Size Guide For A Dog Crate
Buying a dog crate is important, however, the question you need to ask yourself when selecting crates is: What size of crates will be perfect for my golden retriever?
Here are a few key points you should keep in mind before measuring your dog for crate.
We mentioned earlier that big sized cages are not recommended because it can make your pooch uncomfortable. A large space may be difficult for your dog to oversee and control. He will be rattled by every sound or movement within its area.
This will destroy the peace and tranquility that your retriever ought to enjoy within its quiet space. In addition, your golden retriever may end up using a section of this crate to do his business.
On the other hand, small sized cages are not good. The narrow openings and little doors will restrict your golden retriever while he is inside.
Small sized crates can make your dog depressed, and agitated when it is not able to move, turn around, lay or sleep
Selecting the right dog crate for your golden retriever will demand a touch of expertise, and parental instinct. In the following sections of this article, we will present 10 of the best dog crates for golden retrievers.
Why Dog Crates Are A Must
Do you hate it when you have to go away, leaving your pet alone for a couple hours?
Wont it be nice if you could take your pet along with you on all your travels? You can take your pets along with you whenever you travel, but it will involve the use of crates.
Cages, kennels or crates allow the owner to make a fanatical and safe space for pets which will be settled within the corner of a home or are often carried along.
It wont matter if you want to take your doggie out with you on a trip or wish to visit the nearby pet hospital for a regular checkup, dog crates will forever remain at your service!
With this crates, you will find it easy to:
- Keep your furniture chew-free by disciplining a spoiled doggie
- Prevent destruction habits in dogs
- Limit the movement of your pooch by providing safe and peaceful space, when sick or injured
- Save you from possible embarrassment on the visit of important guests
- Create a personal space of its own where your pet can do whatsoever it wishes to because even dogs need privacy.
Instinct Raw Boost With Real Duck
Image courtesy Chewy
Instinct Raw Boost with Real Duck is a great food for golden retrievers. It is made with real duck, which is a source of high-quality protein. This food also contains sweet potatoes, which are an excellent source of carbohydrates and dietary fiber.
The first ingredient in this food is duck, which provides your dog with high-quality protein. Duck is a great source of protein for your dog and it is also a very tasty food. Your dog will love the taste of this food and you will be able to see a difference in their energy level and overall health.
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Give Your Dog Toys To Reduce Stress
If you feel that your dog is feeling low or anxious while in the crate, get it a few toys that it can chew on or play with.
Playing with toys is a form of exercise that enables your dog to relieve itself of stress that it may be going through.
It gives your dog a chance to use up all that stored energy and we all know how good a tired dog is. Its anxiety will go down and it will stay fit in the process.
If a lot is going on around your dog, having a toy helps it distract itself from the activities around it, helping it keep calm. At times, the crate affects the dogs stress levels.
Being in a small crate that hinders it from stretching out can make it anxious and it is important to check the size that will work well for your dog.
How To Measure Your Dog For Crate Size
A lot of the crate size guides that you will see show recommendations based on the weight of a dog. However, when selecting the proper crate for your dog, the size matters more that the weight. Your dog should have a crate 6 longer than the length of his body and 6 higher than his shoulder height for maximum comfort. The best way to measure this dog is with a simple tape measure.
The two measurements that are important are height and length of your dog.
How to measure the height of your dog
Have your dog sit on the floor and face upward. Use your tape measure to find the distance from the floor to the tip of the highest point on your pets head. This could be the forehead, nose or ears, depending on the dog.
To be even more confident that your measurement is right, you can also measure your dog standing. Measure from the top of the head to the ground, just like you did when sitting. Take whichever of the two measurements is higher.
When you have this height, add three to six inches to make sure that you are leaving enough room for your dog to be comfortable. You can think of this height as the minimum, but you should not be concerned if the crate is slightly taller. If you are on the border between two sizes, go with the larger one.
How to measure the length of your dog
Measuring length of your dog for a crate is both a measurement and a calculation. Measure your pet from the tip of the note to the base of the tail .
Tips for measuring your dog for a crate
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How To Introduce The Crate
Golden Retriever puppies are extremely willing to please and love their owners. Most young puppies will be dismayed at being separated from their owners and may cry during the night. There are several tips for helping a young Golden Retriever puppy learn to embrace his crate:
- Feed the puppy in his crate. He will associate his crate with a positive experience.
