If your dog is a puppy, recommend reading “What type of crate should I get my puppy?”.
If new to crate training, we recommend using the Pocket Scout:
Ensure you are on the right track with personalized crate training guidance for your dog.
Pocket Scout
Pet parent assistant powered by a community of pet parents
Is your dog familiar with an existing crate?
If your puppy is already familiar with a certain type of crate, then it’s recommended to use that crate.
What we recommend for older dogs
Scout9 doesn’t promote specific brands unless they rank high among your dog’s individual wellness scores (best fit for your dog). But for new pet parents, generally, we find wired crates are better for home crating:
Wired crates are…
- With a crate lining, can be easy to clean
- Have more space
- Easy to assemble
- Durable
What about soft-sided fabric crates?
These crates are great, but generally for dog sports – designed to travel. Dogs that are supervised and crate-savvy are great with soft-sided crates, not great for dogs new to crates.
Soft-sided crates are generally not always airline-approved. For traveling air, we recommend getting plastic crates.
What size of crate should I buy?
If your dog is no longer growing, generally you want your dog to have 4-8 inches of padding if they were standing up in the crate on all sides. Crates are generally not supposed to have too much space, it’s a simple den that has enough room for them to sit and lay down.
Some of the advice might not apply to you, make sure to check with your Pocket Scout
Ensure you are on the right track with personalized crate training guidance for your dog.
Pocket Scout
Pet parent assistant powered by a community of pet parents