The Best Large Dog Crates
Plus-sized dogs need plus-sized accommodations. Whether your furry friend is a Dalmatian, a Great Dane, or a mixed breed that just keeps on growing, you are going to need an appropriately sized and quality dog crate. After all, your dog deserves better than cramped quarters. If you're in the market for a large crate, you've come to the right place, because we scoured the options for the best crates for our big-boned canine friends.
What to Look For
In our search for the best, we asked ourselves four main questions: Is it easy to assemble? Is comfortable and safe? Does it provide enough room for a large dog to stretch out? Does the price match the quality? After much searching, the crate from New World Pet Products emerged as our favorite overall. We love the extra headroom and how easy it is to fold it up for storage. Other options were top contenders, too, such as the heavy-duty crate from Luckup. For those of us with escape-artist dogs, the strong metal bars on Luckup’s crates provide serious peace of mind. Clearly, there’s a lot to consider. Read on for our reviews of the best large dog crates to find the perfect pick for you and your furry friend.
New World Folding Metal Dog Crate
A big crate for a big dog
This large dog crate from New World checks all the boxes and even has some bonus surprises. For starters, at 42-inches long, 28-inches wide, and 30-inches high, this pick is the perfect room for most plus-sized dogs. And for such a large size, it is shockingly easy to fold up for travel or storage. Even better, the plastic floor pan can handle pee and other such canine produce, since it’s both waterproof and easy to clean. Made out of durable wiring with a plastic coating for comfort, this dog crate keeps your dog safe and secure (as well as the furniture). New World Crates are built to last a doggy lifetime.
Pros
- It may be hard to tell from the pictures, but the dimensions are spacious enough to provide plenty of room to stand up and lay down in, even for most larger dogs.
- The plastic pan is strong enough to handle our heavy, plus-sized dogs and makes cleanup simple.
- We were thrilled by the easy assembly, which takes less than five minutes.
Cons
- It’s not ideal for escape artists, since they may try to bite through the wire walls.
Luckup Heavy Duty Dog Crate for Large Dogs
Good luck, Houdini
Large dogs can be surprisingly tame and self-disciplined, yet there are always those special cases that need freedom. And while we’d love to grant every dog the freedom they crave, it takes training and time for our canine friends to figure out the boundaries of this fast-paced world. Thus, Luckup has engineered a dog crate built to contain even the wiliest of dogs. With corrosion-resistant steel bars, three durable locking latches, and bolted siding, this crate wins our Houdini-proof certification. And if the 42-inch version isn’t enough wiggle room, Luckup offers 46-inch and 48-inch models as well. Our favorite feature? It comes with four easy-to-attach wheels that make moving this heavy crate around a breeze.
Pros
- It’s an ideal choice for dogs with separation anxiety since they can’t break out and damage the furniture or themselves.
- We love the design of the floor since the floor slats let pee and poo pass through and collect in the tray. That way, your dog can stay inside the crate while you clean the trays.
Cons
- The included instructions are a little unclear and may be frustrating for those that aren’t mechanically-minded.
MidWest Homes for Pets XXL Giant Dog Crate, 54-Inches Long
Large and in charge
Ginormous dogs need ginormous quarters. We are talking about the Great Danes, Saint Bernards, Newfoundlands, and all their mix-and-matched offspring. These heavy-footed fellows would find the standard “large” size crates, which are generally 42-inches in length, too cramped and claustrophobic. That’s why we recommend MidWest Homes for Pets’ XXL to dog owners that want the best for their big-boned friends. It’s a fantastic crate from a fantastic company and comes with an option for a second door. Not only is the 54-inch length enough for giant dogs to lay down in, but it also features 45 inches of headroom and 37 inches of width. With so much space, you might even want to consider this “ginormous” option for your smaller dogs, since a puppy can turn this spacious crate into a secure playpen.
Pros
- The spaciousness is no joke, this crate offers enough space for extra-large dogs to stand up and move about.
- A lot of extra-large crates come at a premium price, but we think the price on this jumbo crate is more than fair.
- The walls are strong enough to handle the bumping and jostling of excitable dogs.
Cons
- The assembly requires two people.
MidWest iCrate Starter Kit
The home comes furnished
MidWest makes it onto our list yet again, this time with their iCrate Starter Kit. It includes two hanging pet bowls, a black shade cover, and a fitted bed. The bowls snap to the sides of the crate for a mess-free mealtime experience and the bed is machine-washable and well-cushioned. Even the shade cover is an unexpected luxury, as it helps nervous dogs calm down. Thus, these accessories are essential, and buying them separately can cost even more. As Midwest proves, sometimes the premium pick is actually a bargain in disguise.
Pros
- The cover is indispensable for nervous dogs since it seems to appease their instinct to burrow into a secure place. In fact, many dogs seek out the darkness of the interior of this crate even when they don’t have to.
- We were surprised by the quality of the accessories, which all proved to be durable and easy to clean.
Cons
- If your dog has severe separation anxiety and tries to escape dog crates by chewing through the wires, go with something stronger.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size crate should I get for my plus-sized dog?
The crates that we’ve listed above are all 42 inches in length or more. Generally speaking, 42-inch crates are recommended for dogs that are between 70 and 90 pounds in weight. If your dog is between 90 and 110 pounds, you’re going to want to go a bit larger and elect for the 48- and 54-inch crates.
That being said, if you’re unsure of which size to get in terms of dog crates, bigger is usually better. Cramped conditions for dogs can lead to distress, so some wiggle room is preferable.
What should I do if my dog has separation anxiety?
Separation anxiety affects many dogs and may not have a single, identifiable cause. In coping with this doggy disorder, crating your dog when you leave may save the furniture, the pillows, and even the health of your dog. There are several important strategies for training your dog to overcome their separation anxiety. When it comes to crates, never respond to banging, whining, or barking when they’re locked up. Although it may seem cruel, the idea is to focus on disassociating panicked behavior with the promise of freedom.
Particularly distressed dogs will need positive reinforcement strategies and expert training. In such cases, we urge dog owners to conduct their own research and consider getting the help of a professional.
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