How to Put Together a Dog Crate? Everything You Need to Know

Dog crates offer a safe enclosure for dogs when they’re too young to be alone, free in the house, during traveling, or during an emergency.

Wire drop-pin crates can be convenient when you’re traveling or need to keep your dog in a confined area when you’re outside the home. Dog crates are also soothing to your dog. In addition, these crates are easy to assemble and fold flat to store under the bed or in a closet when not in use.

What are the Different Types Of Dog Crates?

You can use different dog crates for various dogs at different ages. However, please ensure that your dog isn’t locked in for a long time because he is meant to roam around freely. Prolonged locking will harm them physically and mentally.

Plastic Portable Dog Carriers

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Plastic dog crates are ideal for puppies or medium-sized dogs. They are made with thick plastic, ensuring that it doesn’t break even if you carry your dog somewhere. In addition, it has a front-facing door that you can easily lock to make sure that your dog doesn’t go outside. These crates also have a handle at the top for easy carrying for pet owners.

If you are traveling with your dog in a plane, you would need a solid crate to protect your dog throughout the flight in the cargo hold.

Plastic Dog Crates

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Folding Wire Dog Crates

Folding Wire Dog Crates are foldable wires that are easy to move around the house and travel. The good thing about folding wire crates is they have a lot of open space in the cage, so your furry friend will have fresh air all the time and can have a good view of his surroundings without any restrictions. In addition, these crates are easy to clean.

Folding wire crates can prick your dogs. So it is recommended to place a soft cushion or a small, soft mattress that would be comfortable for your dog. Another issue with this crate is that they can be bigger than the dog who will use them. So it is advisable to take your puppy with you if you purchase the crate from a retail shop.

Folding Wires Dog Crates

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Soft-Sided Dog Crate

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Soft-Sided Dog Crates crates are very comfortable for dogs but not the best choice if your dog is teething. This is because your dog will want to chew a lot during the teething phase, and they might end up chewing this too.

Soft-Sided Dog Crates are made of canvas and nylon and are easier to ruin than other crates. These crates are the best choice for trained dogs and calm dogs. They are also effortless to travel with and are light weighted.

Soft-Sided Dog Crates

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Heavy-Duty Dog Crates

Heavy-Duty Dog Crates are unnecessary for your dog unless he is exceptionally aggressive or massive. They are primarily used for the dogs who destroy their crates and are good escape artists. These crates are not ideal if your dog has developed crate anxiety. The reasons for crate anxiety can be, being locked for a long time or separation anxiety.

Remember that a crate shouldn’t be a punishment for your dog but a relaxing place. So if you keep seeing that your dog is getting aggressive towards all kinds of crates, you should visit a doctor to know what precisely the issue is.

Heavy-Duty Dog Crates

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Fashion Dog Crates/ Furniture Dog Crates

Fashion dog crates/ Furniture dog crates are what they are called. They are an investment like furniture in the house mostly made of wood. These crates should only be used when your pup is well trained and is used to staying in them. But they can be pretty expensive and aren’t ideal for training purposes.

Fashion dog crates/ Furniture dig crates

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Steps to Put Together a Drop-Pin Dog Crate

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Step 1

Unpack the dog crate box. Drop-pin crates are heavy and unwieldy to move, so try to assemble the crate in the area where you will crate the dog.

Step 2

Position the bottom crate panel on the floor and ensure the hooks face upwards.

Step 3

Lay the side panels on the floor and loops facing up. Try overlapping the side panels on the bottom panel, ensuring the second row of wire is directly underneath the hooks. Check if the two bottom rows of wire on the side panels are closer to each other than the two top rows.

Step 4

Lift the side panels to a vertical position. Then, pull them up starting on an angle such that the second wire row is caught in and secured by the bottom panel’s hooks.

Step 5

Place the top panel across the two raised side panels. Later, hook the top wire rows of the side panels in the hooks on the top panel.

Step 6

Now add the door panel so that the latches are visible on the right side of the crate. Hang the door panel’s hooks over the end wire of the top panel and swing the door panel down. Line the door panel’s loops up with the side panels’ loops.

Step 7

Attach the back panel in the same way as the door panel. Keep the two-wire rows that are close to each other at the bottom.

Step 8

Now insert one drop pin in each corner of the drop-pin crate. Be sure the pin passes through all of the loops in both panels.

Step 9

Open the door and place the crate pan in the bottom of the crate. If the crate bottom panel contains a latch to hold the pan in place, secure the latch over the bottom wire of the door panel.

Step 10

If you’re setting up the crate for a puppy, your crate probably came with a crate divider.

The crate divider is one piece of the crate that isn’t attached to anything else.

It keeps your pup from wandering around the crate and going to the bathroom while they’re inside it. It’ll contain two hooks on either side that attach sideways to the crate’s walls.

Set the crate divider aside for future puppies if your dog is a little older and already knows where to do his business.

Steps to Put Together a Metal Dog Crate

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Certain types of metal crates are easy to assemble and disassemble. In addition, these crates are easy to travel with as they consume less space if they are out of their crate. But it is also essential to understand that the crate is big enough for your puppy to stand up and change his sleeping positions if traveling with your dog and plan to keep them inside a crate throughout the trip.

