The Best Dog Crates For Your Pet To Call Home

Written by Dave Miller

Did you know that dogs are naturally denning animals? Crates provide them with an environment where they can feel cozy and secure within the comfort of your home.

Just think, when you go into your bedroom and get into bed every night it probably feels like one of the most comfortable and safe places in your house. It goes without saying that your dog deserves to feel just the same way.

We all love our pets, and we’ll do whatever it takes to make sure they are happy. That’s why it’s so important that we provide them with the absolute best dog crate we can find. There are so many styles and options to choose from though, how can you be sure you’re making the right choice?

Don’t worry, I’m here to help.

The truth is, I’ve done my fair share of research into dog crates over the years. Heck, I’ve even built an entire website so that I can share all that I’ve learned with readers around the world. My goal is to help you find the perfect crate for your dog as easily as possible.

On this page I’m going to highlight those dog crates that have earned my vote for best in their class, whether that be size, material, style, design, function, you name it. If you don’t think my top choice is quite what you’re looking for, I’ll guide you to more thorough articles where we go deep into the details about dog crates of all shapes in sizes.

So, let’s not waste any more time. Are you ready? Let’s get right to it!

Best Dog Crate: My #1 Recommendation

If you are a dog owner, you won’t accept anything but the very best crate for your pet. Whether you are moving to a new location, transporting your dog to the vet, or simply giving them a den at home, you want them to feel cozy, comfy, and, above all, safe. This means that you need a crate that is durable, flexible, and easily portable. The LUCKUP answers all of these needs.

There are plenty of dog crates on the market for you to choose from. I have recently dug deep into the details of some of the most recommended models. The results are in and, pound for pound, the new LUCKUP really does seem to ring true as the most reliable dog crate time and time again. What follows is a quick rundown of the reasons I found for arriving at this conclusion:

LUCKUP Heavy Duty

These and many other reasons go a long way toward explaining what I like about the LUCKUP. However, one of the main reasons is because it’s the perfect size for small to medium dogs. I’ve spoken with dog owners that had pets weighing up to 75-85 pounds inside the standard size LUCKUP model. The crate met their needs perfectly with plenty of room to spare. 

The LUCKUP comes with caster wheels that make it easily portable. This way, you won’t have any trouble wheeling it around your house to pick up your pet or store it down in the basement. Likewise, it will load easily into your car or a moving van. 

Another reason why the LUCKUP is so highly recommended by industry experts and pet owners alike is because of its transparent construction. Its heavy gauge steel bars make it nearly impossible for your pooch to escape. On the other hand, they also make it possible for your dog to see you at all times. This way, there is minimal chance of them developing any kind of separation anxiety. 

The Best Large Dog Crate

My pick for the very best large dog crate is the new MidWest Life Stages Double Door Folding Metal Dog Crate. For larger breeds like the German Shepherd, Siberian Husky, or Great Dane, you need more than the average sized crate. You need a large model that won’t break down or prove uncomfortable for your favorite four legged friend. 

Comfort, portability, and durability are thus the main criteria that every large dog owner should keep in mind when choosing a crate. I believe that the MidWest Life Stages Double Door Folding Metal Dog Crate is the model that goes the furthest toward satisfying all of these demands. 

MidWest Life Stages

The fact that the MidWest Life Stages is made of steel rather than plastic goes a long way toward explaining my reasoning behind choosing this unit as my number one choice. Not only can you see straight through the wire walls of the crate, you can also hand your dog a snack to keep them calm and happy during a long trip if you’re traveling. The steel construction means that it won’t get dinged up or chewed through. 

The removable floor means that the unit can be kept clean with ease. Your dog will appreciate this. Should they knock over their food dish, you can quickly tidy up the area. This way, it won’t attract bugs or begin to smell horrible. 

Finally, if you’re going to transport a large dog like a Shepherd or Malamute, you’ll need the largest possible dog crate to get the job done. At the larger size, the Midwest Life Stages measures a full 48L x 30W x 33H and is the ideal candidate for the task. 

Best Dog Crate Furniture

You should be aware that you do have other options besides the standard dog crate. If you need something that can double as a convenient storage space in your home, you can check out the Casual Home Wooden Pet Crate. This is my recommendation for the sturdiest, best looking, and most reliable piece of dog crate furniture currently available on the market. 

