Great Dane Crates

The best Great Dane crates are super sized to contain their impressive height and length, as well as being very sturdy and durable.

A Great Dane is a dog breed that is simply unforgettable.

Mature Great Danes are known for their gentle, affable personalities.

Although as puppies and young adult dogs they can be, well, spirited!

During this phase of life, crate training can really come in handy.

It will also help your Great Dane dog grow up into a healthy, mature family member!

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The Great Dane Crate

The key to success with crate training your Great Dane begins with choosing the right size crate.

Figuring out what size crate for Great Dane is best will look different during puppyhood and the adult dog years.

With some crates, Great Dane dog crate size can be adjusted for each phase of life.

Using barriers to make the crate smaller during the limited time your dog is a puppy.

You can then remove the barriers as your Great Dane grows up.

One of the biggest perks of this type of crate is that you don’t have to buy two different crates when your pup grows!

Why crate train a Great Dane?

Crate training dogs continues to be controversial in some circles, even with research to support the positive impact a crate can have in a dog’s life.

The basic concept of using a dog crate evolved by studying wolves, which are the domestic dog’s nearest relative.

Wild wolves naturally seek out enclosed spaces for sleeping, hiding and rearing young.

When done well, the introduction of a crate can provide similar refuge and rest for your dog.

But the key comes in ensuring your Great Dane associates his crate with rest, comfort and protection.

To learn more about the proper method for crate training a Great Dane puppy, you may enjoy reviewing this informative article.

Choosing a Great Dane crate

Great Dane crates & kennels come in many different styles.

Choosing the right size dog crate for Great Dane adults is a critical part of making sure your Great Dane’s crate training process is a positive experience.

Even though Great Dane dogs are big, there may be bigger and smaller pups in each litter.

Your Great Dane may be huge, like Freddy, perhaps Britain’s tallest dog, who currently stands at over seven feet tall!

And then there is Balthazar, a Great Dane whose weight, at 210 pounds, rivals most baby elephants!

If your Great Dane is growing up to be like Freddy or Balthazar, you will definitely want to choose an xxl Great Dane crate.

But if your Great Dane is on the smaller side for the breed, which typically stands anywhere from 28 to 34 inches tall (at the shoulder), then a standard Great Dane crate will likely do just fine.

Luckily, today the problem of finding a crate gigantic enough for a huge breeder like the Great Dane is largely one of the past.

You will find you have lots of wonderful options for choosing the best crate for Great Dane dogs!

Great Dane crate size

Even Great Dane puppies can be hefty.

But just looking at a Great Dane puppy won’t necessarily prepare you for the full picture of what your dog will look like all grown up.

Great Danes can weigh up to 200 pounds at maturity.

They have really long legs and long bodies.

They also grow more slowly, sometimes taking up to 24 months to grow into their full adult height, length and weight.

If your Great Dane is still a puppy, for guess-timation purposes when choosing a crate, it can also help to know that male adult Great Danes tend to be taller, longer and heavier than females.

All that to say – while a crate should feel somewhat enclosing, in the sense of replicating the wild wolf burrow, bigger can also be better if you are not sure just how big your Great Dane is going to get!

Dimensions to Consider

For general purposes, aim for these dimensions in any crate you consider for a Great Dane:

• X-Large crate: 48L x 30W x 33H inches
• XX-Large crate: 54L x 35W x 45H

Take these specific height and length measurements to get your dog’s exact size for figuring out what size dog crate for a Great Dane:

Height

You will want to take two measurements. First, have your dog stand and measure her from paw to shoulder.

Next, have your dog sit and measure her from floor to ear tips.

Use whichever height measurement is taller PLUS add two inches for choosing your minimum crate height.

Length

You will want to measure your dog from nose tip to tail base, and then add on a minimum of two inches.

This is your minimum crate length size.

Best metal Great Dane Crates

A Great Dane wire crate can be the perfect solution for some Great Danes.

It offers plenty of ventilation to keep these heat-sensitive pups cool yet still feels secure from within.

Metal Great Dane crates also tend to be the sturdiest crate types and are recommended by many breeders and rescue organizations.

A word to the wise – the biggest safety check you will want to do before choosing a metal Great Dane crate is to be sure the wire bars are sufficiently strong and will resist bowing or even breaking under pressure.

MidWest iCrate Folding Metal Dog Crates

This adjustable crate by Midwest Homes for Pets*(paid link) is a perfect choice if your Great Dane is still a puppy and is on track to be on the small-to-normal size spectrum for her breed.

