Before we get to the reviews, let’s make one thing clear. Crate training is not cruel for your Australian Shepherd. In fact, reputable breeders and licensed veterinarians actually recommend crate training from puppyhood.
Not only are crates great for house training your Aussie, but they provide puppies with a “safe space.” In the wild, dogs often look for small dens for extra protection. Likewise, a crate can provide your Australian Shepherd with secured shelter while resting.
In the early puppy days of your Aussie, they likely haven’t been house broken yet. This means they haven’t understood when and where to potty. Keeping a crate around means you don’t literally have to watch for them 24-7.
There are many more benefits to crate training. And as a new Aussie owner, this essential product should be high on your checklist of things to buy.
Size of Australian Shepherds
To recap, a male Australian Shepherd can grow up to between 20 and 23 inches tall. On the other hand, a female is expected to be somewhere between 18 and 21 inches tall.
A male Aussie can range anywhere from 55 to 70 pounds, whereas a female will typically be between 35 and 55 pounds. The large variation depends on a variety of factors, such as genetics, food consumption and exercise.
But if you’re crate training your dog, chances are they’re still puppies and you won’t need a crate too big. An Australian Shepherd will usually reach full size by month 9 or 10.
Chances are they’ll be fully crate trained by that age if you start early enough. However, there are many other benefits of using crates even when they’re adults. Keep in mind, puppies younger than 6 months old should not stay in a crate for more than 3 or 4 hours at a time.
For that reason, it’s a good idea to get a crate big enough to accommodate a full sized Australian Shepherd.
Crate Size for Australian Shepherds
Female: I’d highly recommend getting a crate that’s roughly 36 x 24 inches (length x width). This will provide plenty of room for your Aussie even as a full sized adult.
Male: For a male Australian Shepherd, I’d recommend a crate about 42 x 28 x 30 inches (length, width, height).
Still, it’s probably a good idea to go with a slightly larger crate for your Australian Shepherd (42 inch). It’s always better to give them more space in the crate than too little, especially for an active dog breed that loves to move around. Of course, make sure there’s enough space for the dog crate in your home.
Best Crates for Australian Shepherds
Based on our research, these are the best available crates for your Australian Shepherd. For your convenience, all dog crates can be securely and safely purchased on Amazon.
#1 Midwest Homes iCrate (BEST CRATE)
- What to Get: The 42 inch with divider.
- Reviews: 21,000 +
- Stars: 4.5 / 5 Stars
- Highlights: Secured latches, rounded corners, electro-coat finish, removable pan, divider, convenience.
As pictured above, you can clearly see that the MidWest Homes crate provides plenty of room for an adult Australian Shepherd to rest comfortably. And according to over 22,000 people, this high quality and durable crate is perfect for the job.
Best Features
One of the biggest problems with cheap crates is the faulty latches. Especially with an energetic breed like this Australian Shepherd, dogs may be able to escape with persistence.
The Midwest Homes crate comes with safe and secure slide-bolt latches to add an extra layer of security. No matter how active your Aussie is, he likely won’t be able to get out from this one.
The rounded corners and a durable satin-black Electro-coat finish gives it a nice touch aesthetically. It also reduces the chances of dogs hurting themselves as they move around and about the cage.
The best part of the iCrate is probably the removable plastic pan, which allows for easy clean-up if they decide to release in the crate. The plastic is safe for dogs and also allows for you to easily wash it. Just take the pan outside and spray with a hose. It’s that simple.
Taking your Australian Shepherd to grandma’s house? No problem. In addition to quality, the iCrate was built for convenience as well. Without the need of tools, you can easily collapse and fold this crate up in a few seconds. Plus, it comes with handles to easily transport the crate to wherever you’re going.
One of the most unique aspects of the iCrate is their built-in divider panel. As you start the puppy’s crate training in early on, all that room in the crate isn’t necessary.
The panel divider allows you to adjust the living area of the crate to make things more cozy for your Australian Shepherd puppy. As they grow, move the divider and increase the crate area.
Check out the price and more reviews here.
What People are Saying
One customer said: “This crate is durable, and easy to collapse/set-up. Installation was a breeze, and we can easily travel around with it. My puppy likes to gnaw on the metal bars, and not a mark so far. Not to mention that the removable plastic tray is extremely useful for cleaning up any little puppy puddles!” – 5 stars (42-inch w/ divider).
Another mentioned: “I have an Australian shepherd and I got this kennel for him when he was about three months old. The kennel is a great size and he’s got plenty of room even when I partition it off. I’m impressed with the quality of this kennel; the wire caging is very sturdy and the latches on the doors open easily.” – 5 stars (42-inch w/ divider).
This customer also said: “Perfect for our fast growing Australian shepherd puppy! This crate has no sharp edges to speak of and there is definitely NO way a puppy’s head could get stuck between the bars. It is a very sturdy crate and our pup absolutely loves it!” – 5 Stars (42-inch w/ divider).
