What Crate Size To Choose For Golden Retrievers?

However, the size may vary depending on your dog’s age, sex, type, and the crate’s purpose. Puppies and female dogs need smaller cages than mature male goldens.

The correct crate size is crucial for your dog’s physical and mental well-being. An unformattable crate might cause injuries or behavior problems.

Remember that the standard crate size won’t necessarily be ideal for your dog. Use a simple formula to find the perfect crate size for your golden retriever.

The Dog’s Age

The necessary golden retriever crate size may vary depending on the dog’s age. Although buying one crate for your dog’s entire life may be tempting money-wise, a puppy needs a smaller cage than an adult dog. `

The problem is that puppies grow fast, so you need either to change the crate frequently, which is expensive and cumbersome, or get an adjustable crate.

Many owners buy an adult-sized crate for their puppies, which is a valid option, but it isn’t without pitfalls we’ll discuss later in the article. Remember that more space isn’t always better for a dog when it comes to crate training.

The Crate’s Purpose

Your dog’s crate purpose also affects its size. The primary purposes of dog crates are potty training, ensuring safety and comfort, and travel. A cage for transportation can be smaller than a home crate because it must fit in the car.

Plus, a tightly fitting crate reduces the risk of injury in the event of a cat crash. If there’s too much free space, the dog might “fly” in the crate and hit the wall, whereas a tight cage will minimize the movement.

You might also want to get a smaller crate if your dog is anxious and loves to snuggle up in dark, tight spaces. On the flip side, get a slightly larger-than-average crate if your dog spends a lot of time there.

Why You Shouldn’t Get Too Big Crate

One may think that the bigger the crate, the better because the dog can walk around and feel comfortable. However, too much free space has more drawbacks than benefits for your dog.

Let’s take potty training as an example to understand why too big a dog crate is bad. The purpose of a crate is to convince the puppy to wait until you bring it outside because puppies don’t like to sleep where they pee.

If the puppy has a lot of free space, it can pee in one corner of the crate and sleep in another, which cancels the success. Another reason is that open space doesn’t provide a dog with a feeling of comfort and safety.

Many think that keeping a dog constrained in a tight, closed space is cruel, but golden retrievers are den animals that learn to love their crates. They perceive the crate as a safe place where they can wind off, rest, and relieve stress.

A crate where a dog can rattle around doesn’t give a cozy and safe feeling. For this reason, you want to ensure the cage fits just right and isn’t too spacious.

If you transport your dog in an overly big crate, it won’t be constrained and can injure itself in the event of a crash or rapid braking.

Furthermore, large crates take up a lot of space, which might not be an issue if you have a large home with plenty of free space but is a crucial point to consider if you have limited space.

However, don’t get an overly small crate trying to save space. You don’t need to keep the cage in the center of your living room when it’s not in use because you can get a collapsible one.

Why You Shouldn’t Get Too Small Crate

The reasons you shouldn’t get too small a dog crate are way more apparent. An overly small cage is uncomfortable and can even lead to health problems if the dog spends much time there.

Furthermore, if the dog feels uncomfortable in the crate, it will despise it, which may affect your relationship with your pet and lead to behavior problems.

A crate should be big enough for your dog to stand up, turn around, and lay on the side with its legs stretched, but not to run around or stand up on the back feet.

How to Measure the Necessary Crate Size

The correct golden retriever crate size is about 42 inches in length, 30 inches in width, and 30 inches in height. Female golden retrievers might need smaller crates than males, but the size also depends on the dog’s genetics and type.

British golden retrievers are shorter and stockier than Canadian golden retrievers, so they might need smaller crates.

Many golden retriever owners find 36-inch crates spacious enough for their dogs, so the best way to determine the necessary crate size for your golden retriever is to make the measurements.

Fortunately, measuring your dog is very simple – you can do it in two steps.

Start by measuring your dog’s height from the ground to the top of the head in the sitting position. Add four inches to the result to determine the necessary crate height for your golden retriever to comfortably sit and stand without hitting its head.

If you want to add a soft cushion to the bottom of the crate for your dog to feel more comfortable, add another inch or two to the measurements.

Then, record your dog’s length from the tip of its nose to the base of the tail when it’s standing still. Add four inches to the result to determine the crate length to ensure your dog can comfortably lay down.

The dog crate’s width will typically be proportionate to the height and length, so you don’t need to consider it, but ensure the crate is at least 25 inches wide.

Consider Crate with a Divider

Finding the correct crate size for an adult golden retriever is straightforward, but what about the crate size for a golden retriever puppy? Goldens grow three to four times as they age.

You should make measurements and replace the puppy crate every two to three months. Fortunately, you can get a dog crate with a divider to accommodate your puppy at different developmental stages.

Although you cannot predict the puppy’s size when it grows up, you can refer to the standard golden retriever height chart to determine the appropriate crate size.

Some crates with dividers only have one divider position, whereas others can be adjusted to your needs. Perhaps, the only problem with such crates is that the height is non-adjustable, so your puppy will be able to stand up on its back feet.

Still, dog crates with dividers are a money-saving option. Plus, golden retrievers get used to their crates as puppies. If you change the crate, your dog must get accustomed to it all over again.

Crates with dividers are usually wired, but you can also order a custom wooden crate with a divider. Plastic crates for transportation and soft-sided crates rarely have dividers, but you can find such options with a little effort.

Overall, soft dog crates are the least durable option and aren’t suitable for permanent use, so there is no reason to search for one with a divider.

If you struggle to find a crate with a divider in local pet stores or don’t like the options available online, you can craft the divider yourself.

To make a DIY dog crate divider, you’ll need a piece of plywood or another durable and pet-safe material. You can use a piece of cardboard if you’re on a budget, but it won’t last long, especially if your dog is mouthy.

Measure the inside of the crate and write down the result. Then, subtract roughly half an inch from the height and width measurements and trace the dimensions onto the piece of plywood with a pencil.

Ensure you don’t subtract too much because your dog’s tail or paw can get stuck in the gap. Then, cut out the divider panel using a hand saw. Sand the edges to ensure they aren’t too sharp and won’t scratch your dog.

Reinforce your DIY crate divider edges with duct tape so your dog cannot bite through it. Duct tape will also prevent fraying and tearing. Next, punch a hole in each corner of the divider with an electric drill.

The holes should be big enough for zip ties to go through them. Once your divider is complete, place it into the crate and secure it to the walls using zip ties. Unfortunately, this trick only works with wire crates.

The good news is that you can easily adjust the divider’s position to accommodate your puppy at any stage of its development.

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