Every new dog owner is faced with the challenge of buying necessities for their pups as there are a lot of things that they need to buy for the comfort and easy adjustment of their pets. While some may be deemed more urgent than other, all are equally important in the long run. Crates are one of the most important tools that every puppy owner should have.
Puppies have different characteristics and mannerisms but crates have a myriad of benefits to suit needs for each individual puppy.
They help in easy travel with your puppy, housetraining of new puppies, keeping your house and belongings safe from agitated puppies when no one is home and managing of miscellaneous dogs.
Crates also help in keeping sick or medicated puppies calm and quiet as well as create a safe space for them to hide.
There are different types and brands of puppy crates in the market all claiming the best functionality and quality. However, whether it is a wooden, soft, metal or plastic crate, it is important to understand your furry friend’s needs and sizes in order to be able to choose the crate that best suits them.
What to look out for when buying a puppy crate
Size: depending on the size of your puppy, it is important to buy a crate that is well fitting. Small crates may limit the movement and flexibility of your puppy while extra-large ones may create an opportunity for the dog to poop in it.
Materials: whether the crate is made of metal, wood, soft or plastic material, it should be strong and reliable for maximum durability.
Ease of cleaning: keeping the crate clean will keep your puppy from getting infections. Crates made with a non-porous material such as wood are easy to clean with a dog disinfectant. Avoid fabrics that are not washable by machine.
Security: lockable doors and latches ensure that your puppy cannot escape unless you personally open the door for them.
Dividers: although they can help when keeping two dogs, they are most important in reducing a large crate to suit your puppy’s size.
Removable litter tray: this helps when doing cleaning of the whole tray to ensure you reach every corner of it.
Top 10 Best puppy crates
When it comes to your dog’s comfort and your own, do not just trust the word of a seller. The wide range of choices in the market come with a load of counterfeits and low quality crates. As we understand how hard it could get for distinguishing real and fake, herein reviewed are ten of the best puppy crates that we researched with your needs and those of your pooch at heart.
#1) MidWest Homes for Pets Dog Crate
This folding metal dog crate from Midwest Homes For pests provides a safe, secure and comfortable home for your puppy. It is designed with a free divider panel that is easily adjustable to accommodate your growing dog.
It has a plastic leak-proof tray for easy cleaning and a strong plastic carrying handle that allows easy portability. Your floors are protected from damage by the crate with rubber rollers attached to the bottom of the crate. Patented side clips help reinforce the dog crate and reduce possible sharp points ensuring safety for you and your pet.
When not in use, the dog crate can easily fold down for ease of storage.
Features
- Safe and secure slide-bolt latches firmly locks the crate door to keep your dog safe
- Patented rounded side clips and corners eliminate sharp and painful edges for extra safety for you and your dog
- Durable E-Coat finish
- Pan stop keeps the removable tray in place
- Removable, washable plastic pan/tray for easy cleaning in case of an accident
- It is easy to set up with no tools required and folds down for convenient storage and portability
- Plastic carrying handles
- Free divider panel for crate size adjustment
- Measurements: 24”L x 18”W x 19”H suitable for small dog breeds of 11- 25 pounds weight.
- Quality Guarantee: 1-Year Manufacturer’s Warranty
Bottom line– all the features in this Midwest Homes crate provide the best home training space having been designed completely with the safety, security and comfort of your dog in mind.
#2) AmazonBasics Single-Door & Double-Door Folding Metal Dog or Pet Crate
AmazonBasics pet crate is designed with a single swing-open entry door that has two slide-bolt door latches for maximum safety and security of your dog even in your absence. The door is large enough for easy entry and exit of your pet and for easy cleaning of the crate. The metal construction provides reliable durability with great strength, visibility and ventilation. The corners are rounded for extra safety.
This pet crate has 24″ L x 17″ W x 19″ H dimensions that are ideal for medium sized breeds of between 26-75 lbs. such as Blue Heelers and Golden Retrievers as well as large breeds of 76-90lbs. such as Boxers and German Shepherds. It has a divider panel for easy adjustment living space of the crate size to suit your pet’s size. The bottom pan is made of washable plastic material and is easily removable for convenience washing in the event of an accident such as food spillage.
Features
- Front single-door design for front entry
- Durable metal construction
- Versatile divider panel
- Leak-proof for protection of your floor
- Two slide-bolt door latches offer maximum safety and security during containment
- Removable and washable pan
- Measurements: 36”Lx23”Wx25”H
- Easy to assemble with foldable design for easy storage
- A removable, washable plastic pan sits at the bottom of the crate for easy cleanup
- A frame secures shut the crate and a metal-loop side handle makes it extra easy to carry from one location to another.
Bottom line– the light weight of 22.1 pounds and foldable design make the pet crate conveniently portable and can be used for travel.
#3) Paws & Pals Dog Crate Double-Door Folding Metal
Paws & Pals Dog Crate is made of high tensile-strength steel wire that is specially welded for strength and durability. It is electro-coated for rust, corrosion and fade resistance for guaranteed performance and durability even in bad weather conditions. The crate has a foldable design that makes it conveniently easy to store and is simple to assemble within seconds. It is light in weight making it ideal for carrying along on a journey or outdoor activities such as picnics.
