Contrary to belief in some dog training circles, crate training is not cruel for your Pit Bull. Rather, it could help by facilitating obedience training and providing a safe haven for your Pit Bull.
Dog crates are excellent for house training a Pit Bull, but it does much more. Wild dogs will often look for small enclosed spaces as a means of protection. As a result, all dogs, including Pit Bulls have instincts to find comfort in small spaces. It provides shelter and a place to rest.
During puppyhood, crates can provide a ton of value to owners as well. If your Pit Bull hasn’t been house broken yet, then you don’t always have to worry about your dog accidentally taking care of business in the home.
There are so many reasons to start crate training your Pit Bull. However, the first step is finding a dog crate perfect for you and your dog.
Size of a Pit Bull
I think we can all agree that Pit Bulls are big dogs. Or at the least, they’re wide dogs. There are a lot of variables that factor in to how big the Pit Bull will be, and in turn, how big a crate you’ll need.
However, most male Pit Bull Terriers are between 18 to 21 inches tall. On the other hand, female Pit Bulls are roughly 17 to 20 inches tall – so, very little difference in height.
Most of the size variation will show in a Pit Bull’s weight. For instance, male Pit Bulls are between 35 and 65 pounds. Similarly, a female Pit Bull can be anywhere between 30 and 60 pounds. Of course, genetics and food ratio plays a big factor in this.
Chances are, you’re getting a dog crate for a puppy. With that said, a Pit Bull will usually plateau in growth at around 9 months old. See their growth chart here.
Always keep in mind that the Humane Society recommends you keep your dog in a crate for less than 4 hours at a time.
Crate Size for Pitbulls
Usually I’d recommend different crate sizes for different genders of the dog breed. However, female and male Pit Bulls vary very little in size, so both can typically fit in a same size cage.
Despite gender, the recommended dog crate size for Pit Bulls is 36 x 24 inches (length x width). This will provide sufficient room for when your Pit Bull develops into a full-size adult.
Other factors can come into play when choosing your crate size. For example, if you’ve met the parents of your Pit Bull and they seem to be bigger than the average size of Pit Bulls, it may be a good idea to get a slightly bigger cage.
For larger Pit Bulls, it’s probably a safe bet to go with the 42 x 28 x 30 inch crate (length, width, height).
Best Crates for Pitbulls
Pit Bulls are strong dogs. As a result, they need sturdy and durable dog crates to safely secure them in their space. Here are the dog crates we believe are perfect for Pit Bulls:
#1 Haige Heavy Duty Dog Crate
Our editor’s pick goes to the “Haige Pet Your Pet Nanny” heavy duty crate. Though we aren’t sold on the name, the product is truly heavy duty and perfect for any Pit Bull.
It is one of the more expensive options on this list, but it’s worth the premium knowing that your Pit Bull won’t be able to get out of this one. They’re hyper and energetic dogs with a strong jaw. Low quality crates put them at risk or chewing their way out of the crate.
- What to Get: The 38 inch.
- Reviews: 100 +
- Stars: 4.5 / 5 Stars
- Highlights: Heavy frame, non-toxic finish, locking/caster design, 360 wheels, plastic trays, roof (optional).
Best Features
The material used to build the crate is what you would expect in a product that labels itself as “heavy duty.” Made from a thick rust and corrosion-resistant steel, the Haige crate will have no problem containing your Pit Bull.
Layered on top of the sturdy frame is a non-toxic finish, making it completely dog safe. Pit Bull puppies will chew on the frame of the crate, so this is actually a crucial feature.
The door does come with dual locks with safety buckles, which can come in handy when you have a rowdy Pit Bull doing what it can to try to escape. Rest assured, there’s no way they’re getting out of this one.
This design comes with a unique locking and caster design, as in a 360-degree rotated locking caster to improve mobility of this massive crate. Attached to the bottom are 4 wheels that can lock in place if needed.
I wouldn’t recommend this crate if it wasn’t easy to clean. The removable plastic trays slides underneath the crate to make it easy for when accidents happen while in the crate. Simply wipe down the tray or hose it down outside.
Also, they’re backed by their 3-year warranty, which no other dog crate has. But with how well this crate is built, you’ll probably never need to use it.
The Cons
Unlike it’s competitors, the Haige comes with just a one-door option. I wouldn’t say this is a deal-breaker, but a second door can be convenient.
It’s also worth noting that you can’t simply fold up this dog crate and store it somewhere. Plus, it’s not convenient if you want to take this somewhere else. Make sure you have enough room in your house to fit this crate.
The phrase “you get what you paid for” is a perfect way to describe the Haige Heavy Duty Crate. It’s not cheap, but it can be cheaper than having to buy a second crate after your dog destroys the first one.
Check out the current price and other reviews on the Haige Heavy Duty Crate.
