Goldendoodles are some of the most intelligent mixed dog breeds in the dogdom. Bred from a Poodle and Golden Retriever, Goldendoodles are easy-going, social and affectionate. But if you’re planning to bring one home, you’ll need a dog crate.
A dog crate is one of the most important purchases you’ll ever have to make for your Goldendoodle. There are tons of fantastic crates on the internet, but we’ve found the best for these dogs.
Benefits of Crate Training Goldendoodles
There are a ton of great benefits that come with crate training a Goldendoodle. As smart as they are, having a crate can help when it comes to housetraining your dog.
Dog crates are some of the best tools for housetraining a Goldendoodle because it teaches them to control their bladder and bowel. All dogs, by nature, will try their best to not soil the space where they sleep.
In other words, they’ll try to keep their dog crates as clean as possible. But as a puppy, they’re almost certain to have accidents. Just make sure you’re around to clean up after your Goldendoodle.
Crates can also provide a safe space for your Goldendoodle. When my dog was growing up, he would go back into the crate on his own to take naps and relax. In the wild, dogs look for a similar safe space – either a den or dugout for a stress-free environment.
Finally, dog crates can keep your Goldendoodle’s teething in check. All puppies, especially Goldendoodles, will chew on objects as their teeth are growing out. Teaching your dog to only chew on objects inside the crate is a great way to teach them that chewing on your shoes is not okay.
These are just a few amazing benefits of crate training your Goldendoodle. For more benefits, check out this article.
Size of Goldendoodles
When picking out a dog crate size, always buy a dog crate that will fit the full adult size of your Goldendoodle. These dogs grow quickly and a lot in the first year. So unless you want to purchase multiple crates, follow this advice.
Keep in mind, there are three size variations of the Goldendoodle: Miniature, Standard and Large.
Size | Height | Weight |
Miniature | 13-20 inches | 15-35 lbs |
Standard | 17-20 inches | 20-40 lbs |
Large | 20-24 inches | 50-90 lbs |
The chart above is for the average height and weight of adult Goldendoodles in the three size variations. Because they’re mixed dog breeds, size can vary quite a bit. If possible, it’s best to check out the parent’s size to really gauge potential size of your Goldendoodle pup.
Crate Size for Goldendoodles
For a Miniature Goldendoodle, we recommend getting a 36 inch dog crate.
On the other hand, we recommend a 42 inch crate for standard and large Goldendoodles.
If you want to give your large Goldendoodle a bit more space, a 48 inch dog crate will be okay. As long as you have enough space, it would be fine to give them a little more space.
Top Picks: Best Goldendoodle Dog Crates
It was a rather difficult task filtering out so many wonderful dog crates that are perfect for Goldendoodle. However, based on our opinion, we’ve found the best crates when considering price, sturdiness, quality and features.
#1 – MidWest Homes iCrate
There’s a reason why the Midwest Homes iCrate took our top spot for the best crates list. It comes at a fantastic price, has all the features you’ll need, is built with high quality and perfect for Goldendoodles.
We recommend this crate not just for Doodles, but for nearly every dog breed. It’s made with tough steel and a true bang for the buck crate option. Plus, tens of thousands of happy customers love it!
- Size to Get: The 42 inch w/ divider (Standard Doodle)
- Options to Get: Double doors
- Our Rating: 10 / 10 Stars
- Highlights: Secured latches, rounded corners, electro-coat finish, removable pan, divider, convenience.
Best Features
Midwest Homes does a fantastic job because they focus on dog safety. For example, the crate’s frame comes with a 100% non-toxic electro finish (in satin black). If you have a pup that likes to chew their crate, this is perfect.
In addition, all the corners of the crate are rounded. Without sharp edges, it’ll prevent your Doodle puppy from any potential injuries moving around the crate. Goldendoodles are quite energetic, so this is a pretty important feature.
To contain your Goldendoodle, they’ve used a dual slide bolt latch. It’s not the most complex locking mechanism, but it’s effective. It’s highly unlikely that your Doodle will be able to break through this.
One of the best features of the iCrate is the standard divider panel. Especially with the large variation, Goldendoodles grow quickly and a lot. A panel lets you adjust the space of the crate according to the current size of your Doodle. Sometimes, too much space for a little pup can cause even more anxiety. So, this is pretty important if you plan to get the 42 or 48 inch crate.
You likely won’t want to have a 42 inch crate in your living room all the time. Fortunately, the iCrate is built with a collapsible design. You’ll be able to fold it up into a compact carrier in a few seconds!
