6 Best Dog Crates for German Shepherds in 2023

German Shepherds are one of the most lovable, vibrant, and loyal breeds of dog you can own.

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If you’re hoping to make your Shep a little more obedient and secure when you’re not at home, you’ve probably wondered what the best German Shepherd crates on the market are?

We’ve decided to put together an in-depth and awesome guide to show you how exactly to handle a purchase like this. In this guide, you’re going to find answers to all of your questions and lots of information on how to go about finding the perfect crate for your German Shepherd.

Different Types of German Shepherd Crates

Much like any pet product, there exists a wide range of options on the market for you to choose from. The material and the build of the crate is one of the options you have to consider when you decide to buy one.

Here are the most common types of German Shepherd crates available on the market:

  1. Wire: Probably the most common crates available on the market – and with good reason. These crates are strong, reliable, durable, and provide great airflow(so your German Shepherd won’t overheat). They also allow your pet to look around while they’re resting inside, which is great. The benefits of wire crates greatly outweigh the negatives (heavy, hard to move, noisy).
  2. Soft-sided: These plush, comfortable, adorable crates are perfect for smaller dogs who love to lounge around and feel safe and relaxed. There are larger versions for dogs such as German Shepherds, of course. The only real downside to these is how hard they are to clean!
  3. Hard-sided: You’ll see lots of hard-sided crates available on the market nowadays. They’re strong, hard to break out of, and very secure when it comes to larger breeds like the German Shepherd. You will have a bit of trouble moving these things around, though. They’re not very portable at all.
  4. Portable: Speaking of portable, there are lots of options out there for those of you who love to travel with your dog. While many of these are small and lightweight (so won’t fit your big, hulking German Shepherd), you can find portable crates big enough for your dog that folds down or comes apart. You can’t carry your pet in them, but they can still be moved easily.
  5. Furniture Style: These are crates that are perfect for all the fashion conscious dog owners out there who want to own something which will fit in with the theme of their house and look more like actual furniture. They’re sometimes referred to as fashion crates and they can even be used as side tables! Of course, wooden crates like this can be easily chewed and destroyed by boisterous dogs.

Obviously, some of the options above aren’t ideal for German Shepherds. Don’t worry, though, as we’re going to show you exactly what crates will be perfect for your pet later on in our guide. Next, however, let’s move on to one of the most important points to consider when buying a new dog crate.

How to Determine the Proper German Shepherd Crate Size

One of the most important parts about purchasing a suitable crate for your German Shepherd is making sure you get one that’s the right size for your pet. This breed of dog can be super active and excitable, so they need a little room to move around within the crate.

To ensure you get the right size crate for your dog (one that it can be comfortable in), don’t just estimate your dog’s size and guess which will be best. Here’s how to measure up your pet:

  1. Measure from the nose to the tail to get the length (add a few inches for comfort).
  2. Measure from the tip of erect ears to the floor for the height of the crate.
  3. Lastly, measure the widest part of your dog and add a few inches to get the width.

Once you’ve got these numbers, it’ll be easy to see which crates are suitable for your dog and which will allow them a little freedom of movement – while also still being secure and enclosed enough to keep your dog safe.

Now that you know how to measure your dog, let’s take a look at the very best options out there on the market.

Overall Best German Shepherd Crate

Many lists make you wait until the very end before they tell you what they think is the wisest choice – not us, though. We’re going to give you our favorite crate right off the bat. In our opinion, this is the overall best German Shepherd Crate on the market:

Frisco Fold & Carry Double Door Dog Crate

Sizes Available: 22 inch, 24 inch, 30 inch, 36 inch, 42 inch and 48 inch.

In our humble opinion, the Fold & Carry model dog crate from Frisco has all of the exceptional qualities needed to house a German Shepherd safely and securely. One of the best features in this model is the divider (which comes included), which allows you to section off the crate so you can use it as your dog grows from pup to adult.This wired crate is perfect for German Shepherds. It’s just the right size, it’s strong, it’s durable, it’s super easy to clean up, and is perfect for those that love to travel as it folds right down.Here’s a quick list of the pros and cons, so you can easily see all you need to know about this Frisco model crate:

Pros:

  • Two handy entry doors
  • Can close and securely lock with dual latches
  • Convenient divider panel allows the crate to expand as your German Shepherd grows
  • Easy to assemble
  • Comes with an easy-to-clean, durable plastic pan
  • Adjustable handles / folds down for travel

Cons:

  • Wired crates can be loud if your dog moves around a lot
  • Latches can be fiddly to open at first
  • Can bend if folded down wrong

Now that we’ve told you our overall favorite crate for German Shepherds, let’s see what else is available on the market. We’re going to take a look at a few more of the top rated crates out there and see what all their pros and cons are.

Soft-sided crates can be tricky to come across for larger breeds like the German Shepherd. We managed to find the perfect model, though, so don’t worry. This is our top pick:

Frisco Indoor & Outdoor Soft Dog Crate

Sizes Available: 21 inch, 26 inch, 30 inch, 36 inch and 40 inch

Best Soft Sided German Shepherd Crate – Another Frisco model on the list with their Indoor & Outdoor Soft Dog Crate. If your dog loved the enclosed type of crates with a softer material, then this is definitely the model for you. Every size model of this crate is lightweight and easy to transport – so it’s safe to take on family days out!