- Hide treats in the crate. He will love searching for his treats under an old bath towel.
- Place his favorite toys in the crate.
- Praise the puppy when he goes into his crate.
Over time, the puppy will learn to see the crate as a safe haven and will enjoy sleeping in his “home.”
Neveruse the crate as a punishment.
What Is The Best Way To Transition My Golden Retriever To A New Food
If you’re looking to transition your Golden to a new food, it’s important to do so slowly. Start by mixing the new food with the old food, and gradually increase the amount of new food over time.
This will help your Golden get used to the new food and minimize any stomach upset. Make sure to talk to your veterinarian before making any major changes to your dog’s diet. They will be able to recommend the best dog food for golden retrievers and help you make a smooth transition.
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Hills Science Diet Large Breed Puppy Food
Image courtesy Hills Science Diet
Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Large Breed dry dog food is tailored to support your puppy’s skeletal & joint development. This premium pet food features an ideal blend of ingredients for large breed puppies, including DHA from fish oil for healthy brain & eye development.
This recipe includes natural sources of glucosamine and chondroitin to support your pup’s joints as he grows, calcium for strong bones, and a clinically proven antioxidant blend for a healthy immune system.
Plus, it’s made with no artificial flavors or preservatives.
Top Crates For Golden Retrievers
In this section, well review our favorite dog crates for Golden Retrievers. Hopefully, this list and the information below will point you in the right direction. Golden Retrievers are similar in size to most Huskies and German Shepherds, so the crates for each of those types of dogs will be about the same usefulness to your Retriever.
While this list below is not completely comprehensive, it should put you in a good starting point when buying a crate for your Golden. Youll want to look at the cost, quality, and durability ratings of each crate before deciding which is best. Lets jump in and look at our favorites in further detail.
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What Size Crate For Golden Retriever Puppies And Adults
What size crate for Golden Retriever puppies or adult?
Its not straight forward!
The best dog crate for Golden Retriever puppies is either one that fits their build now, or an adult size with a divider.
There are also so many crate types to consider: soft-sided, plastic, metal, combination
How will you ever choose just one?
In this article, learn about the Golden Retriever crate size recommendation from canine training experts.
And find out what size dog crate for Golden Retriever puppies and adult dogs will be the best fit for your pups height, weight, and size!
Products included in this article were carefully and independently selected by the Happy Puppy Site team. If you decide to make a purchase from one of the links marked by an asterisk, we may earn a small commission on that sale. This is at no extra cost to you.
Other Benefits Of Crate Training Dogs
There are many benefits to crate training a young Golden Retriever puppy. Using a crate will cut puppy potty training time in half. In addition, using a crate when the dog is not immediately supervised will prevent the puppy from eating or chewing on anything dangerous.
Valuable household furniture and children’s toys will be spared from the dog’s incessant need to chew! The dog will learn which toys are “his” faster because he will associate them with his crate. Crates can also be used in the car, keeping the dog safe during road trips. Driving is much safer when a curious puppy is kept from jumping on the driver’s lap!
This article is accurate and true to the best of the authors knowledge. It is not meant to substitute for diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription, or formal and individualized advice from a veterinary medical professional. Animals exhibiting signs and symptoms of distress should be seen by a veterinarian immediately.
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Who Needs A Dog Crate
Not everyone buys or uses a dog crate, but they probably should. Everybody should at least consider a dog crate when they first bring home a dog, whether theyre puppy or full-grown, purebred or rescue. Veteran dog trainer Tyler Muto recommends a crate for each and every dog owner he works with. If you talk to two dog trainers, the only thing you can get them to agree on is that the third dog trainer is wrong, Muto said. Other than that, almost every dog trainer will tell you that a crate is an essential tool for dog owners.
At the least, crates help prevent accidents while dogs are being housebroken, and they keep dogs from accessing dangerous or unhealthy foods or objects when the owners are absent. Keeping a dog in a crate can halt the pets tough-to-break habit of destroying household items and furniture while an owner is away, Muto said.1 Crates also provide a space where your dog feels safe and at home, and they allow owners to separate a dog from guests, contractors, or temptations when necessary.
Everybody should at least consider a dog crate when they first bring home a dog.
