Can a Dog Crate be Too Big?

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There are 3 reasons people provide a crate for their Dog: Pet Travel on Planes, Ships, Trains, and Cars, and a Safe space for their Pet, and Potty training.

1. Can a Dog Crate be too big for airline travel?

Yes, a Dog’s crate for airline travel is too big when the additional space causes your Dog to shift from leaning against the crate wall to being thrown against the crate wall during air turbulence or airport transportation vehicles that jostle the crate.

To find the right cargo crate for your pet’s plane travel: measure your pet’s nose to the base of the tail, width, and height, and add 3”-5” for the room on each side (top, sides, front, back).

Be sure to allow for space when your Dog is lying on their side, taking into account how they like to sleep with its legs extended. Every Dog wants to be able to stretch out a bit when sleeping—not curled up for the entire flight.

If your Dog can stand up fully, turn around comfortably, and has room to stretch its legs, you have the right size.

Here, you can find Pet Cargo Crate Requirements for Airlines–A Complete Guide

2. Can a Dog crate be too big for road travel?

Yes. If you’re in a car or truck, your Dog’s crate or kennel can be a bit larger than for air travel. However, the same principles apply.
Since you’re using it for your Dog’s safety, there should not be so much room that turns, and sudden deceleration causes your Dog to be thrown against the wall of the crate.

You can compensate for the additional space and add more safety with padding and later remove the padding when at a campsite or at home. Otherwise, 3-inch clearance on the top and sides will give them room to stand up and turn around comfortably but still remain safe from turbulence.

3. Can a Dog Crate be too big for potty training?

Yes, your Dog’s crate can be too big if it allows your Dog or Puppy to pee of poop in one corner of the kennel and sleep in another. A too-big crate defeats the purpose of using a crate for potty training—that is to prevent your Dog from having “potty accidents” inside.

Your Dog Crate is Too Big IF:

Your Dog or puppy can run back and forth inside the crate or express the zoomies inside. The crate is for quiet respite, safety, or potty training
Your Dog can pee or poops in one area and sleeps in another
More than one dog can fit in the crate (unless you are using for airline travel

Your Crate Is Too Small IF:

Your Dog hunches over to get in the crate
Your Dog can sit or stand on all fours in the crate
Your Dog touches the crate wall while standing
Your Dog can’t lay down on their side

You have the right size crate IF:

Your Dog can comfortably turn around and lie on their side—not just curled up.
Your Dog can stand straight up without hunching over (if your Dog is hunching over, your crate is too small).
Your Dog can stand up and turn around without any issues
The crate is about 3 inches larger on each side, back and top

Why do people use a crate for Dogs?

There are 3 reasons many people provide a crate for their Dog: Potty training, Pet Travel on Planes, Ships, Trains, and Cars, and a Safe space all their own.

You can find out more here, How to Prepare a Crate for Air Travel

Pet Travel. If you’re in a car or truck, your Dog’s crate or kennel can be a bit larger than for air travel. However, the same principles apply.

Since you’re using it for your Dog’s safety, there should not be so much room that turns, and sudden deceleration causes your Dog to be thrown against the wall of the crate.

You can compensate for the additional space and add more safety with padding and later remove the padding when at a campsite or at home.

Otherwise, 3-inch clearance on the top and sides will give them room to stand up and turn around comfortably but still remain safe from turbulence.

A safe place to go when they’re tired or scared. Thunder, a respite from other Pets or just having a quiet space all their own is a good reason to give your Dog its own crate.

If a crate is too big, the den-like quality may be lost and your dog (puppies especially) may feel uncomfortable, lonely, or anxious.

If you’re not using the crate for air travel or potty training, there’s no harm in sizing up.
Many crates can “grow” with your Dog from Puppy to adult.

These crates come with 2 doors and a divider to reduce the size of the crate, as needed.

You relocate the divider as your Puppy grows, and eventually remove it.

You can use:

cardboard boxes
laundry basket
Plexiglass.
Wire closet shelves.
Empty plastic bottles.
Thoroughly cleaned 5-gallon paint buckets.

Potty training. You want to use it as a guide and tool. You do not want the crate to be too large, because it will leave room for your Dog to pee or poop and still have a clean space to walk in and out.

This might sound mean, but you want them to have just enough room to stand up and turn around. They naturally do not want to sleep in their own potty, so they’ll learn to hold it.

The benefits of crates for Pets are many—they are safe places for your Dog to have respite and to keep them out of harm’s way. Also, as a tool for potty training, they can be helpful, and you can then reuse the crate for Pet travel.

Benefits of Crate Training for Airline Travel. When your dog or cat feels they are in a familiar, safe environment, they are less stressed. They will actually be safer because they are less likely to try to escape and damage the crate or their paws.

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