Escape Proof Dog Crates 

Written by Dave Miller

No matter how well-engineered a crate might be, there’s no such thing as a truly escape-proof crate. As a dog owner, though, it is in your best interest to find something that’s as close to escape-proof as possible. With a fairly wide field of products, though, it can be tough to figure out which crates will keep your dog safe and which crates are going to let your dog roam free. Fortunately, that’s where this article comes in – helping readers to find the perfect dog crates for their needs as well as where to buy them. 

Best Escape Proof Dog Crates of 2023

There are several different crates for dogs that really go the extra mile in terms of securing your dog. Whether it’s due to strong builds, clever engineering or just solid materials, these are the crates that will go the farthest in keeping your dog secure no matter his or her size. 

Frisco Ultimate Heavy Duty Steel Dog Crate

If your dog loves to escape from crates, you can probably build the ideal escape-proof crate in your imagination just based on the damage that you’ve seen occur. What you really want isn’t just a crate – it’s a high-quality, high-strength box that offers your dog fewer chances to cause damage. That’s precisely what Frisco has made here – an ultimate escape-proof crate that can stand up the rampages of even the strongest dogs. With excellent engineering and a few bits of clever design, this is the kind of crate you want if your desire is to make absolutely sure that your dog will remain in his or her crate. 

The immediate selling point here is, and absolutely should be, the construction of the crate. It’s very easy to tell at a glance that this isn’t something that even bigger dogs are going to be able to dent without putting in an absurd level of effort, if at all. The crate is made of a combination of 22-gauge steel and 1/2 inch steel tubing, which is enough to stop even the most determined dog. This is backed up with extra welds on the stress points, so your dog isn’t going to be able to repeatedly ram into the side of the cage in order to break it down. 

The escape-proof measures continue in the latch placement. Clever dogs can often figure out how to unlock crates with their snouts or paws, allowing them to waltz in and out even if they can’t break down the door. Slightly moving the latch placement makes this impossible, so even those clever little pups will have to stay inside the crate until a human decides to let them out.

While the crate itself is heavy, it does have built-in wheels that make it much easier to move around your home. Unlike many other crates, though, this one has built-in brakes as well so that you don’t have to worry about disassembling the base when you know that your dog is going to have to go inside. This tiny touch makes the entire crate feel a lot more like it was made for human users, and thus makes it a much better buy for the average dog owner. 

Features

• 22-gauge steel construction.
• Extra welding at stress points.
• Latches kept out of the reach of dogs.
• Built-in wheels with foot brakes. 

ProSelect Empire Steel Dog Crate

Generally speaking, escape-proof cages need to do two things at once. The obvious, of course, is that they need to be strong – many dog escapes happen because the animal in question can simply bust out of the cage’s restraints. The other quality they need, though, is a clever design. Dogs who are prone to escape are often smarter than average, and those who design the best cages have to outthink the abilities of a determined canine. Fortunately, ProSelect’s Empire Steel Dog Crate is not only a lovely piece of design from a structural strength standpoint, but it’s also designed with smart dogs in mind. 

The big selling point here for most is going to be the steel construction. A combination of steel tubes and 20-gauge steel parts, this cage is strong enough to give any dog pause. It can be knocked around a bit to be certain, but even big dogs are going to have an incredibly tough time putting a dent in the metal. This is an excellent choice for those dogs that tend to be able to brute force their way out of containment, especially if you’re also concerned about the dog’s ability to damage the cage also causing harm to your dog. 

The design isn’t all about strength, though. The access latches to the cage are also placed in such a way that even clever dogs cannot reach them. This can help to prevent would-be Houdinis from finding a way out of the cage when strength isn’t quite enough to do the job. It’s a nice piece of design that really takes care of the other big problem that most owners of escape-prone dogs tend to have with even sturdy cages.

This is also just a solid all-around cage. The casters make it incredibly easy to move from one part of your home to another, while the removable tray makes cleaning and feeding a breeze. While most are going to look at this cage as a tool to ensure that their dogs stay safe without being able to escape, you really shouldn’t overlook the fact that this is also a very nice cage for basic quality of life reasons. Give this one a try if you want to prevent escapes without having to sacrifice too much utility. 

Features

• Made of high-quality steel and steel tubing
• Latches are cleverly placed away from the dog
• Slide-out tray for easy feeding and cleaning
• Casters for easy movement. 

Revol Collapsible Dog Crate

The truth about most escape-proof crates is that they are bulky. This isn’t a bad thing, of course – most of that bulk is dedicated to ensuring that bigger dogs can’t get through the sides of the crate when they try to escape. The issue, though, is that these crates aren’t exactly easy to cart around. Whether you typically keep your crate in storage or you only use it when you visit guests, dragging around one of these bigger crates can feel impossible. Fortunately, Revol has an excellent alternative for those who want portability without having to sacrifice too much strength. 

