How to Choose the Perfect Dog Crate Size
There’s plenty of benefits for crate training but when it comes to selecting the perfect structure, find out how to choose the perfect dog crate size.
Crates are the best potty training tool you can use throughout your puppies housebreaking training. Puppies love having their own den to sleep in, and once trained, will find comfort in tucking themselves away in the crate.
Dog crate sizing can be difficult, especially with puppies that are growing. This article is a handy guide to finding the perfect crate size for your dog.
Before we go through sizing, let’s take a look at 3 benefits of crating a dog.
- Safe Relaxation Place
A crate acts as a safe space for your dog to relax in when they want a rest. This is your first priority when training your dog to use a crate. Ensure they are calm and relaxed in the crate.
Housebreaking your puppy will be a lot easier if you use a crate. A new puppy has to be trained and introduced to almost all house rules. One behavior that they know instinctively is to not relieve themselves where they sleep.
Use this natural behavior to your advantage when you bring a new pup home. Potty training will be a lot easier with a crate.
- Safe Area When You Can’t Keep an Eye on Them
A crate is a great place to put your puppy or dog in when you can’t watch their every move.
Most dogs, if allowed, will help themselves to anything laying on the floor and even open cupboards. Many dogs will chew on household items and furniture as a way to cure boredom.
Prevent these issues altogether by ensuring that your dog is safely in their crate when you can’t be there to watch them. A crate os only safe for a dog if they have been trained correctly to use one. A stressed dog is never safe in a crate.
- Good Training for Travel in the Future
Dogs will quickly get used to a crate with correct training. Crates can be great for traveling as you know your dog is safely inside the crate and not roaming around the backseat of your car.
If your dog ever has to travel by air, they will be put in a crate too. Crate training is essential to keep your dog calm while they are traveling.
Potential Risks when Crating a Dog
Crating doesn’t suit all dogs. No matter how much you train them some dogs won’t find a crate relaxing. It’s risky to leave a nervous dog in a crate.
Crating a stressed dog is a welfare issue. A crate is a cage and dogs have to be trained correctly to use it.
Some risks of crating are as follows:
– Injury from trying to escape
– Legs/nose/paws stuck in the wire gaps
– Death from choking when trying to escape
These problems are easily fixed by training your dog to be calm in the crate and removing their collar.
Once your dog is fully trained, they will likely enjoy having a cozy safe space to curl up in when they are tired. With this in mind, it’s wise to never use the crate as a form of punishment or as a tool to isolate your dog. The crate should be a calming happy place for your dog.
Now you know the benefits and possible risks associated with crating, let’s look at how you purchase the perfect size crate for your pooch.
How to Measure Your Dog Crate
As a general rule of thumb, your dog should be able to turn around, lay outstretched and stand up in the crate, without any spare room to do anything else.
If you have rehomed, purchased or rescued a puppy, take their parents size into account when purchasing a crate. If the parents are unknown, then ask the rescue center what size they think your puppy will grow to.
All dogs and puppies will need enough room to move around in so it’s best to measure your dog and work out the crate size. Even dogs of the same breed and sex will be different sizes and may need different sized crates.
If you own a Russian Bear, check out these facts and crate sizing tips for your dog.
Measure from the tip of the nose to the base of the tail while they are standing. Add 4 inches to this measurement. Also, measure from the floor to the top of their head while sitting. Add 2 inches to this measurement.
Following these measurements when purchasing a crate will give them enough room to be comfortable and move around, but not enough room to harm themselves while in the crate. The last thing you want is a crate that is too big where the dog can jump or run inside the crate.
What About Puppies?
A puppy grows extremely quickly for the first 0-6 months of their life. Unless you want to be purchasing new crates as they grow, it’s best to get one for their predicted adult size with a divider.
The divider allows you to adjust the crate size accordingly, meaning your puppy has the perfect crate for each stage of its development. It also means you only have to invest in a crate once.
Get a Dog Crate Today
Dog crates are useful for many reasons and will keep your pooch safe when you need it most.
Picking out the correct size dog crate is important for safety, so we hope you’ve enjoyed our handy guide.
For more dog tips and tricks, check out the other articles on our blog.