The new Casual Home Wooden Pet Crate has it all. It’s lightweight, portable, looks great, and will keep your dog cozy, safe, and warm. Best of all, you can use it as a place to store items or park your lamp on top of when you aren’t using it as a temporary home for your pet. 

Casual Home Wooden Pet Crate

When all is said and done, it’s certainly true that dog crate furniture is a bit of a niche item. However, there are plenty of people who swear by this type of home for their pet. For this reason, I have selected the Casual Home Wooden Pet Crate as my representative choice for this purpose. It’s a lightweight, extremely compact, and very attractive crate with a woodgrain finish design. 

The unit weighs a total of 25.5 pounds. It’s an end table design that doubles as a storage space or as a convenient place to put a lamp or other items on. Meanwhile, its generous interior space makes it an excellent choice for many different breeds of dogs. Its see-through design allows you to keep a watchful eye on your pooch while storing them in the unit during visits from family members or friends. 

Best Heavy Duty Dog Crate

If you are looking for a heavy duty dog crate, the model from ProSelect is an excellent choice. The Empire model features a 20 gauge steel construction with a backup of specially reinforced 0.5 inch steel tubes. If you are ready for a steel cage that is truly unbreakable, un-chewable, and completely escape proof, this is the one. 

The standard sized ProSelect Empire is perfect for small and medium-sized dogs. Its total dimensions are 35.75 inches x 23.5 inches with a height of 24.5 inches. If you need an even larger crate for bigger dogs, there is one available. Despite its heavy duty construction, this is a truly lightweight and very portable model, thanks to the detachable steel casters that have been included.

Guardian Gear ProSelect Empire

When it comes to heavy duty dog crates, the ProSelect Empire is definitely the big boy on the block. It’s made of reinforced steel that will prevent your dog from chewing up the bars or squeezing through them at an inopportune time. Meanwhile, the included set of caster wheels will enable you to roll the crate to a safe storing location in your home or on to your waiting car, SUV, or moving van. 

Along with durability and portability comes its easy cleaning facilities. If your dog has an accident of any kind, you can quickly clean up the mess by removing the detachable bottom floor grate. It slides right out so that you can clean it up. You then simply slide it back in and it’s ready for your dog to relax and snack on once again. All of these features make the ProSelect my top choice for heavy duty crate.

Best Small Dog Crate

Small dogs have very different needs than medium or larger dogs. As a result, they require a different kind of storage facility during at home, during moving trips, or during visits to a friend. It’s up to you to get the best kind of crate in order to suit these special requirements so that your dog will stay happy and healthy. 

When it comes to meeting the needs of small dogs, no crate does it better than the MidWest iCrate. This excellent model has been specially designed to house small dogs, such as chihuahuas, pugs, Shih-Tzu’s, and the like. It comes with a wide variety of features that are sure to endure the requirements of even the most finicky small dog owner. 

MidWest iCrate

There are many crates available for your smaller dog. However, if you’re going to splurge on such an item, the Midwest iCrate offers you a wealth of amenities for a very reasonable price. For example, it comes stocked with extras that include caster wheels for easy portability and a detachable floor grating that is perfect for quick and painless cleaning. 

There’s also the fact that this particular unit is well calculated to satisfy your small dog’s craving for a secure and private space. The MidWest iCrate can provide this “doggy den” while also serving its main function as a durable crate for them to call home. For these reasons, I heartily recommend the Midwest iCrate to small dog owners. 

Best Puppy Crate

When it comes to finding the perfect crate for your new puppy, you have to be extra careful. This is one area where you can’t afford to make the wrong decision. The AmazonBasics Single Door & Double Door Folding Metal Dog Crate offers an excellent mid-priced model that provides a lot of bang for the buck.

Crating your puppy can be challenging. The needs of a puppy are very different from those of an adult dog. The AmazonBasics puppy crate is made of sturdy metal and can even fold flat after use. This makes it the ideal “home within your home” for your puppy that is also convenient, lightweight, and completely portable. 

