Traveling is supposed to be a relaxing experience, but when you have pets, it can be a little challenging. When you are traveling with a dog, you need to have a proper crate for them not only to ensure that you have a smooth experience when you are traveling with them but also to ensure that they are comfortable and that you abide by all of the rules and regulations.
Look at that picture above. You do not want you dear pooch to be staring at you like that just because you gave him too tiny a space to move around in its crate, do you? This is especially the case if you are traveling a long road trip with your dog.
Merely buying the first crate that you see will not help. A little bit of research needs to be done before you can comfortably travel with your dog. If this is your first time traveling with your pet and you are wondering “what size dog crate do I need?”, then you have come to the right place.
Commonly Available Crate Sizes For Dogs
Choosing the correct dog crate depends on a lot of factors. However, just so that you can get an idea of how big a crate can be depending on the type of dog you own, here are a few examples dog crate sizes, and what types of dogs they are usually used for:
- 18″x18″ or 18″x24″: usually used for dogs who weigh under 24 lbs or under 30 lbs such as a Chihuahua
- 24″x18″ or 24″x24″: usually used for dogs who weight under 30 lbs to under 38 lbs such as a Norfolk Terrier, Pekingese, Pomeranian, Yorkshire Terrier
- 24″x30″ or 24″x36″: usually used for dogs who weight under 40 lbs such as a Cocker Spaniel, Australian Terrier, Basset Hound, Boston Terrier, or a French Bulldog,
- 30″x24″ or 30″x30″ or 30″x36″: usually used for dogs who weigh under 40 lbs or between 40-50 lbs or between 50-60 lbs such as an American Eskimo Dog, American Staffordshire Terrier, Basenji, or Beagle
- 36″x24″ or 36″x30″ or 36″x36″: usually used for dogs who weigh under 40 to 60 lbs or for those who weigh between 50-60 lbs or between 60-80 lbs such as an American Pit Bull Terrier, Border Collie, Bull Terrier, Dalmatian, or Old English Sheepdog
- 42″x30″ or 42″x36″: usually used for dogs who weight between 80-100 lbs such as an Airedale Terrier, Alaskan Malamute, American Bulldog, Boxer, Briard, Malinois, or Tervueren
- 48″x24″ or 48″x30″: usually used for dogs who weight between 80-100 lbs such as an Alaskan Malamute, Boxer, Briard, Dalmatian, Malinois, Tervueren
- 48″x36″: usually used for dogs who weigh up to 100 lbs such as an Afghan, Akita, Bloodhound, Borzoi, Chinook, Doberman Pinscher, German Shepherd, Gordon Setter, Greyhound, Irish Setter, Leonberger, Neopolitan Mastiff, Newfoundland, Pointer, Rottweiler, Siberian Husky, Standard Poodle, Weimaraner
- 60″x36″ or 72″x36″: usually used for dogs who weight between 100-150 lbs or between 150-180 lbs such as an Akita, Anatolian Shepherd Dog, Bernese Mountain Dog, Bullmastiff, Great Dane, Great Pyrenees, Irish Wolfhound, Leonberger, Mastiff, Newfoundland, Scottish Deerhound, Siberian Husky
It should be kept in mind that these are the general industry standards for dog cage sizes. When buying a dog crate for your dog as a puppy, a question that you should ask yourself is, “How big will my dog get?” When you look at dog size charts, it will give you a general idea of how big your puppy will be.
How To Measure A Dog
Looking at dog sizes charts, or a puppy size chart can only help you so much, they provide you with a general idea about the length of specific breeds of dogs. However, your dog is unique! Hence, you need to make sure that you are picking the right size crate for your dog, by measuring your dog!
If you have never measured your dog, then no problem, here are detailed instructions on how you should measure your dog:
When measuring your dog, you can either measure your dog while he or she is standing up or lying flat on their side with their head being held steady.
Measure them lengthwise, from the tip of their nose to the base of their tail. Once you have the measurement, add six inches to that measurement for safety.
Want to know how to measure dog height? Here is what you should do: make sure that your dog is sitting down and then measure them from the bottom to the highest point of their head (if their ears are erect, make sure you count that in too!) Then you will need to add two inches to this measurement.
To calculate the minimum floor space that you would require for your dog crate in inches, simply multiply the length of your dog by itself!
That is, if the length of your dog is 30 inches, then multiply 30 inches by 30 inches. Then, 900 square inches will be the minimum floor requirement for your dog crate. You can then further convert this into square feet as well.
Other Key Factors To Consider
Well, there are a lot of factors when it comes to selecting the perfect crate for your dog! Some of them are listed below; take a look to see the things you should keep in mind when you are buying a dog crate for your dog!
Law
The law requires that a dog crate should be large enough that the dog is able to turn fully on the inside it, as well as move around a little bit, hence, it is sufficient to say that when you are purchasing a dog crate, it needs to be quite large. How big a dog crate should definitely depend on the size of your dog, as well as the law requires in your local area as well. Generally, the law requires that a dog crate is big enough that a dog can turn freely, as well as sit and stand as they usually would, and even lie down without any discomfort.
Your puppy’s size
You may not want to invest in a large crate right away, but it is essential to ask yourself “how big will my puppy get?” when you are contemplating what size dog crate to purchase. Puppies do not remain small forever. If you travel frequently, then it may be wiser for you to purchase a large crate right away since your puppy will grow at a fast rate and you may be in need of a large crate soon enough. In fact, you can also save some money and buy a resizable crate that will grow with your dog. While it may be a tad bit more expensive, it will end up being cheaper for you in the long run.
Bedding
You will want your dog to be comfortable while they are spending long hours inside their crate. However, it is a known fact that dogs like to chew, and some will even chew through their bedding. If you do not want to deal with fluff and features flying everywhere, then when you are purchasing bedding for your dog’s crate, you may want to invest in a rug or a pad that is resistant to your dog’s teeth. Even if you have a puppy, buying puppy teeth resistant pad or rug will be beneficial for you.
Travel Bowls
If you have a metal crate, then you can cable tie the bowls for their food and water to the crate so that they do not move around or spill. However, you may also want to look at travel owls. These will ensure that the food does not spill; they are much easier to manage than traditional bowls. They are designed specifically to travel, and hence might be a worthwhile investment for you.
Material
Travel crates can be made of metal or soft fabric; the best choice for you will depend on your dog’s behavior. If your dog is fond of chewing, then you may want to opt for a metal crate. If your dog is going to be put on the hold when traveling in an airplane, then you will want to opt for a hard-sided crate. However, if your dog is allowed in the cabin with you, then a soft material crate will be the right choice for you.
Portability
When traveling with a crate, you need to make sure it is portable. This means that your crate should have or at least should provide you with accommodations for handles or wheels so that you can travel with the crate while your dog is inside it.
Final Thoughts
Traveling is a fun experience, but it should be the same for your dog as well. Putting them in a crate and expecting them to be happy is a bit too much to expect. You need to ensure that your dog’s crate is as comfortable as it can be. By making sure your dog crate is the right size for your dog, you can ensure that they will be able to move comfortably while traveling. If you are flying, you should also call the airline ahead to of time to understand whether they have some special instructions for those who are traveling with pets.