
- As a rough guide, a healthy adult dog should not be routinely crated for more than four hours at a stretch during the day, and puppies need far more frequent breaks. A crate is not a substitute for exercise, company or toileting access.