Travel Crate Sizing

[Labradorks]

For my next vehicle, I'm going to crate my dogs. I was looking at the RTKs and realize, they are only 22" wide. I shove mine in the Noz 2 Noz Soft-Krates at events and use the 36" size. Dimensions are 36"L X 24"W X 27"H and for pets up to 70 lbs. My dogs are 80 (when lean) and 24" tall. So, they are pretty snug already.

I do not ever expect to have a dog that is bigger than these guys; in fact, I want to go smaller going forward. I expect them to lay down in them, and they do, so the height is fine. They definitely cannot stretch out in there. I'm OK that they are snug. It's temporary and in a vehicle it's better if they are snug. I'd never crate a dog long-term (like overnight or while I'm at work) in something so snug. But 22"? Hmmm...

For those of you with bigger Labs, what size crates do you have them in in your vehicle? (I'm not going to do wire in the car.)

[barry581]

I've got the Midwest 21" wide crates designed for small SUV's. One is 36" long, the other 42". Sophie is 22" at the whithers, and 70 pounds, she fits fine in the smaller crate. It's a bit tight, but I'd rather have them a bit tight in the car so they can't move/slide around.

[voodoo]

give me a few days and I will post some pics with chili and his new travel kennel

Gunner Kennels G1 Large Dog Crate. $749.99. FREE Shipping US48

[dxboon]

For my next vehicle, I'm going to crate my dogs. I was looking at the RTKs and realize, they are only 22" wide. I shove mine in the Noz 2 Noz Soft-Krates at events and use the 36" size. Dimensions are 36"L X 24"W X 27"H and for pets up to 70 lbs. My dogs are 80 (when lean) and 24" tall. So, they are pretty snug already.

I do not ever expect to have a dog that is bigger than these guys; in fact, I want to go smaller going forward. I expect them to lay down in them, and they do, so the height is fine. They definitely cannot stretch out in there. I'm OK that they are snug. It's temporary and in a vehicle it's better if they are snug. I'd never crate a dog long-term (like overnight or while I'm at work) in something so snug. But 22"? Hmmm...

For those of you with bigger Labs, what size crates do you have them in in your vehicle? (I'm not going to do wire in the car.)

I see plenty of people at shows using the Midwest SUV crates which are only 21" wide for their males, so 22" should be okay. I think it depends on how long your car trips tend to be. If I put the divider up in my Variocage the spaces are about 21". I don't want my guys to be too contained so I just let two of the three ride in the Variocage (the double XXL size) sans divider.

[Labradorks]

I see plenty of people at shows using the Midwest SUV crates which are only 21" wide for their males, so 22" should be okay. I think it depends on how long your car trips tend to be. If I put the divider up in my Variocage the spaces are about 21". I don't want my guys to be too contained so I just let two of the three ride in the Variocage (the double XXL size) sans divider.

Good to know. I asked a breeder friend and she does not put her boy in the 22" crate. So, sounds like it's a preference. I found a local friend with the RTK sized crate I am looking at and I'm going to stop by and shove him in there and see how it goes!

[Rosy]

You can search it from amazon.

[Annette47]

I do use heavy gauge wire crates from General Cage which we’ve had for 20 years. They are 35.5 x 23.5 and just barely fit in my car (even .5 inch wider and we’d be out of luck). Mulder (83lbs and 24 inches) was fine in them, and there is tons of room for the girls who are much smaller (range from 49-63 lbs, and 20-22 inches). In fact, in a couple weeks we’re taking them on a family trip to visit DH’s family near the beach in MA, and they will have to ride with 2 of them sharing a crate (or else there wouldn’t be enough room for a human).

My dogs don’t tend to sprawl out when they travel, so I think 22 inches wide would be fine for yours. As long as they can lay down comfortably, they should be fine, even if it would be too tight to lay flat on their sides with their legs out.

[JenC]

I have 36" wire crates in my car and my tallest lab (jed) fits in fine. Jack and Grizz are about the same weight, and they both fit in that fine as well.

Are you on the FB group https://www.facebook.com/groups/DogSportVehicleIdeas/

[Labradorks]

I have 36" wire crates in my car and my tallest lab (jed) fits in fine. Jack and Grizz are about the same weight, and they both fit in that fine as well.

Are you on the FB group https://www.facebook.com/groups/DogSportVehicleIdeas/

I'm a little nervous about wire crates and safety AND I want something that helps contain dog hair. Yellow Lab hair is from the devil!

I am on that group. Not a lot of conformation type Labs. I did ask my breeder friends on FB with comparable sized dogs though and that was helpful, too.

Some people say they'd fit, some say they wouldn't. So, I've tracked down a couple friends nearby with the sizes I am looking at and I'm just going to put my bigger dog inside and see what works. We also have a Cabella's nearby but I'm not sure if they keep the crates in stock. I need to check.

[Shelley]

I'm a little nervous about wire crates and safety AND I want something that helps contain dog hair. Yellow Lab hair is from the devil!

I am on that group. Not a lot of conformation type Labs. I did ask my breeder friends on FB with comparable sized dogs though and that was helpful, too.

Some people say they'd fit, some say they wouldn't. So, I've tracked down a couple friends nearby with the sizes I am looking at and I'm just going to put my bigger dog inside and see what works. We also have a Cabella's nearby but I'm not sure if they keep the crates in stock. I need to check.

My friend and I traveled from California to Maryland with 4 show dogs, two big boys, 90-95 lbs and two, average sized girls all in 36" crates in my pickup truck rig. They were plenty comfortable, with full water buckets and of course we stopped every 4-5 hours to let them stretch their legs and pee, and they all slept in our hotel rooms in 36" Noz2Noz crates, also just fine.