The Paws & Pals dog crate is spacious with different size options that you can choose from depending on your pet’s size.
Features
- Durable: the strong material is coated with a black electro-coat finish for maximum durability
- Material: heavy duty stainless steel (Frame)
- Two-door design
- Plastic floor tray is removable, easy to clean and dry
- It has a plastic handle for easy carrying during assembling or when going out with your pet
- Dimensions: 36”L x 22” W x 23” H
- The versatile design allows for easy assemble.
- It is conveniently foldable for easy and less space storage
- Weight: 21.1 Pounds
- Multiple size options available: small, medium, large, x-large, xx-large and xxx-large
Bottom line– this crate features a convenient space saving design one that can be increased or reduced using the adjustable split divider as your puppy grows bigger.
#4) AmazonBasics Two-Door Top-Load Hard-Sided Pet Travel Carrier
Amazon Basics pet travel carrier is a thoughtfully designed dog kennel that has two different doors, one on top and another on the side, for easy entry and less stressful experience for your furry friend. The top door can be opened to the right or left while the front side one has a spring-loaded latch. Pinching the top and bottom levers of the latch together then pulling gently opens the door.
The crate is made of durable plastic and steel wire front door. The material provides a strong, secure, visible and well ventilated space for your pet. For maximum security assurance, the top and bottom of the crate snap together with four latches and the screws can be used for further reinforcement.
Features
- Heavy-Duty design- durable plastic material with a steel-wire front side door
- Spring-loaded latch for smooth opening
- Two-door spacious design provides adequate space for loading your pet
- The crate is well ventilated on all sides
- Secure Construction
- Measurements are 23”L x 15” W x 13” H
Bottom line– this crate/kennel is specially designed to keep your dog safe, secure and comfortable indoors or when traveling. I is conveniently portable.
#5) Petmate Two Door Top Load
This crate by Petmate is a small dog kennel designed with two doors and meets most airline cargo specifications. It is made with an ergonomic design that is durable, well ventilated, and portable and has a comfortable grip handle. This crate has grated steel doors and vented sides that allow visibility and good ventilation of your dog. One door is uniquely positioned at the top of the crate for easy placing loading and removal of your dog. The doors have easy-squeeze latches and ergonomic handle for extra comfortable handling and easy opening.
This Petmate crate features wingnut-and-bolt design that ensure the top and bottom are securely fastened. It is sturdy and light enough for travel and can be used as a pet travel carrier or dog kennel. Designed especially for small dogs and puppies, the spacious crate bottom is large to accommodate a crate/kennel pad for added cushion and warmth.
Features
- Durable and portable
- 4 pearlescent color options available are: Pearl Honey Rose/Coffee Grounds, Pearl White/Coffee Grounds, Metallic Pearl Ash Blue/Coffee Grounds and Metallic Pearl Tan/Coffee Grounds.
- The unique top door allows easy loading and removal pets from the crate
- Easy-squeeze door latches and ergonomic handle ensure easy handling of the crate by the dog parent
- Comfortable and well aerated- grated steel doors and vented sides allow visibility and ventilation for pets
- Measures: 24″ fits all pet sizes and shapes
- Made in the USA
Bottom line: this is a good choice for small puppies and young growing dogs.
#5) IRIS USA 24” Exercise Playpen Panels for Dog
IRIS 24” Exercise pet playpen is durable and ideal for puppies that are extra small to medium sized dogs and other family pets. It provides 8 square feet that can be used for many purposes such as an indoor dog fence, training pen and more. Each panel of this IRIS playpen measures 33. 6″W x 24″H, the doors are 14. 5”W x 16. 5”H while the distance between bars is 1. 7”. The playpen has built-in locks that twist open for easy pet entry and exit. The playpen’s panels also feature a non-skid rubber foot to protect your floor from damage.
Features
- It is made of durable, heavy-duty molded plastic
- Easy to assemble and dissemble
- The IRIS playpen is multifunctional
- Panels interlock securely with full length connecting rods for extra safety
- Non-skid rubber feet helps to protect floors from scratching
- It is highly portable and provides 8 square feet of play space for pets
- Made in the USA
- Measurements: 35.13” L x 35.13” W x 23.75” H
Bottom line– IRIS 24” playpen is ideal for play, exercise or training both indoors and outdoors.
#6) EliteField 3-Door Folding Soft Dog Crate
EliteField is a leading pet-product company based in New York. Their 3-door dog crate that measures 20″ long x 14″ wide x 14″ high has an easy assemble and set-up as well as dissembling. It is lightweight and portable hence easy to take with you as you travel. The EliteField Soft Crate features a tubular strong steel frame and 600D mesh fabric cover meaning that the fabric has a fairly dense weave. The crate provides a nice view for your puppy and also folds down for easy travel and storage. The cover is machine-washable.