Choosing A Training Crate For Golden Retriever Dogs
Your Golden Retriever will start out life as a tiny puppy, but that sure wont last long!
At 7 weeks, your pup may weigh a whopping 3 pounds.
Fast forward to 12 months, and that same dog now weighs anywhere from 55 to 75+ pounds!
There is no doubt that investing in a training crate can put a healthy dent in your dog supplies budget.
But we have a handy workaround to help you save money on your Golden Retriever dog crate!
Many training crates feature a divider system.
With the help of the crate divider, you can reduce the size of the crate to suit your puppys needs.
And then remove the divider when your Golden reaches her full adult size.
This way, you only have to buy one crate for your dog!
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Should Goldens Eat Grain Free
The thought of grain free diets has become popular in recent years, as many people believe that grains are not healthy for dogs. However, there is no scientific evidence to support this claim. In fact, most veterinarians agree that grains are not only safe for dogs, but they can actually be beneficial.
Grains provide essential vitamins and minerals that are necessary for a dog’s overall health. They also contain fiber, which can help with digestion.
So, if you’re wondering whether or not you should feed your Golden Retriever grain-free food, the answer is no. Grains are not only safe for Goldens, but they can actually be beneficial. Stick to a high-quality food that contains grains, and your pup will be just fine.
What Size Dog Crate Do I Need
One of the most common mistakes people make when buying a crate is to think that: Bigger is better.
It wont offer the cozy, safe, and secure feeling a dogs looking for in a den if they are literally rattling around inside of a big open space. They wont learn to love it half as much as they should and could.
And if during house training you want to take advantage of a dogs natural instincts to keep their den clean, then it mustnt be so big that they can use one end to sleep in and the other end as a toilet.
A crate should be just big enough for your dog to stand up without hitting their head, to turn around comfortably, and provide room to lay on their side with their paws stretched out before them.
Any smaller would be uncomfortable, but it shouldnt be any larger for the reasons given above.
Now, if were going to follow the rules discussed, they will need a different size crate when a puppy compared to an adolescent, and a different size again as an adult.
This could get expensive, so heres a money-saving tip:
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Blue Buffalo Large Breed Puppy Food
Image courtesy Blue Buffalo
Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Large Breed Puppy Chicken & Brown Rice is a dry food that’s made with real chicken as the first ingredient. It also includes DHA for brain and vision development, calcium for strong bones, and whole grains for easy digestion.
This formula is designed to support your pup’s large frame and rapid growth, as well as his immune system, skin, and coat. The kibble is also extra-large and easy to eat.
Should I Crate Train My Dog
Why crate train your dog? Though its a common method of housetraining, its way more than that.
When your dog has been introduced properly to a crate, it can be a safe, relaxing space. If youve got a busy household, its good for your dogs to have a quiet, private place of their own where they can get away from stressful situations.
There are times when its good to be able to confine your dog for safety without stressing him out. If youve got guests going in and out of the house, its a fool-proof way to keep your dog from slipping out the door.
Crate training can also allow your dog to go more places with you. Some hotels allow dogs, but only if theyre crated when you leave them in the room. And even if its not required, you cant be sure how your dog will act when left alone in a new place. So its safer for your dog and more considerate of the property.
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How Long Should Your Golden Retriever Be In The Crate
Crates become a place of safety and security for a Golden Retriever when they are crate trained properly. However, because it is a small and confined space, you never want to leave your dog locked in a crate for too long. Puppies should only spend a maximum of 3 to 4 hours a day in their crate. This does not include overnight sleeping in the crate.
Use this table as a guideline for how long you should keep your dog in its crate during the day:
| Age of Golden Retriever | |
| 17+ Weeks Old | 4+ Hours |
It is also essential to make sure your Golden Retriever feels at home in its crate. Remember to associate the crate with positivity rather than punishment. This will help the crate training process and allow your dog to have a better night of rest.
Finding The Right Crate Size For Your Dog Isnt Always Easy
There are so many different dog crates to choose from that the decision on which to buy can be quite difficult.
First of all, the most important decision youll have to make is the size. Too large or too small and it will not be fit for purpose. You have to get this just right.
But then there are the different styles, the different materials theyre made from, and how and where the crate will fit into your home that will play a part in your final decision of which to buy.
This article will discuss all these factors so that by the end you will be highly informed and confident in making the correct buying decision.
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