How to Choose a Dog Crate: Everything You Need to Know

Used well, a crate is not a cage. It is a den, a safe little bedroom your dog chooses to settle in, and it makes house training, travel, and quiet time far easier. Used badly, or sized wrongly, it is just a box your dog resents. The difference comes down to two things: picking the right size and the right type, then introducing it properly. Here is how to get the choice right before you spend a penny.

Getting the size right

Size is the thing most people get wrong, usually by going too big. The crate should be just large enough that your dog can:

• stand up without ducking their head,
• turn around comfortably, and
• lie down flat on their side, fully stretched.

That is it. A crate much bigger than that stops working for house training, because a puppy who has spare room will happily toilet in one corner and sleep in the other. A den works because dogs naturally keep their sleeping space clean.

To size it, measure your dog nose to base of tail for the length, and floor to the top of the head (or ears, for upright breeds) when sitting for the height, then add a few inches to each. For a growing puppy, buy for the adult size and use a divider panel to shrink the usable space while they grow.

The main types of crate

Wire crates are the most popular for home use. They fold flat, they are easy to clean, they let air and light through, and most come with a divider. Draping a light blanket over part of it makes it feel more den-like for dogs who prefer the cosy dark.

Fabric or soft crates are light and pack away, which suits calm, crate-trained dogs and short trips. They are no good for chewers or escape artists, who will be through the mesh in minutes.

Plastic travel crates are the sturdy, enclosed type, and the right choice for car travel and the only type accepted for air travel. They feel secure and contain a nervous traveller well.

Furniture-style crates are wooden units that double as a side table. They look lovely in a living room, but check the internal dimensions carefully, as the styling often eats into the space your dog actually gets.

Worth knowing: A crate should never be used as a punishment or a place your dog gets shut away when they have done wrong. The moment it becomes a "sin bin", your dog learns to resent it, and you lose the safe den entirely. The Royal Kennel Club's crate training guide is a clear, gentle place to start.

Where to put it, and how to introduce it

Place the crate somewhere calm and out of the main thoroughfare, away from direct heat, radiators, and draughts. Kit it out with comfortable bedding and a favourite toy so it is somewhere your dog wants to be.

Introduce it slowly. Leave the door open at first, scatter high-value treats leading inside, and feed meals in there so it builds only good associations. Never rush to shut the door before your dog is relaxed going in and out. Build up the time gradually, and keep daytime stints short, especially for puppies.

A grooming note

A crate lined with soft bedding is cosy, but on a long-coated or double-coated dog the constant friction against blankets can work loose hair into mats, particularly on the elbows, hocks, and behind the ears. If your dog spends a fair bit of time crated, a quick daily brush of those contact points keeps knots at bay. You can see how brushing fits into our full grooms on the prices and packages page.

Frequently asked questions

What size crate does my dog need? Just big enough to stand up, turn around, and lie down flat. Measure nose to tail-base and floor to head height when sitting, then add a few inches. Bigger is not better for house training.

Which type of crate is best? For everyday home use, a folding wire crate with a divider is the most practical. For car and air travel, a sturdy plastic crate is safer. Fabric crates suit only calm, already-trained dogs on short trips.

Is it cruel to crate a dog? Not when it is done kindly. A properly introduced crate is a safe den your dog chooses to use. It becomes unkind only if it is too small, used for very long stretches, or used as punishment.

How long can a dog stay in a crate? Keep it short, especially for puppies (a couple of hours at most in the daytime). A crate is for rest and safety, not for leaving a dog for a full working day.

Fluffs is a professional dog grooming salon in Wigginton, York, offering one-to-one grooming for dogs of every breed and coat type across Haxby, Strensall, Huntington, New Earswick and the surrounding villages. We run a calm, crate-free salon, so your dog is with us one-to-one from start to finish. Book a one-to-one groom.