Dog owners must consider several factors when choosing the right dog crate size for their precious pooch. Breed and height are, of course, important when choosing the most appropriate crate size and type, but the dog’s health and temperament and the area you live in also play a part!

Read on to find out how to find the right dog crate size for your pup based on their breed, size, health history, and Australia’s standard dog crate sizes.

How to Measure Your Dog to Fit Their Crate

Measuring your dog to choose the right dog crate size is fairly straightforward. Position your dog so they’re standing up tall and straight. Using a measuring tape, measure the length from the tip of the nose to the base of the tail — do not include the bottom itself — to get your dog’s size.

When measuring height, measure from the highest point on the head both when the dog is sitting down and standing up.

Take the longer of the two measurements and add 2 inches — this will give you the shortest height the crate should be.

IATA Approved Travel Dog Crate Sizes, Measurements, and Requirements

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has set pet carrier standards that all airlines must meet for pet travel. These travel crates have slightly different regulations than your average home crates.

Australian airlines have to impose weight requirements in addition to regulating dog crate sizes. Your dog should be able to sit, lie down, and turn around in their travel crate comfortably.

In addition to height and length, you’ll also need to measure leg height and width.

To measure leg height, measure from the floor to the dog’s elbow joint. Don’t include the shoulder in this measurement.

To find your dog’s width, measure across the widest point (usually the belly or the head).

Measuring height for travel crates also works slightly differently. You’ll need to measure from the floor to the tips of the ears (or to the top of the head — whichever is higher) rather than the shoulders.

Dog Crate Sizes by Temperament

Temperament plays a much more important role in choosing the right dog crate size than you might think!

Typically, we can categorize our dogs into the following temperament classes:

Destructive

The materials used in wire and plastic crates are durable, making it harder for your dog to destroy. If your dog is a chewer, we recommend wire.

Calm

Calm, small-breed dogs who don’t tend to chew on things may feel more at home in a soft-sided crate than in a wire or plastic container.

Stylish designer crates are also available and can double as furniture, and are ideal for very well-trained dogs.

High energy

Wire and plastic crates are durable, but if you have a large and highly energetic dog or a “Houdini” who likes to escape, you may want to look into a reinforced steel or plastic crate.

If your dog is hyperactive in their crate, try setting down blankets or padding the bars and metal flooring to reduce noise.

Anxious

Although they can be noisier than some other crate types, wire crates are well-ventilated and provide optimum visual range.

Plastic crates may make anxious dogs feel cramped. Dogs with anxiety may chew soft-sided boxes, which are also harder to clean.

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