Crate--correct sizing

[Paeoniaa]

When I first got Marlowe, his crate was 28" x 20.5" x 21.5". He outgrew this crate so I got another crate that is 32" x 22.5" x 24"...and he continued to grow. Now, I'm wondering if it isn't too small. He can get up and turn around, and he can lie down flat. However, he can't stretch out when he is lying flat; he is in the position shown in the picture. This is clearly not an uncomfortable position because he does it even when he has all the room in the world.

Before I got the current crate, I had debated going one more size up (i.e. 36" x 25" x 27") but I decided against it as it would not fit in my car (so I would have to get it delivered and I won't be able to use it on road trips)...and the salesperson said that she had the same size for her collie! Of course, Marlowe is doing his best to reach collie size He is about 19" at the shoulder. He is one now so he should be done growing!

What do you think? Should I be getting the larger size?

 

[corbinam]

I think that looks fine. My pups are 16" and they have the 24" crates. They fit in those just fine. They also have 30" crates that they use for agility and those are fine...but definitely bigger.

I find that my dogs prefer to curl up in their crates anyways.

 

[ClantyreSheltie]

I use 30 inch crates in the house, and I think the car crates are 36. My Collie squeezes herself into the 30 inch crates very happily.

 

[SheepOfBlue]

You can tell he has room. Some dogs ball up and use less space because they like it, others ooze into a flat surface and seem to fill a HUGE amount of space for such a little dog (yes I mean YOU Sca).

 

[Calliesmom]

You can tell he has room. Some dogs ball up and use less space because they like it, others ooze into a flat surface and seem to fill a HUGE amount of space for such a little dog (yes I mean YOU Sca).

Cran does that too- he pushes up against the wall of his wire crate and sees how much hair he can squeeze out

 

[k9kreationz]

Here's a question....what is the crate used for? Is it just for road trips? Is it his daily crate to be in while you're not at home?

I ask, because like you, I worry. And like Sca, Koji STRETCHES out. And at 17.5" and 33" long (head to butt when lying on his side), I totally understand about growing and space.

This is what I did. I have a medium crate for traveling in, the size is about the same as Marlowe's first one. He can't stretch out, but I figure for the most part, no more than a couple of hours he should be fine. His at home crate is 36 x 24 x 26. He can lie it in lengthwise fine and doesn't have to "bend" if he doesn't want to. This one I got big and roomy so he could stretch out and stretch period in. Especially if he was going to be in it for 4+ hours at a time.

If you chose to get a new one, you could just use the old one for traveling. They must not get kinks like we do, because Koji sleeps in some strange positions that give me a neck ache just looking at him. lol.

BTW, in the photo, is that his current crate? If so, he looks like he has a ton of room. His head isn't even against the side. I should upload a photo of Koji in his travel crate. Now that one, he's kinda squished in.

I just had to post these.
Koji in his agility crate. Lots of room for stretching out and cooling off

Attached is two photos.
The first one, if you look at his size, he can fit like that in the crate perfectly. This is his house crate.
The second one is in him in his travel crate. He can fit better, but he loves to lie like that against the side (this is him completely stretched out, but squished). Or he curls up.

 

[Paeoniaa]

I use the crate when he is in my bedroom overnight. He has an X-pen which I use when I'm not home or otherwise cannot supervise him (that's where the picture was taken). Now that he is a year old and not spending much time in the X-pen, I am considering taking it down and just using a crate when he needs to be confined. I take about one road trip a year so it's not a huge factor.

He has 35" long foam bed which he overhangs when he is fully stretched out. If I were to get him a crate in which he could really stretch out, I would have to go up to the 39" crate

It's good to know that using the current 32" crate is not risking damage/discomfort to Marlowe. I think I will maintain the status quo until I decide if I will take down the X-pen.

Thanks to everyone for your input.

Cheryl, by the way, Marlowe sleeps in the same exact position as shown in the first picture, even down to the way he is twisted! And, yes, just looking at him gives me a crick in the neck!

 

[k9kreationz]

Cheryl, by the way, Marlowe sleeps in the same exact position as shown in the first picture, even down to the way he is twisted! And, yes, just looking at him gives me a crick in the neck!

And this is why I think they're fine in smaller crates. LOL.
I just give Koji what space I can. lol.