Dog crate sizing

Sizing of dog crates is very important!

Height: ideal size should enable your dog to stand up to his full height without having to duck his head.
Width and length: should be wide enough to allow your dog to lie on his side and stretch out, long enough for him to lie down stretched to his full body length without having to curl up.

Many dog owners will buy one dog crate that the dog can grow into. However, there is the risk that the crate is too spacious and this could prove counter-productive when crate training your puppy. Puppy crates are often designed with panels or sections that can be removed as your puppy grows. With all the sections removed, they become a full-sized dog crate that you can use for the rest of your dog's life.

The size of dog crates is dependent on the size of the dog.

Small dog crates come in a huge variety of designs for small and toy breeds. Some of these crates, especially the soft-sided ones, can double as dog carriers for breeds such as Chihuahua, Pomeranians, Yorkshire Terriers, etc.

Large dog crates are available from a number of manufacturers for breeds such as Labradors, Retrievers, and the larger Hounds.

Extra large dog crates will accommodate dogs up to 150 lbs. or more, including some of the largest breeds like Great Danes or St. Bernards.

Dogs like to travel too!
Using a dog crate can make traveling with your pet not only easy and worry-free, but even possible in some cases. For instance, most airlines will not allow you to take your dog with you into the passenger compartment unless he is a very tiny toy breed that will fit in a pocket book. If you want to take your dog on a plane trip, or even send him somewhere alone, you will need to have a sturdy, approved crate for him to travel in. The same holds true for trains or ships. Also, many hotels and motels will not allow loose dogs, but will allow crated ones. If your dog is accustomed to sleeping in a crate, a stay in a kennel will be much less traumatic for him if he can sleep in his familiar crate. And then there is just the ease of getting from here to there. Whether for a short trip to the vet or groomer, or a longer excursion such as a family vacation, taking your dog in his crate will ease his anxiety while contributing greatly to your convenience.

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