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Best Crates For German Shepherds

Crate training was a key factor in helping to ease the stress of puppyhood when Allie as a young pup. 

With so many crates on the market today, I wanted to help break down some of my top picks for German Shepherd crates in each of the three categories: Wire, Fabric, and Plastic.

*This article may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of the links I get a small commission at no additional cost to you 🙂 .

WIRE CRATES:

I personally recommend every German Shepherd owner get a wire crate.  This is especially important for a German Shepherd puppy or a new older GSD that hasn’t yet been trained. 

Wire crates are study and last (nearly) forever.  A good wire crate will last for the life of your current dog and any subsequent dogs that may join your family. 

We still have a wire crate that we got in 1999 for our previous dog that is still in tip top shape (20 years later).  It was just a little big for Allie when she was a pup (because she wasn’t and still isn’t a 120+ pound Rottweiler), so we purchased a smaller one for crate training purposes.  However, now Allie has a bed in this old crate and willingly goes in there almost daily to relax.

Here are my top picks for wire crates:

Midwest LifeStages:

The Midwest brand sets the standard for top quality wire crates.  Midwest LifeStages is unique in that it is a crate that is designed to be used for every stage of your German Shepherd’s life. 

At the puppy stage (during crate training) a 48-inch crate will be too large, so there is a divider included to section off the crate into an appropriate size for a young puppy. 

As your dog grows you can move the divider back until it is no longer needed (i.e. when your dog is big enough to use the entire crate). 

I recommend purchasing a 42-inch or 48-inch crate for a German Shepherd.  I purchased the 42-inch for Allie and that is fine for her, but she is only about 72 pounds full grown.  For a larger GSD, I would go for the 48-inch to play it safe. 

This crate comes in both single door and double door options.  The double door option features 2-doors one in the front and one on the side.  Both options fold down for storage and contain a dog tray for the bottom of the crate. 

Some assembly is required, but no tools are needed for assembly.   There is a 1-year manufacturer’s warranty included.

What I Love:

  • Durability
  • 48-inch larger size option
  • Divider included – grows with your puppy
  • Quick assembly
  • Single door and double door options
  • 1-year warranty
  • Folds down for storage
  • One crate that can be used for the life of your GSD

Possible Downsides:

  • This wire crate can take up a lot of space, especially if you go for the largest size.  Make sure you measure your space to make sure it won’t be too cumbersome in the room you plan to use it in.

AmazonBasics

Another great wire crate option is from AmazonBasics.  This crate also features both the double door and single door options.  No tools are required for setup and you should be able to set up this crate with ease. 

There are both 42-inch and 48-inch size options.  Again, I would recommend the 48-inch for excess space and comfort especially if you are unsure how big your adorable German Shepherd will get when full grown. 

This crate is durable, comes with a dog tray for the bottom of the crate, and folds flat for storage. 

The main difference between this and the Midwest Lifestages is the name behind the brand and the price. 

This AmazonBasics crate is slightly cheaper than Midwest for the same sized crate and the wires are slightly thinner but all in all a very comparable product.

What I Love:

  • Durability
  • Divider to grow with your pup
  • Both single and double door options
  • Slightly cheaper than Midwest Lifestages crate
  • Folds down flat for storage
  • Easy assembly
  • 48-inch size option
  • One crate that can last the life of your German Shepherd

Possible Downsides:

  • Must request manufacturer’s warranty
  • Name brand isn’t as solid for AmazonBasics.  The MidWest brand is more trusted and known in the wire crate industry and have been in business for 90 years.

Fabric Crates:

It is important to note I would not recommend a fabric crate for a young GSD puppy that loves to chew.  I made this mistake with Allie so I know first-hand. 

I purchased a cute pink fabric crate (before picking her up), not knowing the chewing machine I would have on my hands.  Needless to say, it was destroyed after the first use. 

Fabric crates are great for German Shepherds that have already learned to be well behaved in their crate and for traveling. 

