Choosing the Right Crate — and Why It's Worth Doing at All
Category: Crate Training
A crate, used correctly, isn't a punishment or containment tool — it's meant to give your dog a space of their own. The ACVB outlines several legitimate benefits: more effective housetraining, keeping a puppy safe and out of trouble unsupervised, a retreat from household chaos or unwanted attention, and a safe, familiar way to travel or stay somewhere new overnight.
The three basic crate types
Wire, plastic, and mesh crates each suit different dogs. Some dogs feel more secure in the darker, den-like enclosure of a plastic airline-style crate; others prefer the openness of a wire crate. There's no universally "correct" type — it depends on your individual dog's temperament.
Sizing it right
Whichever type you choose, the crate needs to be large enough for your dog to stand up fully, turn around completely, and lie down on their side without being cramped. A crate that's too small defeats the purpose of giving your dog a comfortable space; one that's dramatically oversized can undermine the "den" feeling some dogs specifically respond to.
How to know if crate training is even the right call for your dog
Not every dog needs or benefits from a crate in the same way — and this matters especially for a newly adopted dog with an unknown history. If your dog shows real distress in the crate rather than gradually settling, that's a signal to pause and get help rather than push through. The ACVB is direct on this point: if training is difficult or your dog shows significant distress, seek assistance from your veterinarian or a behavior consultant rather than continuing to force the process.
One important caveat: if separation anxiety is part of your dog's picture, crating can sometimes worsen anxiety rather than resolve it — that's a genuinely different situation from typical crate training.
