What Size Kennel For Golden Retriever

The Quickest Way To Choose The Best Crate Size For Your Dog

We developed our own custom Fit Finder apps that take into consideration your dogs details, your vehicle setup and your intended use. We use your answers to recommend the ideal GUNNER size for you and your dog. Click here to find the best dog crate for your K9.

When you take this quiz, you can be confident in the returned results, as its based on past customer purchase data and our own research, as well as our safety recommendations.

You Shouldnt Leave Your Golden Retriever Alone For More Than 4

Goldens create strong bonds with their owners, meaning theyre great family dogs. Theyre willing to please their humans and love being around children of all ages because kids are always ready to play.

Leaving your Golden by herself all day will only make her suffer, which in time can generate depression, , and in some cases destructive behavior.

Hiring a pet walker or taking your Golden to dog care during the day can help, but none of these solutions replaces your presence. Only buy or adopt one of these dogs if you or other family members have time to play with her every day.

Where To Put The Dog Crate

Where you put the crate has a lot to do with the success of crate training.

Golden retrievers love being around people, so make sure to put the crate in a room that youre often in.

Usually thats the kitchen, living room, or bedroom.

Some people also have multiple crates, such as one in the bedroom for bedtime, and one in the kitchen or living room for during the day.

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Dog Crate Sizes Chart For All Popular Breeds

This is a dog crate size guide for common dog breeds, designed to help you choose the right size crate for your pet. But first, let me tell you two things:

Will Neutering Or Spaying My Golden Retriever Affect His Or Her Growth

Yes, fixing a dog before they reach sexual maturity generally causes your dog to grow bigger. This is because sex hormones suppress growth hormones.

Without growth inhibition, your Golden will continue to grow.

Aside from joint problems, there are also a few issues connected to spaying or neutering. They can become more prone to some forms of cancer.

It might also cause spay incontinence in females when they are older.

Some dogs also experience a change in behavior after the operation. The lack of estrogen can make female dogs more aggressive. Male dogs may also experience an increase in fearfulness.

Sexual maturity usually occurs in Golden around 8 to 12 months. This gives you ample time to decide whether to sterilize or not.

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Bonus Review: Midwest Crate Cover

Why should you get a crate cover for your dog crate? Golden Retrievers love people and can face some serious separation anxiety or stress when you leave the house. However, a crate cover can help.

This cover is meant to provide extra security and comfort for your Golden Retriever. Covering up distractions from the environment can help create a quiet sanctuary for your dog. In fact, its recommended by vets for dogs that experience anxiety.

Yes, this cover is made by MidWest, however, its compatible with options 1, 2 and 4 on this buying guide. Before you purchase, always make sure youre buying the right size cover.

The Midwest Homes Crate Cover Overview

• What to Get: The 42 inch.
• Reviews: 2500 +
• Highlights: Highly compatible, easy to use, 100% polyester, machine washable, warranty.

Best Features

As mentioned, this cover is compatible with nearly all standard dog crates. Ive linked the 42 inch cover, so make sure youre buying a 42 dog crate.

This crate cover has 5 flaps and will block all sides of the crate, except for the bottom. The bottom doesnt need to be covered anyway. Its where your removable tray should be.

To secure the cover over the crate, use the hook and loop tabs. It provides a secure attachment and wont be easily pulled off no matter how hard your Golden Retriever tries.

MidWests cover is made from 100% polyester material its very durable and dog-friendly. Its possible it gets chewed up by some dogs, but Golden Retrievers wont likely be a problem.

The History Of Golden Retrievers

Golden Retrievers have an interesting history.

As legend has it, Lord Tweedmouth of Scotland wanted to create a hunting dog that could retrieve shot-down birds from both land and water.

His solution was to breed a wavy-coated retriever with a Tweed water spaniel, thus creating the first litter of golden retrievers in 1868.

Now although theyre common family dogs today, the fact that golden retrievers were originally bred for retrieving birds all day in the wilderness has left some lasting physical and personality traits that we see in them today.

• They have lots of energy because they were bred to hunt all day
• They are athletic because they were bred to swim in lakes and rivers and run through fields
• They have a tendency to be mouthy because they were bred to hold birds in their mouths

So what does this have to do with the different types of golden retrievers?

Everything!

Knowing where golden retrievers came from can help us understand where we are today.