The removable plastic tray allows you to easily slide out the bottom of the crate to clean up – hassle free! Your Goldendoodle is likely to make a mess, so this feature saves a lot of time.
Double doors are a great option because it allows multiple access points to your Doodle. For such a large crate, this will definitely be useful.
The Cons
There are few things wrong with the Midwest Homes iCrate. They’re number 1 for a reason. If we had to nitpick, we would like to see thicker wiring on the frame of the crate.
Still, there’s a low chance that your Goldendoodle will chew his or her way out of this one. If you want to learn more about the Midwest Homes iCrate, I’d recommend checking it out at Amazon.
What Goldendoodle Owners Are Saying
Carissa says “Goldendoodle approved!” She has a 45 lb Doodle in a 48 inch crate. She says she’s glad she got the larger crate but the only downside is it’s a bit heavier than she expected. Still, she likes the collapsible feature.
Dan says the iCrate was super easy to set up and take down. He bought a 42 inch for his 55 pound Doodle. His favorite part is the incredibly sturdy and hard plastic on the bottom (removable tray). He goes as far as saying that he’s owned a number of crates and this is by far “the best.”
Ann bought a 36 inch for her miniature Goldendoodle. She loves how easy it is to assemble (by herself!) and how easy it is to store. She’s always a big fan of the divider and used it quite frequently when the pup was 8 weeks old.
VIEW PRICE HERE#2 – Amazon Basics Dog Crate
Amazon is one of the biggest companies in the world! If they’re getting into the dog crate business, you know how important these products are for dog owners.
As expected from the tech giant, the Amazon Basics Dog Crate is a fantastic crate with all the options we love. It’s also priced well, as with all Amazon Basics products. In fact, it’s very similar to our top pick iCrate – just minor cosmetic differences. The only reason we gave the iCrate the top spot is because it’s been time-tested for longer.
- Size to Get: The 42 inch (standard doodle)
- Options to Get: Double Doors
- Our Rating: 9.8/ 10 Stars
- Highlights: Secured latches, (optional) double doors, removable pan, divider panel, foldable frame.
Best Features
The Amazon Basics dog crate is one of the best crate on the internet, for good reason. Like with the iCrate, the Amazon Basics uses a dual slide bolt lock for secure your Goldendoodle.
It also comes with a removable plastic tray, which allows you to quickly clean up the crate. In the event your Goldendoodle has an accident, simply slide out the bottom, wipe it down and slide it back in. It doesn’t get easier!
One of the best features we like with the Amazon Basics is the divider panel. In our opinion, it’s one of the best features for dogs that grow a lot – including the Goldendoodle. You’ll want to adjust the space of the crate during the different growth phases of your dog.
What’s nice is the double door option, which we highly recommend if you’re getting a 42 inch (or larger) crate. Having such a big crate, multiple entrances gives you easier access to your dog and whatever you decide to put in the crate.
If you want to put away your crate, no need to worry! In a short time, you’ll be able to fold your crate up into a carrier. Whether you want to store away your crate or move it to another location, this feature comes in handy.
The Cons
As mentioned, the Amazon Basics dog crate is very similar to the Midwest Homes iCrate. As a result, they have the same limitations and cons.
We would have liked to see thicker frames and wiring on the Amazon Basics. However, no matter how great an escape artist your Goldendoodle is, we don’t think these dogs are capable of chewing their way through.
For more information about the Amazon Basics dog crate, check it out at Amazon.
What Goldendoodle Owners are Saying
Roger bought a 36 inch for his Goldendoodle puppy to begin crate training. At first, he admits he was a little wary because of how cheap this crate costed. He’s lucky he purchased this, because he said it was perfect for his Doodle.
He loves how the divider panel can be adjusted as his dog grows bigger. Hinges are smooth and the latches are secure. Roger even mentioned that the metal clamps on the joints seem to be high quality! 5 Stars.
Rossy bought a 42 inch for her 55 pound Goldendoodle. She’s very happy she went with this size. Her favorite part of the crate is how easy she was able to take our the bottom plastic tray to clean out any accidents.
Overall, she says “good quality” at an “affordable price!” These are the two main reasons we liked this crate too, so we agree with her!
VIEW PRICE NOW#3 – New World Metal Dog Crate
In the third spot, we have none other than the New World Metal Dog Crate. We love this dog crate for a lot of reasons, mainly because of the affordable price.