What Pit Bull Owners are Saying
Robert says: “I have an 8 year old pit bull with severe separation anxiety. No crate has ever kept him in. He busts through doors, tears up carpet. Other than for having to put heavy duty hooks through the latch holes, it is keeping him in and very sturdy. Without the hooks he can open the latches. Wish I would have bought a crate like this sooner. Would have save a lot of destruction in our homes.”
Chrystal says: “Very durable and is perfect for my 90 lb pit.”
Fran says: “Very happy with the purchase of this crate. Was never able to confine one of my dogs. Destroyed other kennels, she is able to open unlocked doors. This kennel is indestructible and looks much better than a regular crate.”
These steel cages are reinforced with half inch (diameter) steel tubes and 20-gauge steel. Rest assured, there is absolutely no way a dog will ever be able to escape from this crate.
The Guardian Gear makes it easy for clean-up. The floor is built with trays that easily slide out and back in to clean up any mess your Pit might leave you while you’re out.
What’s unique about this crate is that there are caster wheels that you can remove. Other heavy duty crates have a locking mechanism, but this will work just as well – if not better.
The Cons
The biggest downside to this crate may be the price. However, you can bet your Pit Bull isn’t ever getting out of this one. It might be worth the investment if you have an overly hyper Pit Bull. If not, the other options will be just fine.
This dog crate only comes with one door, without a two door option. It’s not a big deal, but can make things just slightly more difficult to access your pup.
The last con is the inability to simply pack the crate up and store it. Sure, this is a problem with all heavy duty crates, but I just wanted to point this out. Always make sure your home has enough space to have this lying out.
Find out the current price on Amazon and read more real reviews!
What Pit Bull Owners are Saying
Jim says: “Works great at keeping my boxer/pit bull mix contained…”
Marina says: “I’ve had this kennel for two months now. I bought it for my boxer/pit mix (46lbs) that has separation anxiety, and gets destructive when left alone while we work. He’s already eaten through two wire kennels you could purchase at a local pet store. I would totally recommend this kennel.”
Brian says: “Its expensive but this cage is no joke!!..Its built like a prison cell. I don’t care what kind of dog you have, he’s not getting out of this thing.It has a nice finish that cant be eaten or scratched off. The pan underneath is convenient for catching whatever makes it through the bars. I would definitely purchase this for a dog who manages to bust out of every other cage it’s been in.”
#3 Sliverylake Dog Cage Crate
- What to Get: The 37 inch (or 42 inch).
- Reviews: 200 +
- Stars: 4 / 5 Stars
- Highlights: Heavy duty steel frame, double doors, locking/caster design, 360 wheels, plastic trays.
The Sliverylake Dog Crate comes in second behind the Haige Heavy Duty. Though it’s slightly cheaper, it’s less sturdy than the Haige. Still, it’s more than enough to contain an energetic Pit Bull escape artist.
It has all the best features of the Haige, but with a double door (one on top). Overall, there are very few things I didn’t like about the Sliverylake crate.
Best Features
This crate is built with heavy duty steel, more than capable of containing the most energetic Pit Bulls. The bars on the frame is slightly thinner than the Haige, but there’s no way a Pit can chew its way out of this one.
It comes with double doors, one in front of the crate and one on top. This provides easy access to your dog. If you need to get them out quickly, open the top and pick them up.
The Sliverylake also has double locks to safely secure your “escape artist” inside the crate while you’re unable to supervise them. It can come in handy with an overly excited Pit.
Built in plastic trays allow for easy access to the “mess” that your dog may produce while in the cage. Simply slide the tray out and take it for a quick clean.
Because this is such a heavy crate, the 360 wheels allow you to roll away the crate to another spot. Plus, there’s a locking mechanism on the wheels to prevent them from accidentally rolling away.
The Cons
Similar to the Haige, the Sliverylake is not easy to fold up and store. In fact, you’d probably have to de-assemble the crate in order to store in away. Unless you have sufficient space in the home, this crate may be a bit of a problem.
Price is another concern. Yes, it’s cheaper than the Haige Heavy Duty Crate, but it’s still expensive when you’re comparing to all other dog crates. But Pit Bulls are active and can be aggressive, making it a safer bet to go with the heavy duty crates.
Check the price on Amazon and read more reviews here.
What Pit Bull Owners are Saying
Anonymous Customer says: “My 45 lb American pit bull terrier has destroyed 2 big wire crates, and hurt herself and our house breaking out. It’s just day one with this INCREDIBLY sturdy crate, and we went grocery shopping and came home to her safe and secure. She did great and it’s super solid.”
Rachel says: “The price may be high, but it is worth it for the quality. They are the first crates I’ve ever found that are tough enough to contain my pit bull, English bulldog, and blue tick hound!”
Crystal says: “We bought this crate for our rescue who’s about a year old and 50 lbs. Hes sweet but has massive separation anxiety. We originally bought a standard wire crate which he destroyed but so far he has yet to escape this one! ”
Do you currently own one of these dog crates? How are they working out for your Pit Bull? Leave a comment in the section below and let other fellow Pit Bull owners know!
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Best Features