So now lets dive into the supposed 8 types of golden retrievers and discover the truth about each one.

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Are Girl Or Boy Golden Retrievers Better

Male golden retrievers worship their owners. Female golden retrievers love their owners, but their devotion may not reach the same level as males. Male golden retrievers may also be more affectionate than female golden retrievers because of their dispositions. Females can be more territorial and independent than males.

Measure The Height Of Your Dog For His Crate

• To get the height, some dogs are taller in a seated position than they are standing on all fours, sit your dog down so he is sitting proud and upright. Now, referring to the image take measurement B, from the floor to the tallest point of his nose/head.
• Again, add 2 to 4 inches to this and this will give you the shortest height the crate should be.

Armed with these measurements youll now be able to buy the correct size crate for your Labradoror any other dog for readers of Labrador crosses or other breeds.

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Which Size For My Dog Breed

The following breeds may be suitable for these crates. Please note all dogs are different and this is a recommendation only. Dogs that are mixed breed are especially likely to vary in sizes.

The Small 24 Crate is our smallest crate. It is a popular choice for puppies when they are still little. It may be suitable for the following and similar breeds:

• Chihuahua

• Greyhound
• Mastiff

The Somerzby collapsible dog crates are are perfect for extending your existing enclosure or creating a new play space inside or outside for your pet.

Still feeling unsure which sized crate to get?

Contact us for advice!

Why Is My Golden Retriever So Small

Although its not good for a dog to be overweight, being underweight has health issues of its own. When your Golden Retriever is wet you should not be able to see their ribs through their fur, or see the nodules of their spine. If you can, have a chat with your veterinarian to make sure there isnt a medical reason for their low weight.

However, some small Golden Retrievers are just short and therefore weigh less too. Height for any animal is on a spectrum, so you will always have outliers on either end of that range. However, sometimes a golden is short because they arent a pure breed.

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American Vs Canadian Vs British Golden Retriever

There are three recognized breeds of golden retriever: American, Canadian, and British.

• American Golden Retriever: This breed is usually less muscular and lankier than the other types. Their coats are normally darker and they come in shades of gold with feathering. They have a smooth gait.
• Canadian Golden Retriever: The Canadian golden retrievers are normally taller and leaner than the other breeds. They are the tallest type of golden retriever that you can get. Their coat is usually darker and their eyes are more triangular than round.
• British Golden Retriever: The British retriever is more muscular than the other varieties. They have thicker coats and normally weigh more. Their coat is lighter in color and sometimes is so light, that they are a soft cream color and even look white.These are still golden retrievers, though in American they are specially called English Cream golden retrievers. They are not commonly red or mahogany like the other breeds. They also have round dark eyes, which is a little different than other varieties. They are desired because of their happy temperament.

Best Dog Crate For Golden Retriever Dogs & Puppies

Our top picks for the best dog crates for Golden Retrievers are:

Best Value Metal Wire Dog Crate

Read more about some of the best dog exercise pens here.

*Note a dog crate should be able to safely and comfortably fit your dog when it is standing, sitting and laying down.

Make sure you measure your dog, and read the product sizing details, and product description prior to purchasing to make sure a dog crate is suitable for your dog.

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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:

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.

Choose The Right Size Crate

We advise you measure your dog using a tape measure.

If your dog is still growing and you want it to grow into the crate, measure how big you expect your dog to grow. You can estimate your dogs size fully grown by speaking to your breeder or looking at similar dogs.

Then compare these measurements against the dimensions provided above.

Allow an extra 5-10cm on each side so your dog has room to stand up and turn around without hitting into the sides of the crate. This allows your dog to get comfortable easily.

Consider what else is going inside the crate and add this into your measurements. This includes food and water bowls, bedding, cushions and toys.

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What Is A Good Crate Size For Golden Retrievers

Most of the time, fully-grown Golden Retrievers will require a large or extra-large crate size. In many cases, this means purchasing a crate thats around forty-two to forty-eight inches long.

If you dont want to purchase two separate crates for a puppy and an adult, you can look for a crate that includes a divider. These dividers allow you to section off parts of the crate as your Retriever continues to get bigger. As they grow, you can section off less and less of the crate until your Golden Retriever can use the entire space.