Pros:

  • Strong steel frame
  • Water resistant base
  • Three zippered doors (front, top, side)
  • Lightweight
  • Easy to set up and fold down
  • Super comfortable for your dog

Cons:

  • Has to be hand washed and this can take time
  • Especially destructive dogs may be able to tear the material

From soft-sided, let’s move on to… Plastic Crates.

Plastic crates can be the perfect way to crate dogs who are rowdy and need something a little more enclosed than wires. Our top pick for the best plastic crate on the market for German Shepherds is:

Petmate Navigator Plastic Kennel

Sizes Available: X-Small, Small, Medium,  Intermediate, Large and XL large

Best Plastic Crate for German Shepherd Crate: This fully ventilated plastic crate is a great choice for dogs who sometimes make a mess in their crate. Because it is treated with antimicrobial protection it has a special resistance to odor-causing bacteria. Let’s take a look at all of the pros and cons:

Pros:

  • Splits into two so can be stored away easily and moved around with ease
  • Simple to clean
  • Unique antimicrobial protection in the base
  • Top and bottom 360-degree ventilation
  • Two dial-turn latches
  • Safe for airline travel

Cons:

  • Some people find it hard to assemble
  • Can be noisy if your dog moves around a lot

Now it’s time for…

3 More Top Rated German Shepherd Crates

Let’s take a look at the last three models we’ll be recommending today. All three of these crates are top rated and sure to be ideal for your German Shepherd. Let’s look at the pros and cons of each of them, starting with:

Impact Collapsible Dog Crate

Sizes Available: Small, Medium, Large, XL, XXL, XXXL

This heavy-duty, aluminum crate is ideal for strong dogs who need a bit of room to relax.

Pros:

  • Heavy-duty material that can’t be chewed
  • Easily folds down for storage and travel
  • Lots of ventilation holes
  • Sturdy locks
  • Really easy to clean

Cons:

  • An expensive option for those on a budget
  • Can be difficult to put together on your own

Frisco Fold & Carry Single Door Dog Crate

Sizes Available: 22 inch, 24 inch, 30 inch, 36 inch, 42 inch and 48 inch

A strong wired crate with a convenient divider panel to suit German Shepherds of all sizes.

Pros:

  • Divider panel means it’s suitable for any age dog
  • Designed to be easy to fold down for storage and travel
  • Easy to clean with a wipeable plastic pan
  • Adjustable handle for carrying

Cons:

  • Can be tricky to fold down if you’re unsure how (always read the instructions)
  • The wire can be bent if you fold it the wrong way

MidWest LifeStages Double Door Dog Crate

Sizes Available: 22 inch, 24 inch, 30 inch, 36 inch, 42 inch and 48 inch

This double-doored dog crate is made of strong wire and has an easy-to-clean base included.

Pros:

  • Double doors make positioning and entry easy
  • Divider panel for dogs of all sizes to be comfortable
  • Durable, easily-removable plastic pan
  • Super simple to clean up
  • Carrying handle makes travel easy
  • Folds down for storage

Cons:

  • Complex to put together if you don’t read the instructions
  • Very heavy – so make sure you’ve been working out
  • Hook latch isn’t as secure as others

Now that we’ve listed all our recommended models of crates, let’s dive into some advice.

5 Tips to Introduce your German Shepherd to their New Crate

Introducing your German Shepherd to their new crate can be a laborious task, especially if your pet is a mischievous animal or doesn’t like to be told what to do. To ease the whole process, we’ve decided to compile a few tips to help you out. Let’s jump right in and see what you can do to make this a simple and fun task:

  1. Don’t worry if your German Shepherd doesn’t hop right into the crate straight away. It’s common for dogs to be a little nervous around things they don’t know. Try and tempt them in by laying down a soft blanket or a towel. This will make it look and feel much more inviting and comfortable.
  2. Food is the solution to many problems when it comes to your German Shepherd – as we’re sure you already know. One way to get your dog used to their new crate is by placing their food bowl at the entrance   you feed them. Move it deeper and deeper into the crate each time, so that they get used to being inside there.
  3. One of the best ways to make your dog comfortable inside their crate is to place is somewhere where they’re already used to relaxing. Set it up somewhere in your house where you and your family spend a lot of time. By doing this, they’ll be less nervous around it and come to be relaxed whenever it’s time to get in.
  4. Your dog has to be 100% comfortable within the crate before you can leave it in it alone and for long periods of time. If you leave your German Shepherd alone in the before it’s completely ready, you run the risk of it becoming even more nervous getting inside going forward.
  5. This last tip is similar to using the dog bowl, except it gives you the chance to spoil your dog a little more. Place your pet’s favorite treats and meats inside the crate, so that it comes to associate it with things it loves. Try out chicken or just regular dog biscuits.

Hopefully, all of our tips will help your dog quickly get used to their new home without any major incidents. Now that you know all about crates, let’s move on to our conclusion.

The Conclusion

That’s our total guide to the best German Shepherd dog crates all finished! Hopefully, all of our amazing tips and the awesome crates we listed have given you plenty to think about.

We want you and your pet to have the best experience possible so we’ve tried to stuff as much information into this guide as possible. Come back and read it whenever you need a refresher course or if you decide to purchase a new crate.

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