What Size Dog Crate Do I Need? A Simple Sizing Guide
Getting the size right is the most important crate decision you will make, and it is the one people get wrong most often. Too small and your dog cannot stand or turn; too large and it loses the snug, denning comfort that makes a crate work. Here is a simple way to measure and choose.
How to measure your dog
Grab a soft tape measure and note two numbers. First, measure the length from the tip of the nose to the base of the tail, then add about ten centimetres. Second, measure the height from the floor to the top of the head while your dog is sitting, and again add a little room. Those two figures tell you the minimum internal crate size you need.
The standing test
A well-sized crate lets your dog do three things easily.
- Stand fully upright without ducking the head.
- Turn around in a complete circle without squeezing.
- Lie down stretched out on one side.
Planning for a growing puppy
If you have a puppy, buy for the adult size and use a divider panel to shrink the usable space for now. A puppy with too much room will often toilet in one corner and sleep in the other, which makes house training much harder. As your puppy grows, simply move the divider back step by step.
A quick word on breeds
As a rough guide, small breeds such as a dachshund usually suit a 24 inch crate, medium dogs like a cocker spaniel a 30 to 36 inch, and large breeds such as a labrador a 42 inch model. Always check against your own measurements though, because dogs within a breed vary far more than the charts suggest.