AmazonBasics Puppy Crate

When it comes to the safety of your precious puppy, I have to say that I feel the AmazonBasics really does live up to its name. I love the single door design. It opens right at the front and gives your pup plenty of room to enter and exit as he or she feels fit. 

When the crate is being used, the included pair of sliding bolted door latches do an excellent job of keeping the unit fully secure. The bars are made of steel so that your pup won’t get the bright idea of chewing through them or otherwise harming their still-forming teeth. 

Finally, the price is absolutely right. For an “in-house” model, the AmazonBasics really does get everything right. There is no need to spend extra money on a “brand name” model when this portable and cost efficient puppy crate gives you all that you need in a handy, compact package. 

Best Collapsible Dog Crate

You can’t always find the room for a full figured dog crate. Sometimes you need a model that is easily collapsible. In fact, even if you have plenty of space, you may prefer to keep your dog crate folded up and stashed away discreetly in a closet or corner. If so, the Impact Collapsible Dog Crate is sure to meet your needs.

This handy dog crate from Impact is exactly what it says it is: lightweight, portable, and, above all, collapsible. As a result, it’s one of the most popular and best selling models to be found on this page. However, as you will soon see, this model has a host of other features to recommend it to the space-minded buyer. 

Impact Collapsible

If you need an extremely portable and lightweight unit, this is the ultimate example of both qualities. The Impact Collapsible can be folded down in a very short time to nearly nothing at all. Yet, once you have a need to use it, you can quickly restore it to its normal height in order to keep your pup safe during a trip. 

The unit is made of rust-proofed aluminum that has been treated with a special powder coating. As a result, this crate is extremely resistant to wear and tear. It’s ventilated on all four sides so that your dog can breathe easy and stay cool, and you can slip your friend a treat or two through the front grate.

Best Travel Dog Crate

The Petmate Sky Kennel is one of the best travel dog crates I’ve seen in some time. It tops my “pick of the litter” list for a number of reasons. Perhaps the most compelling reason is its amazing versatility. It’s made of hard plastic that is extremely resistant to normal wear and tear. It’s fully ventilated, lightweight, and equipped with not one but two clip-on bowls for easy feeding and watering. 

The case is extremely lightweight. It comes in a wide range of sizes that are designed to fit the needs of different breeds. You can order your Sky Kennel in a variety of sizes ranging from 21 to 48 inches. If you plan to be traveling by plane with your dog, the Sky Kennel is an absolute must. 

Petmate Sky Kennel

The Sky Kennel keeps things simple and straightforward. It comes with a front-loading 4-way vault door that allows you to quickly load and unload your pooch. Its study hard plastic shell is solid enough not to break easily but not heavy enough to give you a hernia when you lift it. It even comes with a pair of stickers that allow you to quickly tag it for an easy ID during pickup. 

Best Soft Sided Dog Crate

A portable and completely foldable dog crate has many uses. This is particularly true when the model in question is as well crafted as the 2PET Foldable Dog Crate. The 2PET crate is made of completely washable and lightweight fabric. Don’t mistake this unit’s comfy nature for a weak contender. It’s gilded with a steel frame that will keep your dog safe and secure. 

2PET Foldable Dog Crate

The 2PET Foldable Dog Crate offers one of the most unique and memorable combinations of portability and sturdiness that I’ve seen in many moons. It’s made of fabric that is easy for your dog to adjust to and equally easy for you to wash. It’s this same fabric construction that allows your dog to be completely visible to you at all times. Naturally, it also means that the crate is ventilated from all sides. 

Best of all, a portion of every sale of this model will go to a designated list of special recipients. These include dog charities, pet shelters, and other worthy recipients. If you’ve been searching for a soft-sided dog crate that can fit most breeds while also giving them a safe and comfy traveling experience, this handy and very affordable model may be your best bet. 

Still Looking for That Perfect Dog Crate?

All of the models on this page have been tested in order to make sure they live up to their various specifications as well as my own expectations. Please do keep in mind that, even if none of the models on this page fits your needs to a T, there are plenty more where they came from here at Cozy Crates.

I’ll be happy to expand Cozy Crates to include more models as they appear on the market. My goal is to keep searching until we find the perfect dog crate for you and your best friend.