Getting a pet crate is a fantastic idea and it will bring you and your dog a lot of benefits. For many new owners, the first challenge is actually finding a good dog crate to use. There are a ton of brands available and finding one that suits your dog and your own needs can be difficult. However, when it comes to finding the best dog crate, many owners will forget a crucial step – sizing. Sizing your dog before you buy a pet crate is very important and will ensure your dog is comfortable and safe when they’re in the crate.
There is a specific way you need to measure your dog when buying a crate and there a number of guides on the internet, as well as on petcratesdirect.com. Measuring your dog correctly will benefit them in a number of ways, so take the time to do it.
To help you understand why crating sizing is so important, we have done some research and will be explaining the importance of it in this article. So if you want to learn more about the importance of sizing your dog before crating, we suggest you continue to read on.
Why is it Important?
There are a number of reasons why sizing your dog before you crate them is important. In general, the benefits for the dog outweigh the benefits for you. However, if you love your dog, you’re going to want them to feel secure and safe, aren’t you? Below are some of the most common reasons why sizing your dog correctly is so important.
Reduces Anxiety
One of the main reasons sizing your dog is so important is because of anxiety. Just like humans, dogs can experience anxiety in stressful situations, especially claustrophobia. If you have not sized your dog correctly before crating you may subject them to more anxiety. This is even truer when it comes to traveling, as the movement of the vehicle combined with the confined space can stress a dog out.
In fact, some (if not most) airlines will stop you if the crate is too small for the dog. They need to make sure your dog has room to move around, which will stop it from worrying and stressing out before and during the journey. The anxiety experienced by a badly sized crate also makes it difficult when crate training, as the dog will only experience discomfort when they’re inside. Make sure that your dog feels secure and happy in the crate, as this will help increase their well-being and will also allow you to safety and seamlessly travel via airplane.
Reduces Injury
This is a less common reason but it is still something that can be avoided with a properly sized crate. If you happen to size your dog wrong, resulting in a confined space, they may accidentally injure themselves. These injuries are not always physically visible either. This relates to the above point about anxiety. If your dog is constantly stressing out when they’re in the crate, they can subject themselves to a number of health-related problems. This is truer when you consider larger dog or dogs that are already prone to breathing problems.
As well as internal injuries like breathing problems and heart-related conditions, there is also the chance the dog may scrape themselves on the crate (if it is wire) or might hurt their nose if it is pushed up against the front. If you really value your dog and don’t want them to be subject to harm, you will measure your dog correctly before crating.
Save You Money
Now that you have taken in all the above points, you will want to make sure your dog is measured correctly for their crate. When sizing your dog correctly, you can get the best crate right off the bat, saving you money that you would have been otherwise wasted.
In addition to wasting money on a crate that is too small, you also need to consider puppies. If you have owned a puppy before, you will know that they grow up really fast. You should always plan ahead when buying a crate for a puppy because you don’t want them outgrowing it in a few months.
Make sure that the crate is designed for an adult of their breed, so the pup can grow with the crate, saving you money in the long run. For crates like this, we suggest wire, as you can section them off and expand them as your puppy develops.
Reduces the Effectiveness of Crate Training
This has already been mentioned a bit above. If you have a crate that is too small for your dog, they will not adjust to it and may reject it during training. The main aim of the training to associate the crate with feelings of pleasure and security. However, if the crate is uncomfortable and stressful, the dog will not associate any happy feelings and it will be difficult when you’re training them.
This is true when it comes to toilet training. If you’re using the crate as a way to toilet train the dog, the associated stress and anxiety may cause them soil themselves in the crate. This is a horrible thing to experience, as the crate is designed to be a place of safety, providing a den-like feel. If your dog is soiling themselves in their den, you know there is a big problem.
In addition, if the crate is too big, toilet training will also be ineffective. This is because the crate needs to be just right to make the dog feel like they’re permanently in their bed. A dog will never soil itself in their bed, so making sure the crate isn’t too big is also essential.
Size Your Dog before Crating
As you can now see, crating your dog is not only important but sizing them beforehand will make the experience a lot more bearable. There are a number of benefits that crates provide dogs but if you have sized the crate wrongly, all those benefits begin to disappear. There are a number of sizing guides on the internet as well as on this site. Put the well-being of your dog first when crating and remember to size them before investing in a crate.