The first thing you’ll notice about the Revol crate is its design. Made to be assembled and taken apart with just one hand, it’s really one of the most owner-friendly dog crates on the market right now. You don’t have to be very strong to cart it around, but you also don’t have to worry much about it staying put once you assemble the unit. It’s a great piece of engineering that really sets a new standard for ease-of-use in the industry. 

The truth, though, is that this ease of assembly means that you’re not going to get the same kind of all-steel construction you’d get from other escape-proof crates. Instead, the crate makes use of aluminum and steel mesh to make it harder for dogs to break out. The mesh is also designed so that dogs won’t be able to bite at it successfully, saving your dog’s teeth and the cage’s sides at the same time. 

This is one of the rare travel crates that really does qualify as being fairly escape-proof. It’s not exactly the kind of crate you’re going to want to keep a dog in most of the time, but it’s absolutely perfect if you need something that will be able to travel easily. Consider this to be the temporary crate best-suited for anyone who has a dog who loves to escape or an excellent choice for those who need something escape-proof for dogs that aren’t quite at the top end of the strength scale. Either way, there’s definitely an audience for this crate. 

Features

• Incredibly easy to assemble and take apart
• Made of steel mesh and aluminum
• Easy to move.
• Bite-proof design. 

LUCKUP Heavy Duty Dog Crate

When most people think about dogs escaping from cages, they probably think about dogs who figure out how to get out while their owners aren’t watching. What they might forget, though, are those agile animals who are able to get out when their owners are around. It just takes a few inches of empty space when you’re changing out water or food for a dog to slip by, and by the time you turn around your dog might be long gone. As such, it’s always a good idea to look into those cages that put in a few extra safety measures – something that LUCKUP’s Heavy Duty Dog crate does incredibly well. 

At first glance, this crate looks an awful lot like all of the other heavy-duty crates on the market. It has that very industrial sense of design that makes the whole thing look tough, with wide bars that are too big to chew spaced together closely enough that smaller dogs cannot get out. In all honesty, that’s where a lot of the safety comes from – this is a strong crate that ensures that your dog won’t be able to bite, squeeze, or muscle its way out when the dog decides that it has had enough time in its crate. 

The extra piece here, though, is the extra door at the top of the crate. Instead of opening the side door that allows your dog to run when you’re switching out food and water, you can open up the top and interact with your dog a bit more easily. This not only allows you a chance to reach in and pet your pup when you’re dealing with his or her basic needs, but it’s also a great access point that can help you to keep your dog safe when you need to take care of him or her. 

There are some other fun features here that have little to do with safety. The cage is very easy to clean, and the design is simple enough that you can put it together with minimal effort. The crate also features locking casters so that you can move it around and lock it into place as soon as you find the right area to keep the unit. All in all, it’s a nice crate that will help to keep your dog secure no matter what you are. 

Features

• Heavy-Duty Design
• Doors on side and top
• Easy to clean
• Simple Assembly

SMONTER Heavy Duty Dog Crate

This final crate really combines the best of all the features in the other crates. It’s strong, it is hard for clever dogs to break out of, and you can even wheel it around. This unit from SMONTER takes everything that you’d want in an escape-proof crate and puts it one package, giving consumers a great solution for their dog safety needs. 

As with the other crates on the list, the big draw here is still the construction. The non-toxic metal used here is still reinforced steel, and the entire design is engineered to be as indestructible as possible. The bars are too wide to be chewed on and too close together for an easy escape, but the crate’s overall strength is really what keeps the more energetic dogs inside. 

The locks are also another fun selling point for this crate. Instead of just being moved out of the dog’s way, they’re actually set up in a way that’s a little different from the average lock. They’re actually dog-proof, requiring a few extra steps to unlock that are anatomically impossible for dogs. Yes, this makes the cage a little tougher for a human to unlock as well, but it’s a great bit of insurance against those dogs who tend to be too clever for their own good. 

The other features for the cage feel pretty standard, but they’re still nice to have. The unit ships semi-assembled, so you can expect to put it together in ten minutes. The tray is removable, so it is easy to clean. There are even casters included in this model so that you wheel around the crate and then lock in place when you’ve found the perfect resting spot. If you’re looking for a crate that really feels like it’s got all of the little safety touches, this one might be for you. 

Features

• Non-toxic metal crate
• Locking casters
• Dog-proof safety buckles
• Easy to assemble