A dog box can be very practical for dog owners and make everyday life with a dog much easier. For the dog, the dog box represents a safe retreat, for example when you have visitors or a stressful family celebration. In this article you will learn everything you need to know about the dog crate.
Is a crate good for a dog?
In addition to the possibility of using the dog box as a retreat and place to sleep for your dog, the dog box can also be used to transport your dog. Your dog should perceive his crate as a positive and safe environment. In addition, the housebreaking of your dog can be trained with the help of the dog box. When toilet training your puppy, be careful not to delay training for too long. Eventually, it can take up to six months for a puppy to develop full bladder control.
What makes a good dog crate?
If you have to decide when buying a dog crate, make sure that the crate is safe, durable and easy to transport. A good dog crate increases your dog’s quality of life and should offer your four-legged friend comfort and security.
How big should the dog crate be?
Your dog should be able to stand up in its crate without any problems. The ideal length and height of the dog crate is the length and size of your dog plus 15 centimeters. For the width, three quarters of the height of the dog are taken. If your dog does not feel comfortable in his dog box because it is either too small or too big, your four-legged friend cannot perceive the dog box as a place of retreat. This can then lead to your dog doing his business in the dog crate.
We recommend buying a smaller crate first while your dog is a puppy and upgrading to a larger crate later. Another option is to separate a dog crate that is too big with a divider so that it is not too big and your dog is comfortable in it. You can read about which size is suitable for which dog in the next point.
Box for small dogs
- Puppy Box: This box is suitable for most puppies from 6 to 10 weeks of age. The appropriate size for a puppy box is 47 centimeters long, 30 centimeters wide and 37 centimeters high.
- Small Box: Maltese, Chihuahua, Pug, Shih Tzu, Dachshund, Pomeranian, Papillon, and Yorkshire Terrier fit in a small box. The box should be up to 63 centimeters long, 43 centimeters wide and 49 centimeters high.
- Medium-sized crate: For medium-sized dog breeds such as Beagle, Pekingese, West Highland White Terrier, King Charles Spaniel, French Bulldog, Welsh Springer Spaniel, and Miniature Schnauzer, it is best to opt for a crate that is 30 inches long, 19 inches wide, and 21 inches high decide.
Box for large dogs
- Big box: A big dog needs a big box. Do you have a larger dog such as a Bulldog, Cocker Spaniel, English Setter, Shar Pei, Pitbull Terrier, American Staffordshire or English Springer Spaniel? A box that is 90 centimeters long, 55 centimeters wide and 62 centimeters high is best suited for this.
- Extra large dog crate: These dog crates are very large! A box measuring 107 centimeters long, 71 centimeters wide and 77 centimeters high is perfect for your Irish Setter, Bearded Collie, Belgian Shepherd, Border Collie, Boxer, Malinois Shepherd, Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever or Dalmatian.
- Very large box: Since each pot has its own matching lid, there are also very large dog boxes for very large dogs. These are 121 centimeters long, 78 centimeters wide and 84 centimeters high. This type of dog crate is necessary if you have a Leonberger, Great Dane, Irish Wolfhound, Bernese Mountain Dog or St. Bernard, for example.
How long can you leave a dog alone in its crate?
Your puppy should be trained to be alone in small steps. A puppy aged 6 to 10 weeks may be left alone in its crate for a maximum of 30 to 60 minutes at a time. For puppies from 11 to 14 weeks, the times are 1 to 3 hours each. Is your dog comfortable in his crate and sees it as his retreat? Then he can be left in the box for 4 to 5 hours from 17 weeks. The times depend on how often your dog has to do his business. When dogs sleep at night, they don’t need to go out as often because of their biorhythm. Leaving your dog alone in his crate for too long can lead to stress and problem behaviors such as separation anxiety. It is also not advisable to let the dog eat and drink a lot before it has to go into its crate. This ensures that he doesn’t do his business in his box. Give your dog plenty of exercise after being in their crate so they can release all of their pent-up energy.
What to do if the dog no longer wants to stay in the box?
If your four-legged friend doesn’t want to stay in his crate, try to make the crate as comfortable as possible, for example by putting a blanket in it. You can also put a treat in the box or feed your four-legged friend in his box for a few days. As soon as your dog is housebroken and no longer destructive, your four-legged friend no longer necessarily has to stay in his dog crate. Be sure to keep the dog box for transporting your dog in the car or as a resting place in case of illness.