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How To Select The
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To get the most out of your investment... you need to plan what you're going to do with it.
What features will make it just right for you and your dog?
Think about it...
Are you buying it for a puppy?
Do you plan on traveling with your dog?
Are you planning on making a cozy den-like place for your dog? A place your dog can take refuge from the excitement of family life?
The answers to each of these questions will also play a big role in the size and type of dog crate that you select.
Not sure if dog crates are right for your dog? Get expert help from
our recommended professional dog trainers.
If you travel a lot with your dog... you’ll want the smallest crate that your dog will fit in. The crate should be just big enough for your dog to stand up, turn around and lie down comfortably.
You may also want to consider getting a folding crate. Measure your dog from the floor to the shoulders and add 2 to 3 inches. Then measure from the tip of the nose to the back legs and again add 2 to 3 inches.
This will give you the height and the width of the smallest crate you can use.
If you’re buying a doggie crate to give your dog a safe comfortable place of his own... get one with plenty of room to spare. Your dog will appreciate the extra room to move around and stretch out.
You can use the guidelines above as a starting point. Ideally your dog should be able to stand up to his full height without having to duck his head.
A rule of thumb is the length of the dog crate should be 1-1/2 times the length of your dog when full grown.
If your dog normally sleeps stretched out on his side... you’ll definately want to take this into account and add the necessary dimensions to the width of the crate.
Using a crate that is too big will actually make it harder to housebreak your puppy. Too much space allows them to mess inside the crate and still have a clean place to sleep.
If you have a growing puppy... you may want to save money by purchasing a crate that your dog will fit into when full grown. But make sure the crate comes with a divider panel so that you can adjust the crate size as your puppy grows.
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