But with a slightly cheaper price, it lacks some important features that we like. Still, it’s no deal breaker and we still believe the quality and build more than makes up for it. Let’s see why thousands of happy customers loved the New World dog crate.
- Size to Get: The 42 inch. (standard doodle)
- Options to Get: Double doors
- Our Rating: 8 / 10
- Highlights: Double door, metal construction, collapsible crate, slide-bolt locks, removable tray.
Best Features
The New World metal dog crate is crafted with high quality metal that makes it ultra lightweight and durable. Because you’ll be getting a 42 inch dog crate, you’ll appreciate this.
Like the other options, the New World metal dog crate also comes in a collapsible design. If you’re someone that needs to travel with your crate, this is perfect. Keep in mind, this isn’t a live animal transportation crate – you’ll need to fold it up.
All quality dog crates will come with a removable plastic tray. This feature is essential and fortunately, the New World crate comes with this. As a dog owner, you’ll likely save a ton of time cleaning up with this.
The New World metal dog crate comes with dual slide bolt latches. There’s no reason to get creative with this. It’s simple, but most importantly, effective in containing your Goldendoodle. Good luck to your dog trying to escape this one.
Double doors is a great option for such a large dog crate. It gives you easier access to your Doodle and whatever you decide to put inside (chew toys, bowls, etc.).
The Cons
The biggest downside to the New World dog crate is the lack of a standard divider panel. Goldendoodles can grow fairly quickly within the first year of their existence. It’s likely they’ll be very small early on, so putting a small dog in a large crate may cause unnecessary stress or anxiety.
It’s not a deal breaker, but it’s a pretty useful feature. If you want to get the New World crate but still want a divider, you’re able to purchase one from Midwest Homes. And yes, it’s compatible with the New World.
Also, we would have liked thicker wiring for the frame of this crate. Though it’s made with high quality metal, thicker wires gives a better peace of mind while you’re not with your Doodle.
If you want to learn more about the New World dog crate, you can check it out at Amazon.
What Goldendoodle Owners are Saying
Kip says that this does the job. He explains, it’s a great crate for the price (we think so too!). Kip purchased a 42 inch crate and said it was “perfect” for his Goldendoodle. His only complaint was that the top latch sticks just a bit.
Mandy says that this is an “amazing crate for the price.” She purchased a 30 inch for her miniature doodle. By herself, it only took 2 minutes to set this up – it just folds right up. She’s super confident in her purchase, saying she searched all over the internet for the best deal and she thinks this crate is it! “Perfect for my mini goldendoodle pup.”
Cathy says this is a nice crate for her Goldendoodle puppy. She went with a 48 inch for her large doodle, but thinks he’ll grow into it just fine. All she had to say was “good quality and durable!”
VIEW PRICE HEREBonus Review: Midwest Homes Crate Cover
So why should you get a crate cover for your Goldendoodle? These dogs love people and are subject to separation anxiety when you leave the house. Fortunately, a crate cover can help.
In addition, a crate cover provides extra security and comfort for your Goldendoodle. Covering up your dog’s crate takes away all the distractions in the environment. Remember, crates are supposed to be a “safe space” for your dog. This reduces anxiety and stress.
In fact, crate covers are recommended by veterinarians for dogs that experience some form of anxiety.
- Size to Get: The 42 inch. (standard doodle)
- Options to Get: n/a
- Our Rating: 10 / 10
- Highlights: Highly compatible, easy to use, 100% polyester, machine washable, warranty.
Best Features
This crate cover is compatible with all the recommended dog crates on this list. In fact, it’s compatible with nearly any standard crate. Just make sure you’re getting the same cover size as your crate!
The cover has 5 flaps and covers all the sides of your Doodle’s crate, except for the bottom where the plastic tray is located.
Using hook and loop tabs, you can secure the flaps to the edges of the crate. It’s a pretty decent fit and it’s unlikely that a rowdy Goldendoodle will pull it off.
It’s made with 100% polyester material, so you know you’re getting a durable and safe cover. It’ll be hard for your Doodle to tear this up simply because it’ll be hard to reach from inside the crate.
When it gets a little too dirty, just toss it in any standard machine washer. It’s super easy to clean up! It also comes with a one-year warranty!
VIEW PRICE HEREDo you use any of these dog crates for your Goldendoodle? If so, let us know what you think in the comments section below. And if you would recommend another dog crate for a Doodle, leave a link below!