The Crate features three doors; one on the front, one on the side and the other on the top for ease of access and two pockets built on the exterior for storage space of small items. The company gives quality assurance with a 100% Money-Back Guarantee.
Features
- Carrying handles make it easy to carry.
- Available in 12 great-looking colors
- It is backed by a 2-year manufacturer’s warranty.
- 5 different sizes available
- Three mesh doors offer convenience and breathability
- The cover bed is removable and easy to wash
Bottom line: To avoid buying a small crate, please measure your dog for accurate measurements.
#7) Small Dog Crate | MidWest Life Stages 24″ Double Door Folding Metal Dog Crate
Midwest 24” is a metal dog crate that includes a divider panel allowing you to make adjustments of the crate as your dog grows. It features a plastic leak-proof pan for easy clean-up in the event of an accident, a strong plastic carrying handle for easy portability and rubber feet on the bottom to protect your floors from scratches. The crate has patented side clips which reinforce the dog’s crate reducing possible sharp points for extra safety for you and your pet. The 24” crate has two doors (at the front and side) and measures suitable for “small” dog breeds.
Features
- This crate is made of heavy gauge steel and tight wire mesh for durability
- Double door- one at front and one on the side
- Rounded Corners
- Two heavy duty slide-bolt latches on @door securely lock dog crate keeping your dog safely inside
- It is easy assemble and carry
- FREE divider panel, durable dog tray, carrying handle and roller feet for easy portability
- 1-Year Manufacturer’s Warranty
- Measurements: 24”L x 18”W x 21”H
Bottom line– this durable crate design provides a safe place for your puppy with patented rounded corner clips that reduce possible sharp-points for a safer experience for your dog.
#8) Carlson Pet Products Secure and Foldable Single Door Metal Dog Crate
Carlson dog crate is made from steel that makes it dog-tough, highly durable and secure. It features a single door with a secure bolt-locking system to ensure your pets safety. The crate is quick and easy to assemble with no tools required and has a black pan that is removable and easy to wash. When not in use, the dog crate folds flat and locks in place for easy portability or storage.
It is ideal for both indoor and outdoor use and is a great tool for house training. It is medium sized with 30”L, 19”W and 21”H hence ideal for small and medium breeds or puppies.
Features
- Highly durable steel material
- It features a single door design with secure multi-locking system for your dog’s safety
- Removable and easy to wash pan
- Dimensions: 30”L, 19”W and 21”H
- It is foldable for ease of carry and storage
- Easy to assemble and use
- Durable and easily cleans up
#9) New World Folding Metal Dog Crate
New World folding Metal dog crate includes a plastic, leak-proof pan that allows easy clean up. This metal dog crate easily folds down for convenient storage and portability. It is medium sized making it suitable for dogs of 26-40 pounds. The crate has large swing-open doors that feature low thresholds for easy entrance and exit from the crate. Secure, easy-to-operate slide-bolt latches ensure a safe and reliable containment environment for your dog while the wire design allows proper ventilation and visibility.
Features
- Durable wire construction with secure heavy duty slide-bolt latches
- Protective, long-lasting black E-coat finish
- Foldable for easy portability and convenient storage
- Single door folding metal dog crate
- Measurements: 30”L x 19”W x 21”H
- 1 Year Manufacturer’s Warranty
- Durable Plastic Pan
- It is easy to assemble
Bottom line– with easy assembling procedures, these metal dog crate provides a safe, secure and convenient home for your four-legged family member.
Conclusion
Keeping a puppy safe and healthy can be tiresome and challenging for new pet parents especially. Crates help with managing dog training at an early age as well as provide a safe space for the puppy to feel ‘home at home.’ If you are disputed on the kind of crate to buy for your new puppy, feel free to use our review as a guide. We hope it won’t disappoint.
Similar Articles
- Top 10 Best Heavy Duty Dog Clippers Reviews
- 10 Best Tennis Ball Machine for Dogs | Ball Shooter for Dogs
- Top 10 Best Dog Playpens
- Top 10 Best Dog Shampoo for Dry Itchy Skin
- Best Anxiety Supplements for Dogs
- Top 10 Best Small Dog Breeds
- 10 Best Dog Flea Treatments for Your Dog That Work
- Top 10 Best Dog Nail Grinders for Large & Small Dogs
- Top 10 Best Elevated Dog Beds or Raised Dog Beds
- Top 10 Best Anti-dandruff Dog Shampoo for Your Dog
- 10 Best Dog Crate Beds Chew Proof and for Training
Dr. Candy, a holistic veterinarian and certified raw dog food nutrition specialist, graduated from Oklahoma State University in 2009 with a DVM and has since specialized in companion animal nutrition, advocating for species-specific diets. With a background in wildlife rehabilitation and oil spill response, she combines holistic health and conventional medicine in her unique approach to treating chronic diseases, allergies, and autoimmune conditions in pets. As the owner of a veterinary practice in Colorado and an author, Dr. Candy is dedicated to educating pet parents and improving the health and happiness of animals.