Dog Breeds and Crate Sizes Guide

Author: Vebo Pet Supplies   Date Posted:21 August 2025 

If you are getting a dog crate for your new puppy, you may be very tempted to get a small crate as you think that's probably all you need during the first few months. What you may not realise is that puppies actually grow much much faster than you think (in fact, a 1 year old dog is as fully developed as a 15 year old human!), plus most dog trainers and breeders now encourage ongoing crate training, which if you really think about it, makes perfect sense because if your dog is already trained to sleep happily and calmly inside its crate, why you want to suddenly change that? So it is defintiely worth considering a dog crate that can fit your dog comfortably in the long run. 

Side note. "Crate training" may sound like a fancy term, but in reality, it's just about getting your dog used to being in a crate and seeing it as just a bed. It certainly does not mean you have to lock your dog up for hours every day because that would actually make your dog hate the crate. When done properly, the door of the dog crate is open 95% of the time, so your dog feels super comfortable going in there for a nap. The 5% of time where you need to close the door is extremely useful, because that's when it's danagerous to let your dog out, e.g. tradies working inside the house, recovering from an injury, traveling in the car etc.

 

Step 1: How to Choose the Right Crate Size

Getting the size correct is the most important step. A perfectly sized crate makes your dog feel secure and is highly effective for toilet training.

The Golden Rule: How to Measure Your Dog

To find the perfect fit, take two simple measurements of your dog:

  • Length: Measure from the tip of your dog's nose to the base of its tail (not the tip of the tail)
  • Height: Measure from the floor to the top of your dog's head while it's sitting upright

The Calculation: Add 5-10cm to both the length and height measurements. These numbers are the minium internal measurements you look for in a crate. This ensures your dog has enough room to comfortably stand up, lie down and turn around.

A lot of you may now be holding a measuring tape, looking at your 8 week old puppy and wondering, 

 

 

  Dog Weight Dog Breed (Rough guide only)
Dog crate for small dogs (ie 24" SMALL) <8kg Australian Terrier, Bichon Frise, Border Terrier, Boston Terrier, Brussles Griffon, Chinese Crested, Fox Terrier, Jack Russell Terrier, Japanese Chin, Maltese, Manchester Terrier, Miniature Dachshund, Miniature Poodle, Norwich Terrier, Papillon, Pomeranian, Silky Terrier, Tibetan Terrier, Toy Fox Terrier

Dog crate for small / medium dogs (ie 30" MEDIUM)		 7-12kg American Water Spaniel, Australian Terrier, Basenji, Bedlington Terrier, Bichon Frise, Border Terrier, Boston Terrier, Brussels Griffon, Cairn Terrier, Chinese Crested, Clumber Spaniel, Dachshund, Fox Terrier, French Bulldog, Jack Russell Terrier, Japanese Chin, King Charles Spaniel, Lhasa Apso, Maltese, Manchester Terrier, Miniature Dachshund, Miniature Pinscher, Miniature Poodle, Miniature Schnauzer, Norwich Terrier, Papillon, Pekingese, Pomeranian, Scottish Terrier, Shetland Sheepdog, Silky Terrier, Tibetan Terrier, Toy Fox Terrier, Welsh Springer Spaniel, Welsh Terrier, West Highland Terrier
Dog crate for medium dogs (ie 36" LARGE) 12-20kg American Eskimo, American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Australian Cattle Dog, Basset Hound, Beagle, Brittany Spaniel, Bull Terrier, Bulldog, Chinese Shar-Pei, Cocker Spaniel, English Setter, English Springer Spaniel, Finnish Spitz, Harrier, Keeshond, Kerry Blue Terrier, Norwegian Elkhound, Portuguese Water Dog, Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier, Welsh Corgi, Whippet
Dog crate for medium / large dogs (ie 42" XL 20-35kg Airedale Terrier. Australian Shepherd, Bearded Collie, Belgian Malinois, Belgian Sheepdog, Belgian Tervuren, Border Collie, Boxer, Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Chow-Chow, Dalmation, Golden Retriever, Ibizan Hound, Irish Setter, Irish Water Spaniel, Labrador Retriever, Rhodesian Ridgeback, Saluki, Standard Poodle, Standard Schnauzer, Vizsla
Dog crate for large dogs (ie 48" XXL) 35-50kg

Afghan, Alaskan Malamute, Anatolian Shepherd, Bernese Mountain Dog, Bloodhound, Bouvier Des Flandres, Briard, Bullmastiff, Collie, Doberman Pinscher, Dogue De Bordeaux, German Shepherd, Giant Schnauzer, Gordon Setter, Greyhound, Komondor, Kuvasz, Old English Sheepdog, Otterhound, Rottweiler, Samoyed, Siberian Husky, Weimaraner

 

 

Step 2: Solving the Puppy Problem (Buying for a Growing Dog)

As mentioned before, puppies grow incredibly fast. A 3kg Labrador puppy will become a 30kg dog in just a few months. So instead of buying a new crate every few months.  It's both cheaper and more effective to buy a single crate that will fit your dog when it's fully grown. However, we also mentioned putting puppies in big crate is bad for toilet training, so now you have a dilemma, either keeping changing crates or risk the puppy doing its business in the crate.

The solution is a divider panel. This allows you to block off a section of the larger crate, creating a smaller, puppy-sized space. As your puppy grows, you simply move the divider back. This prevents toilet accidents in the extra space and saves you from buying multiple crates.

Step 3: Choosing the Right Crate Type for Your Needs

Where and how you plan to use your crate will determine the best material.

For Frequent Travel & Portability

If you need to move your crate around a lot, look for something lightweight and collapsible. Soft crates are the lightest option and fold almost completely flat, but we only recommend them for dogs that are already crate trained and not prone to chewing.

VEBO Deluxe Collapsible Fabric Dog Crate (7 Sizes)

For Puppies & Airline Travel

Plastic crates (airline carriers) are chew-proof and secure, making them ideal for puppies who are not yet crate trained. While they are heavier than fabric crates and don't fold fully flat, they are durable and approved for most air travel.

VEBO Airline Pet Carrier Crate (Multiple Sizes)

For Occasional Travel & Home Use

If you mainly use your crate at one location but take a few road trips a year, a metal wire crate is an excellent choice. They are heavier than plastic or fabric but fold down completely flat, making them easy to store and transport when needed.

VEBO Collapsible Wire Dog Crate

For Permanent Home or Business Use

If your crate will stay in one place (or you run a business like grooming or boarding), heavier, sturdier metal crates are a great investment. They are not designed to be collapsed but offer handy features like wheels, secure self-latching locks, and floor meshes.

VEBO Stackable Dog Crate with Wheels

You can view our full range of crates at our Dog Cages and Crates section.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if my dog is between two sizes? 

Always size up. It's better to have a little extra room than not enough. If you're buying for a puppy, you can use a divider panel to manage the extra space.

Can a crate be too big for a dog? 

Yes. For house training, a crate that is too large can allow a puppy to urinate in one corner and sleep in another. The crate should be just big enough for them to be comfortable.

Should my dog be able to stand up in the crate? 

Absolutely. Your dog must be able to stand up fully without crouching and turn around comfortably.

What should I put inside the crate? 

A durable, chew-proof bed or mat for comfort and one or two safe chew toys to create a positive association. Avoid leaving anything that could be a choking hazard.

To help you work out which size you need, we have put together a size guide by breed below. But bear in mind that dog can also vary in size even within the same breed, so this is a rough guide to get you started and you should always double check with your breeder about how big the father and mother are.