However, if theres more than enough room for your Golden Retriever to walk around, the crate might be just a little too big. Unnecessary large crates can inhibit house trainingyour Retriever may be tempted to use the bathroom on one side of the crate and then lay on the other side.

Golden Retriever Body Condition Score

Body Condition Score is a measure used to determine the level of fat in pets including dogs. The scales used to measure BCS are1 to 9 and 1 to 5. Use visualization and palpation to assign a Body Condition Score to your Golden Retriever.

The ideal BCS for your Golden Retriever should be 5/9 or 3/5. This is where you can feel the ribs of your puppy with only a thin layer of fat covering them. With this score, the abdominal tuck and the waistline of your puppy is visible from the side and above, respectively.

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How To Identify An Overweight Golden Retriever

Use your eyes and hands. If you can see her ribs, shes too skinny. But if you cant feel them, shes too fat!

A survey in 2012 showed that 62.7% of Golden Retrievers in America are either obese or overweight.

While it might look cute or funny, overweight dogs actually have shorter lifespans. Being excessively chubby shaves off two years and causes health issues.

Why Do Golden Retrievers Need A Crate

Before we get into the best size crate for goldens, its important to understand the necessity of having a crate in the first place.

Crates are great for two things:

Picture this: you have a 9-week-old puppy, youre making dinner, and the kids are doing their homework whats the puppy doing?

Puppies are curious and mischevious, so unless theyre sleeping, playing with someone, or going to town on a chew toy, its likely that theyre doing something they shouldnt be doing.

They could be going potty in the house, chewing up your shoes, or worse, swallowing something they shouldnt be swallowing, like a sock, or swallowing something poisonous, like a grape.

The reason why crates are so good for potty training is that they dont like to go potty where they sleep, so theyll typically hold it if theyre in the crate.

Some people may think crates are cruel, but in addition to crates helping potty training and keeping them safe , most puppies learn to love their crates.

Dogs are natural den animals so once they realize the crate is their safe space, theyll be comfortable in it.

Alright, now that its clear why puppies need a crate, lets dive into getting the right size for them.

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The Verdict: Normal Growth Is Not The Same For Each Pup

Every Golden is different and will grow at their own rate. The key is to ensure they arent growing too quickly or too slowly steady growth is ideal.

Aside from other factors we mentioned, a nutritious diet and an active lifestyle will help keep your Golden healthy and happy.

Remember, their final size will vary from one another, depending on variation and pedigree.

Controversies With Mini Golden Retrievers

Some animal protection groups reject the breed of Mini Golden Retrievers. They claim the breeding process to obtain a small-sized retriever is unethical.

They claim that females are forced to have countless births, and the breeders dont care about the conditions these animals live in. They argue that Mini Golden Retrievers are sold as an accessory and that the health and happiness of the dogs are not being considered.

In actuality there is some truth to this as there are many breeders that are only in the business for the money. However, there are many breeders who love animals and only breed ethically. It is up to us to only choose those reputable breedersor you can adopt!

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Advantages Of Wire Crates:

• Very easy to keep clean.
• Allows the greatest airflow of all crate styles which is particularly nice in hotter climates.
• Allows the dog inside the greatest visibility which is good for those that need to still feel a part of things and know whats going on around themSome Labradors are like this!
• Many models fold flat for portability.
• Can come with divider panels for adjusting the crate size to suit a growing puppy.
• Most models have a slide out tray for ease of cleaning.

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Frisco Heavy Duty Ultimate Crate

• Built with 22 gauge steel.
• Durable construction.

The Frisco Heavy Duty Dog Cage Crate is our top pick for heavy-duty dog crates. Its durable, strong, and has a lock thats nearly impossible to break as a dog. The crate is also easy to clean through the removable tray. Its on wheels as well, so you can bring it to other rooms without having to carry it. This feature is essential for heavy-duty crates since theyre so heavy.

Weight will be a concern with this crate. Its very heavy especially with a Golden Retriever inside. Bringing the crate with you is going to be a chore. Heavy-duty crates are more expensive than traditional crates, so this is going to be the most expensive of the dog crates for Golden Retrievers on our list.

We love that this crate has a tougher exterior than any others on this list. It has a removable tray at the bottom for cleaning, and because it has wheels its easy to move around your house as you train. Its also nearly impossible to break out of. Its a little harsher on the wallet, but if you can afford it its one of the best you can buy.

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