Crate Training- Choosing a Crate

What is Crate Training?

Crate training is the process of getting your dog accustomed to using a crate as his/her den. A crate is a place for the dogs to call their own and have some quiet time. It is not a place for punishment or isolation. Crate training a dog can help with house training dogs and puppies as well as preventing destruction of the home. When done properly, both dog and owner are happy.

How to Choose a Crate Type

When you decide to crate train a dog, the first thing you'll need is a crate. Choosing the right crate for your dog can seem a little daunting at first. There are two main types of crates,  wire ones and plastic ones. Both have their advantages and disadvantages. You should choose the crate based on your usage of it, your dog's personality, and your own personal preference. What works better for one dog and owner may not work best for you.

Wire Crates

Wire crates are collapsible, sturdy, and provide good visibility and air flow. However, some dogs find the openness of the wire crate to be unnerving. Dogs like their dens to feel cozy and they may not get that feeling of security in a wire crate. This is especially true of nervous dogs. Of course, not all dogs will mind and most will learn to like their crate regardless. If the wire crate makes your dog feel insecure, you can help this by buying a wire crate cover or draping a blanket or towel over the crate. A big plus to these crates are their ability to collapse and fold flat. If you have multiple dogs or a small car, this might be a good option for you when you travel. They are relatively easy to clean, with a bottom tray that slips out. Still, in the case your dog has a big accident or spills the water bowl (or both), the tray may not be able to hold it all and it can potentially spill outside the wire of the crate. In most cases, spillage would not be an issue and some versions are made with a tray with a "moat" to collect any spilled liquid.  If your dog is a die hard escape artist, you may have to reinforce the crate with something like zip ties, which will make it harder to move around. Wire crates are not approved for airline use.

Plastic Crates

Plastic crates are designed for safety. Plastic crates are the only way for medium or large dogs to travel in the cargo hold of airplanes. They come apart for cleaning and storage, however the pieces do not fold flat like wire crates, so they take up more room. Dogs may appreciate the closed-in, den-like feel of these crates, however they will feel warmer due to the limited ventilation. If you live in a hot climate, your dog may not appreciate the lack of air circulation and his body heat being trapped within the crate. If you have an SUV or truck, these crates are safe to strap into the backseat or cargo area for car rides. Just like some dogs will get nervous and feel unprotected in a wire crate, some dogs might feel too closed in and get nervous in a plastic crate. It depends on your dog's personality and preferences.

Other crate types

Soft crates are convenient for travel, however, they are not recommended for home use if your dog has any sort of desire to escape. These crates either pop up or fold to collapse and don't take up much space. Still, they are cloth sided and not as durable as their solid plastic or metal counterparts. Determined or bored dogs could easily split seams or chew through mesh. These crates should be used with supervision. They are useful as portable dog houses or beds, but probably not for crate training. The cloth, depending on brand, may be water resistant, but cleanup from these crates could be more difficult if liquid does in fact soak through.



A new craze for those with smaller dogs is to carry them around in "doggy duffel bags". These come in various styles, fashions and prints. Due to their size and weight, this type of dog carrier would not be useful for large breeds. Like soft crates, these should only be used with supervision as determined dogs could easily escape. These crates are designed to be carried with you, not for use as a den in the home, so they are not acceptable for crate training.
  
How to Choose a Crate Size

Sizing a crate can be somewhat difficult if your dog is not fully grown. If your dog is an adult, it is simple to pick a crate size that is both comfortable for your dog and serves its purpose.

Before you go to the store, measure your dog. Take measurements down the back, from tip of the nose to the base (not tip) of the tail. Also measure how tall your dog is both from the floor to its back and from the floor to the tops of his/her ears.

The measurements will come in handy when you're trying to judge crates by their dimensions. If there are demo crates set up in the pet store, it is really helpful to bring your pet (if allowed) and try them out. Not all stores do this, however, and eyeballing measurements can be tricky for some people. Crates are a fairly large investment and you want to make sure you pick the one that will fit your dog well. The crate should be big enough for the dog to stand up, turn around, and lie down in comfortably. So, it should be taller than the height of your dog to its ears. You don't want your dog to be crouching all the time. It should also be longer than the tip of the nose to the base of the tail. If it's a little long, it's not a problem, it just can't be too short. Make sure that the crate is wider than the height of your dog to its back. This is a good indication of whether or not it can easily turn around and also ensures your dog can stretch out on its side to lay down in it. If a crate size meets or slightly exceeds all these minimum measurements, it should be the size for you.

You don't want a crate too small because obviously your dog won't be comfortable, however having a crate too large is also not a good thing, especially if you're using crate training as a house training tool. If the crate is too big, the dog can eliminate on one side and retreat to the other, learning that it's okay to go in the crate and it won't get dirty. Dogs don't like to soil where they sleep or get dirty like that, so if they can't escape their messes, they're more likely to hold it in. This is especially true of puppies. If you do have a large breed puppy, you will want to purchase a crate big enough for its approximate adult size and section off pieces of it. As your puppy grows, you expand the space available to it.

You want the crate to be your dog's cozy little safe place, not a tight squeeze or a giant pen. To be effective, proper sizing is very important.


See the next step: Simple Steps to a Crate-trained Dog