Crate Size - is this crate too small?

[Stacy]

Ava had a 48" crate, which is obviously huge. But it was in the spare bedroom. I moved it to the kitchen when Maggie got here, but it doesn't really fit in the living room.

The trainer thought it was too big, and it should really be in the living room for crate training. He suggested a 36" crate. So I bought one. It's recommended for dogs from 40-70 pounds, and Maggie is only 50. But she's so tall. As near as I can tell she's about 24" at the shoulder and 28 or 29 at the head (because obviously the measuring tape was a monster that was going to get her.)

She can go in and stand up, but she can't stand up with her head up. We're only at the point where she goes in and out and eats in there, but I can't help but feel like the 36" crate is too small. It would probably be fine if she would just go in and lay down. But I'm not sure. Should I split the difference and get her a 42" crate? I have Katie in a 30" crate and she's much shorter than Maggie. I just hate to keep buying crates. There's nowhere to put them all around here! If I buy another one I would like it to be the right one. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

If she can't stand up comfortably with her head up, it's too small. The dog has to be able to stand up and turn around in the space. 

I'd see if you can exchange it. 

[Stacy]

That's what I thought too. She just doesn't look comfortable in there. She might like it better if she can stand up all the way. I've always subscribed to bigger is better with crates. Sadly, I destroyed the box trying to get it open. But I should call them and see if they will exchange it anyway. Or sell it on facebook. She's just so tall.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Try to get them to exchange it. If not, you can try reselling it. Craig's list is fine for that, too, as long as you meet in a public place like the parking lot in front of the police station, lol. if worst comes to worst, you can donate it to a local rescue that uses foster homes, they are almost always short on crates for fosters. If you have your receipt, you can claim a tax deduction for it as long as the rescue is a registered not-for-profit. 

Bigger is not necessarily better, especially when it comes to housebreaking. If they have too much space, they will eliminate in the crate because they can get far enough away from it that they don;t have to lie in their mess. But being able to fully stand and turn is essential. 

[Stacy]

That is a good idea. If they won't exchange it I do know someone local who does rescue who could probably use it. 

I tell you what. Maggie has been an adventure. I've made so many unfortunate purchases since she's been here. The 36" gate was a failure, the 41" gate was also a failure. I can't believe she can jump that high! I swear she can levitate over anything. I'm glad that she can't fly over the 6 foot fence! I think a door is the only thing that could keep her in the kitchen. But I do think she's getting more comfortable with the crate, and if it's the right size we might have better luck. 

She's doing really well with potty training when I'm home, but we're still having problems when she has full run of the house when I'm gone, and it doesn't seem to be time dependent either. She still pottied after the daycare dropped her off and she was only home for a few hours before I got back. I don't know how anyone potty trains a dog without a crate. 

The good news though is that I feel like we are really starting to connect. She doesn't jump every time I move anymore. She's playing with me more and she loves to go in the car. And when we go places I feel like she looks to me to keep her safe. I've really had to rethink my approach with her. Playing hard to get isn't my style, but in the end I think we will have the best relationship. She's a really special girl. I'm excited to see everything we can learn together. I kind of think she wants to do some agility. We already know she can leap tall buildings in a single bound!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

The jumping and the agility, she owes to her Poodle genes. 

You do know that mixed breeds can compete in all AKC performance sports, right? :)

[Stacy]

Has it always been that way? I think Maggie could be really good. She is so fast and agile. I don't know that I would ever be good at it, but I bet we would have fun. Sadly, I haven't even managed to teach her sit yet. I try to lure her into a sit and she just goes into reverse. But more training is coming. I think once we get the basics down and she understands what I'm trying to do training will go really well. She's smart, she just doesn't know what I want. And I want someone to help me so I don't mess her up trying to show her. 

[Amy and Annabelle]

A couple of years ago I had no idea Annabelle could jump. Other than jumping up on the bed or couch, she never seemed interested. She thinks if she stares at something long enough, it will magically appear right before her. We have an open floorplan with the family room and kitchen so the back of the sofa isn't up against a wall. One night my husband was having a snack on the couch. He stops to stretch a minute and his long arms with sandwich in hand is straight up in the air. Annabelle is behind the couch and starts eyeing it up. She probaly jumped well over 5 ft to grab the sandwich out of his hand. She is this short little mini. We we're so surprised. We didn't know she had it in her.

[Andrea, Belle and Honey]

Belle is also a short little mini.  One of her nicknames is pogo stick. She loves to eat paper, especially tissues. Until she finally learned “no jump” I had to stand on the top rung of my kitchen step ladder to blow my nose. When the weather is unwalkable, I put on her Halloween tutu and let her jump and twirl herself into a nice, long nap.

[Stacy]

Katie's a pretty good jumper with her short little legs too. But I was laughing with the groomer today, when she comes to get picked up she doesn't jump at all. She just picks her feet up. The groomer says total trust. I say such a silly dog.

[Amy and Annabelle]

Annabelle loves tissues and paper too. But tissues are her first love. She is her happiest when I have a cold.