Crate size question

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

I'm looking at crates and I don't know what size to get.  My puppy will be a medium sized dog fully grown  and I'm trying to work out what dimensions I should go for when I buy a crate.  I'd be grateful as I want to buy it in preparation before the puppy arrives (even though it's a couple of months away!!)

[Maxwell & Lilly's Page]

I was wondering about this too. I bought a crate for a medium sized dog, and now I'm wondering if it's too small. My puppy is almost 6 months old. Does anyone have a recommendation for measuring the dog to find the right crate size?

[Dustin and Loni Valentine]

I am in a similar debate. I have been told that to crate train a dog, it must be able to stand up and turn around and that is it. Giving the dog too much room will allow it to potty in it's crate....most dogs will not pee where they sleep. (but I've now had 2 that could care less) not to mention, I don't like keeping them cooped up. So, I am unsure as well!

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

I'd suggest you ask your breeder what he/she recommends. I admit I did that first, but still ended up getting one size larger (with a partition for expansion). Lucy loves her crate and the extra room gives her space to really sprawl out. BTW, a good quality wire crate is better than plastic, IMO, as it allows the puppy to view it's surroundings and come to feel the room is part of it's den (helps with house training, too).

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

I should have mentioned I have a standard sized labradoodle (whatever the heck that means!). I was told she'd get to 70lbs fully grown. At 14 months she's 45lbs., and figure she MAY put on another 5lbs in the next year or 2. Still, the size of crate the breeder recommended would have been alright for her at her current weight. A bit of a tight fit, I would think, at 70lbs. though. It's hard to suggest a size since we don't know how big your puppy will get, and obviously, the breeder doesn't know for sure either. We got a 42"L x 28"W x 31"H crate, which as I mentioned earlier is bigger than the size the breeder recommended. Its not very portable (although it does collapse and we have taken it on vacations with us for Lucy). Wish I could give you an exact size for your puppy. In any case, whatever you decide, it would probably be best to err on the side of larger, rather than smaller.

[Lynda Kamrath]

What do you plan to use the crate for?  Are you going to crate train the puppy for your house?  Do you want him to use the crate when you are away from home?  Are you using the crate for transportation in the car?  If you are using it in the house, you want it to be large enough for him to walk into the crate, and turn around.  You can use a smaller crate in the car, because that is mainly for their own protection while you are driving.   I have several sizes of crates that I use for different occasions, but mostly they are in the basement until we need one.  You can put a blocker in a crate while the puppy is small and remove it later as he grows. I personally don't use crates in the house as I have a thing against them.  All our puppies have been trained in baby playpens and that seems to work just as well.  However, we are at home, and they are never left at home alone.

[Kris & Brinkley]

There are some of the kennel type crates that come with puppy training divider add ons.
Something to think about is this...do you really need a crate for travel or the kennel type that stays at the house?

Also you could mix it up, such as get a kennel type while he young & get a crate when he is grown.

Another thought, try  freecycle.com you can make a request fro what you need, I have done that & just sterilized it. I have also cycled out things that I no longer need that were not junk.