Large dog crates

[zeta1454]

Hi Colin - are your dogs puppies or adult?

In the early days with a puppy you are probably better getting a crate that is not too big. Sizes are variable too even as regards ‘large’ and ‘ medium’ depending on the manufacturer. Ideally you need a crate which is large enough for the dog to easily stand and turn round, lie down lengthways as well as curled in a bed or on a blanket inside it - as a minimum. Assuming the crate is just a temporary den - somewhere to sleep at night and not for extended periods of time? If you can work out how much space would be needed for each of your dogs to stretch out and stand up with head room above, it should give you an idea of the size of crate needed.

[zeta1454]

Hi! I have two puppies.

You will need two separate crates and, as above, check how much room each will need to be able to stand up, turn round and lie down comfortably stretched out. If the pups are not yet house trained in that they may pee / poo in the crate overnight, then you also need enough room for a pad in the front of the crate inside so they are not soiling their bedding. However, while they are still young you do not want crates that are too large as this may encourage them to use part of the crate for toileting and may also mean that it is less snug as a den which is what you are wanting them to regard the crate as - a safe space for rest and sleep.

Once they are fully grown you can get a larger crate for each based on their adult size

[zeta1454]

Hi, can you tell me what do you use for bedding of puppies?

Puppies like soft beds and often ones which have sides such as ‘doughnut shaped’ beds. If you are looking for bedding in a crate any soft fleecy and easily washable blankets are an alternative to a bed but will keep a puppy warm if they do not like a bed - some pups prefer a flatter surface so you may need to see what your puppy likes best.

With our pups, in their crate, we use a base layer of washable waterproof fabric such as these:

https://www.nappypantsfordogs.com/water ... s-84-c.asp

And then a small soft bed at the back of the crate with higher sides so they can snuggle down inside

Just make sure that any bedding you buy is easily washable as that is most important with small puppies before they are housetrained.