#2 AmazonBasics Dog Crate
- What to Get: The 42 inch w/ Double Doors.
- Reviews: 10,000 +
- Stars: 4.5 / 5 Stars
- Highlights: Secured latches, (optional) double doors, removable pan, divider, convenience.
What can go wrong with a dog crate manufactured by one of the largest companies in the world? Amazon Basics provides a durable crate with a whole ton of great features for Australian Shepherd owners.
Best Features
A nifty optional feature (also seen in the iCrate) is the double doors which allow easy access to your Aussie no matter where they are. This feature is optional, but I highly recommend it. However, it is going to be slightly more expensive than the single-door version.
Similar to the iCrate, Amazon’s crate also has a divider panel that allows you to adjust the size of the crate area. As your Aussie puppy grows, slide out the divider to create more room. Also, this works well with separating two small puppies.
Within a few mere seconds, you’ll be able to collapse and fold this crate into an easy travel-crate. The panels swing up and will safely lock in place to prevent opening up during traveling. It even comes with a built in handle to help with carrying your crate.
The AmazonBasics crate also comes with a removable plastic pan. This allows for easy clean-up in the event of an accident while in the crate. It’s a one-piece pan that swiftly comes out and can be washed quickly outside with a hose.
Overall, Amazon’s version of the dog crate is eerily similar to Midwest’s iCrate. In comparison, they’re roughly the same price as well (for the double doors). If you’re looking for quality for a slightly cheaper price, look into Amazon’s single door option.
Check out the price and more reviews here.
What People are Saying
Kat says: “I had become concerned [my Australian Shepherd] would either injure herself or manage to escape the plastic. I’m pleased that the bars are coated and thick enough she cannot chew them or bend them. The plastic tray slides out easily for cleaning, and the door has two latches for extra security for my unwilling canine inmate.” – 5 Stars (30-inch Double Door)
One customer says: “We purchased the 42″ inch crate and our Australian Shepherd fit with room to spare, even when sprawled out. Way to go amazon! I love your stuff! Thanks for giving us reasonably priced, high quality options!” – 5 Stars (42-inch Double Door)
This customer loves how much space there is: “I have a blue heeler/Australian shepherd that weighs 60 pounds and she has PLENTY of room to stand up and turn around. I even keep a couple toys in there and put a food or water bowl in the crate.” – 5 Stars (42-inch Double Door)
#3 Haige Heavy Duty Dog Crate
- What to Get: The 42 inch.
- Reviews: 100 +
- Stars: 4.5 / 5 Stars
- Highlights: Heavy frame, non-toxic finish, locking/caster design, 360 wheels, plastic trays, roof (optional).
The “Haige Pet Your Pet Nanny” heavy duty dog crate is one of the best crates for an Australian Shepherd. Some may argue that it’s better than the first two options in many ways. However, i’ve ranked it third is due to the high price.
At the time of writing, it’s much more expensive than the first two options. Prices will vary, but you can check current prices here. But hey – you get what you paid for, right?
Best Features
The feature that stands out from the rest is undoubtedly the frame. Haige’s dog crate is made from rust and corrosion-resistant steel. They call it “heavy duty” for a reason.
Not only is the frame strong and durable, but also sports a non-toxic finish to make it 100% dog-safe. Teething puppies tend to chew on the frame while enclosed, and Haige understood this when designing their crate.
The Haige heavy duty crate only comes in a one-door option, but has dual locks with safety buckles for extra security. No matter how hard they try, it’ll be extremely difficult getting out of this one. Rest assured, your Aussie will be safe.
The locking and caster design is unique, as the 360 degree rotated locking caster can help make this crate more mobile. If you need to move this massive crate around, it does come with 4 wheels that are able to lock in place.
The heavy duty dog crate is also easy to clean. It does come with removable plastic trays in case of any accidents happening while they’re in the crate. Trays can be easily wiped or hosed down outside.
Haige’s dog crate also comes with a roof option, allowing easy access to reach your Australian Shepherd without the risk of them escaping. This is not necessary, but a cool feature to have.
Check out the price and more reviews here.
What People are Saying
Joe, a happy customer, said: “The dog crate is very sturdy! My dog has separation anxiety and destroyed a standard wire crate and a plastic crate, injuring himself while doing so. So far no damages or injuries. Plus, plenty of room for our 65 pound dog. He can turn and move around easily.“
Jamie also said: “AMAZING. My dog has destroyed several crates. This is the first one he seems to actually like. He has lots of space, and he can still play and lay down comfortably. The opening on the top is very convenient for when he is not allowed out during his training but to add or take something out of the crate.”
Another costumer mentioned: “Nice sturdy construction. Doors are both straight, smooth and open and close well. The latch has to be fully upright to allow it to open, which is great for me, although I add a clip to help it stay down so no one escapes. I don’t think it would ever come up on it’s own accord.“