Imagine you are going to visit family for the holidays, and you don’t have space in your vehicle or don’t want to lug your big wire crate with you.  These fabric crates will solve that issue.

Here are my top picks for soft fabric crates:

EliteField:

Do you travel with your German Shepherd? 

This soft sided crate is a great option for traveling and the 42-inch size will fit most German Shepherds.  It comes fully assembled and can fold up and down with very little effort. 

Another thing that is great about this crate are the mesh doors.  Your GSD can see out from all angles and these doors help provide plenty of ventilation. 

This EliteField crate also comes with a free fleece bed, a carrying case in addition to a 2-year warranty from a U.S. manufacturer.  If you are looking for a solid fabric crate this one will suit all your needs.

What I Love:

  • Great for travel
  • Lightweight
  • Easy assembly within seconds
  • Plenty of ventilation for your GSD
  • Free bed and carrying case
  • 2-year warranty
  • U.S. Manufacturer with great customer service

Possible downsides:

  • Can be easily destroyed by a German Shepherd puppy or older GSD who isn’t crate trained and likes to chew.
  • 42-inches may be too small for a larger 100+ pound GSD – make sure to measure your dog.

Noz2Noz:

This is another great option for the German Shepherd on the go.  This soft fabric crate can be used indoors and outdoors to allow you take your GSD on any type of trip imaginable. 

The Noz2Noz has a water-resistant base, and the cover is fully machine washable for easy cleaning. 

This crate is quick to assemble and disassemble and is lightweight to carry with you from place to place. 

The mesh panels on every side allow for appropriate ventilation, and there are three doors for entry and exit of the crate.

What I Love:

  • Great for indoor or outdoor travel
  • Lightweight to carry
  • Three doors for entry and exit
  • Quick to assemble and disassemble
  • Mesh panels for ventilation
  • Water-resistant base

Possible Downsides:

  • Lack of color choices
  • Won’t stand up to a tough chewer

Plastic Crates:

Plastic crates are a happy medium between the durability of the wire crate and the portability of the fabric crates.

They are good for traveling with a German Shepherd that isn’t yet perfectly crate trained or is a heavy chewer and would destroy a fabric crate with ease. 

I have a plastic crate in my truck for Allie that we use for traveling long distances because I want her to be more secure and safe on longer road trips. 

Here are my top picks for plastic crates:

Petmate Ultra Vari:

PetMate’s hard sided plastic kennels come in many sizes.  I would definitely go with the 70-90lbs size for a German Shepherd. 

These crates are easy to assemble and has a door that latches at the front for opening and closing.  The wire front door, windows on the side, and cut outs in the back provide ventilation for your dog.

The plastic shell provides added durability for travel and this crate should meet most airline crate requirement if your GSD travels by plane. 

PetMate is known for making reliable plastic crates for travel and all their products are made in the United States. 

What I Love:

  • Durability
  • Ease of assembly
  • Airline compliant
  • Perfect for travel
  • German Shepherd friendly size option
  • Long term quality brand made in the U.S.

Possible downsides:

  • Less ventilation than wire crates
  • May be too small for a larger GSD

Petmate Ultra Vari (Oversized edition):

Here is another great option from PetMate for your larger German Shepherd.  If you have a German Shepherd that is over 90lbs the first plastic crate won’t work.  Luckily, PetMate has an oversized option as well.

This version has all the same features as above just on a larger scale. 

What I love:

  • Durability
  • Larger size for bigger German Shepherds
  • Ease of assembly
  • Airline compliant
  • Perfect for travel
  • Long term quality brand made in the U.S.

Possible downsides:

  • Less ventilation than wire crates
  • Awkward to carry but not heavy

Final Thoughts

Now that you have learned more about the best dog crates for German Shepherds.  Which type of crate do you prefer?  Wire, Fabric, or Plastic?

Let me know in the comments!

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