Step 1

Open the crate box and take out the flattened metal crate.

Step 2

Lay them on the floor once all the crates are out. You can remove the plastic pan from the bottom and put it on the floor.

Step 3

All these crates are connected to the plastic pan, which will become the base of the dog crate.

Step 4

Fix the metal crates to the plastic pan.

Step 5

Then add the next plastic pan to the metal crates on the top.

Step 6

Use the hooks to secure the crates from the side and the crate’s door.

Step 7

Try moving the crate a little rough to make sure that the crate is sturdy for your dog.

How to Assemble and Disassemble a Wire Dog Crate?

Wire dog crates are the easiest to assemble and disassemble.

Assemble

Step 1

Remove the crates out of the box.

Step 2

Place the bottom panel of the crate on the floor.

Step 3

Lift the crate’s layers and place them upwards.

Step 4

Later, place the last layers together, hook them together, and place the wired layers over the bottom panel.

Step 5

Hook every corner of the crate together. Remember, different sizes of the crate rows will require different hook sizes.

Step 6

Test the crate. Ensure that the crate is well hooked to avoid breaking while your dog is inside.

Disassemble

It is simple to assemble the crate, but it can be slightly tough to disassemble it. So it’s better to have another person with you to do it as one person is needed to pull off the crate.

Step 1

Pull out the crate after unhooking every corner of it. Be careful while doing this, as you might end up getting hurt or breaking the crate.

Step 2

Remove the plastic pan from the crate.

Step 3

Remove the hooks from the crate rows. Be careful with this as you might put too much pressure.

Step 4

Lightly push the crate rows on each side and keep them aside safely.

Step 5

Keep the hooks, rows, and the bottom panel in a box.

Dog Crate

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Frequently Asked Questions

What should I put in my dog’s crate?

Add a few things to your dog’s crate to make your dog or puppy feel nice. The items you could put in a crate include bedding, toys, food, and water. But not everything is suitable, and some things can even be dangerous. Also, a puppy will need and want slightly different things from an adult dog.

Where should you place a dog crate in the house?

Place the crate where the family spends most of their time, such as a family room. Put a soft blanket or towel in the crate. Keep the crate doors open and let the dog explore at their leisure. Some dogs will be curious naturally and start sleeping in the crate immediately.

Where do you put a dog crate at night?

Usually, the owner’s bedroom is the best place for dog crates at night. Because a dog has the feeling of being in a safe company when he is close to his owner during sleep time, having the crate in your bedroom will allow you to hear your dog if she gets uneasy during the night and needs to be taken to his potty zone.

Is it cruel to crate a dog while at work?

Leaving a dog in the crate while at work is not recommended. It shouldn’t be crated for more than 8 hours if you have no other option. If crating a puppy while at work is not an option, dog-proof the space you’re keeping him to ensure he can’t injure himself while you’re away.

Should you put toys in a dog crate at night?

Keep a close eye as most puppies under 3 months of age will not be able to destroy a soft chew toy. But if your pup does, give him only durable rubber chew toys. Move the crate a little farther from your bed or down to the floor after the first few nights.

When can I stop crating my dog?

If your pup hasn’t soiled inside his crate or in your house for 2 months, then it may be time to start exploring out of the crate.

How long can a dog stay in a crate?

Leave your dog in the crate for up to 8 hours when they have reached 2 or 3 years old. The idea is that your dog learns to spend more time in the crate while also ensuring that you have chosen some activities for him while they are in the crate.

Is crating a dog cruel?

Never use the crate to punish your dog. Your dog will come to fear it and refuse to enter. Also, don’t leave your dog in the crate too long. A dog crated all day and night doesn’t get enough exercise or human interaction and can become depressed or anxious.

How do you start crate training?

Give him a command to enter, like, “kennel up.” Encourage your dog by pointing to the inside of the crate with his favorite treat in your hand. After your dog enters the crate, praise him by saying “yes,” give him the treat and close the door. Sit calmly near the crate for about 10 minutes and then go into another room for a while.

What should I put in my puppy’s crate at night?

When it is time to crate your pup at night, place the toy inside the crate with him so he can snuggle up to the reassuring smells of his canine siblings. A toy that has a virtual heartbeat and warmable insert mimics the reassuring sound and feel of your pup’s mother.

Should I leave water in my dog crate at night?

As a general rule, you should not leave water in your dog’s crate overnight, especially if he is young. Also, healthy adult dogs do not require crate water at night. If they have access to clean fresh water throughout the day, that should be enough to sustain them overnight.

When should I stop crating my dog at night?

Once your dog stays quietly in the crate for 20 to 30 minutes with you mostly out of his sight, you can start leaving them crated when you’re gone for short periods and/or letting them sleep there at night.

What is the purpose of crate training?

A crate is where the dog can be when no one is around to watch him. It is the dog’s bed and sanctuary. A crate’s purpose is to provide confinement for safety reasons, house training, security for the dog, prevention of destructive behavior, and/or travel.

Where do you put a dog crate in an apartment?

Place the crate in the busiest room of your home, so your dog is still a part of things and not deserted. Sleep a new pup in a crate in your bedroom to help them get over the feeling of loneliness. You can move your dog to his final sleeping place after a few days or 2 weeks max.