(paid link)

There are several sizes, but you will want to choose the 48-inch crate (48L x 30W x 33H) with divider.

You can also choose between a single door and a double door crate. Owners say the crate is very roomy and perfect for Great Danes.

Best wooden Great Dane Crates

Ask any Great Dane owner, and you will quickly learn that Great Danes are very fond of chewing.

While any home furnishing can be fair game for a rousing round of chewing, Great Danes seem to find wood particularly pleasing.

This is probably why there are so few wooden Great Dane crates available and they are all custom-made crates.

The cost of purchasing wooden Great Dane crates, when you know they are most likely going to be perceived as chew toys by your eager and active pup, typically doesn’t justify choosing a wood Great Dane crate!

If you do want to try using a wooden crate for your Great Dane, there is a company that makes custom crates specifically for Great Danes. And we wish you the best of luck!

Great Dane travel crate options

Great Danes are true family dogs.

Wherever you are, that is where they also want to be.

A properly crate-trained Great Dane can be an enthusiastic travel companion, provided you have the right Great Dane travel crate for safe transportation.

These soft-sided Great Dane travel crate options are easy to fold down and set up, have plenty of ventilation and feature some lovely extras, including s

Guardian Gear Soft Dog Crate X-Large

This giant soft sided travel crate*(paid link) is a good choice for a small to average size Great Dane.

(paid link)

The windows have fine mesh for ventilation and the exterior is nylon waterproof over a steel frame.

Owners say this is a great crate for a sizable pooch that isn’t an escape artist.

Elitefield Soft Dog Crate

This crate should be sufficiently roomy*(paid link) for small to average size Great Dane dogs

(paid link)

The tan Great Dane crate has three entry/exit doors and pull-down shades, plus side storage pockets.

It folds flat for storage and sets up in minutes.

Great Dane airline crate choices

Choosing a Great Dane airline crate is all about finding the perfect mix of sturdiness and roominess.

If you plan to travel by air with your pup, it is always a great idea to contact the airline to verify their specific airline crate requirements.

These crates are suitably sized for small to average Great Danes or Great Dane puppies.

If you need something for a super-sized Great Dane, the best option is likely going to be found by working with a company  that offers custom-made airline kennels or airline crate extenders.

PetMate Sky Mate Kennel

This plastic rigid crate*(paid link) has a sturdy metal wire latching door and measures 48L x 32W x 35H.

(paid link)

There is ventilation on all four sides and it comes with a “Live Animal” sticker and clip-on bowls for food and water.

It also comes with I.D. stickers and absorbent material for travel. This kennel is rated for dogs from 90 to 125 pounds.

Aspen Pet Porter Kennel

This rigid-sided plastic and metal airline crate*(paid link) measures 48L x 32W x 35H and is rated for dogs from 90 to 125 pounds.

(paid link)

It comes in light gray or dark gray and features four-way ventilation and a latching wire/metal door.

PetMate Ultra Vari Kennel

This rigid-sided plastic and metal airline kennel*(paid link) measures 48L x 32W x 35H.

(paid link)

It features four-way ventilation and a squeeze-latch door closure and comes with a 5-year limited warranty from the manufacturer.

Choose from bleached linen or true blue colors for this Great Dane crate.

Best Great Dane Crates

We hope you have found this article about Great Dane dog crate options informative and useful!

The Great Dane is such a great dog breed, and luckily more pet products companies today are making an effort to provide suitably roomy dog crates to suit these extra-large dogs’ needs!

If you have found your perfect Great Dane crate after reading this list, please drop us a comment and let us know which crate you selected!

If you are currently using a Great Dane crate that isn’t listed here, we sure would love to know about it!

Bringing home a new Great Dane puppy? Check out our awesome Great Dane Names list here!

Affiliate link disclosure: Links in this article marked with an * are affiliate links, and we may receive a small commission if you purchase these products. However, we selected them for inclusion independently, and all of the views expressed in this article are our own.

Resources

• Schroeder, I., et al, “Selecting the Right Dog,” Purdue University Extension, 2003.
• GDCA, “Before You Choose a Great Dane,” Great Dane Club of America, 2017.
• GDR, “Great Dane Care,” Great Dane Rescue, 2018.
• Webster, M, DVM, “Vacationing With Your Pet,” Tampa Veterinary Hospital, 2017.