Best Crate For Great Dane For Your Giant Pet

If you have a Great Dane, finding the perfect dog crate for your giant pet can be something of a challenge!

But can you expect to pay more for a massive dog crate than those with tiny canines spend? And, what do you need to consider when picking a crate for a very large dog?

Read our buyer’s guide and reviews to find the best crate for your Great Dane.

Comparison Table of the 3 Best Crates For Great Dane

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BRAND

Frisco XX-Large Heavy Duty Crate

DETAILS

• Easy to fold up for traveling
• Securely lock with dual latches
• Built from durable, anti-rust materials

Pricing

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BRAND

MidWest Solutions Series Wire Dog Crate

DETAILS

• Double-door configuration for easy access
• Drop-pin construction ensures a strong and secure crate
• Protective E-coat finish preventing rusting

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BRAND

MidWest Homes For Pets XXL Ginormous Crate 

DETAILS

• Excellent quality extra-large crate
• Designed to accommodate giant breeds
• Simple to assemble and disassemble

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3 Best Dog Crates For Great Danes

Now, you know what features you need to look for in a dog crate for a Great Dane, and you know how to measure your dog; read our reviews of the three best super-sized crates on the market.

1. Frisco XX-Large Heavy DUTY dog crate

Easy to fold up for traveling

Securely lock with dual latches

Built from durable, anti-rust materials

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The Frisco XX-Large heavy-duty dog crate is constructed to safely contain and confine the largest, most powerful of dogs.

Its enhanced lock helps make unlocking and locking easy, featuring one locking step that locks in three locations. It has 2 large doors, one on the front and one on the side, which are easy to open and close, and securely lock with dual latches

2. MidWest Solutions Series Wire Dog Crate

Double-door configuration for easy access

Drop-pin construction ensures a strong and secure crate

Protective E-coat finish preventing rusting

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The MidWest Solutions Series Wire dog crate comes in XXL sizes that would fit a Great Dane. It also includes an easy-to-clean, removable plastic tray to clean up those unforeseen moments.

This dog crate offers you lots of useful features. It has a double-door configuration for easy access and a sturdy drop-pin assembly for your pal’s safety. The drop-pin construction ensures a strong and secure crate assembly and it’s perfect for extra large breeds.

3. MidWest Homes For Pets XXL Ginormous Crate 

Excellent quality extra-large crate

Designed to accommodate giant breeds

Simple to assemble and disassemble

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The Midwest Homes for Pets Ginormous crate is just about the biggest dog crate that you can buy and is certainly well worth considering if you want a spacious, well-made crate for your Great Dane. This colossal crate measures no less than 54 inches in length, 37 inches wide, and 45 inches in height, making it the perfect size for the largest of dogs.

The huge crate offers all the important key features you need in a large dog crate to keep your pet safe and secure. However, this crate offers you one awesome, unique feature that we really love! To strengthen the kennel, the manufacturer has used super-strong “L” bars to prevent the sides from bowing if your pet leans against them.

The crate has a door on the side and another on the front for easy loading and unloading. That feature also makes it easy for you to site the crate in your home without blocking the door, potentially saving you lots of space. For security, the doors are secured with three heavy-duty latches. For quick and hassle-free cleanup, you get a removable plastic pan.

Although you can collapse the crate, you need to remove four pins that are used to strengthen and secure the crate corners. The main downside to this crate is that it’s very tricky to disassemble and assemble single-handed, purely because of the crate’s dimensions. Also, you need to buy a waterproof crate cover if you choose this extra-large crate.

What’s The Correct Crate Size For A Great Dane?

You’ll need to measure your Great Dane to ensure that the crate size you choose is right for him. To do that, you’ll need fabric measuring tape. 

1. Have your Great Dane in a standing position.
2. Measure your pet from the tip of his nose to the base of his tail rather than the tip.
3. For the correct crate length, add 2 to 4 inches to that figure. 
4. To get the correct crate height, ask your dog to sit down, as your dog’s head is usually his highest point when he’s seated.
5. Measure the distance from the ground to the top of your dog’s head. Add another 2 to 4 inches to that figure if your Dane holds his ears erect.

Don’t worry about measuring the width of the crate. Usually, dog crates are designed with the correct width-to-length ratio to accommodate all dog breeds comfortably.

General Guidelines

As a general rule, the correct size crate will enable your Great Dane to:

• Stand upright without his head touching the top of the crate.
• Turn around without bumping into the sides of the crate.
• Lie down flat and stretch out.
• Sit down without his head touching the top of the crate.

Most dog owners include a comfortable, chew-proof crate mat in the cage to keep their pet comfy. You must remember to factor in the thickness of the mat or crate bed when you measure your Dane.

What To Look For In A Crate For A Great Dane

Great Danes are beautiful dogs with wonderful personalities, and they make great family pets. But Danes are also giant canines that need a few special features to be safe, secure, and comfortable that the average crate doesn’t offer.

In this section of our guide, we take a look at what you should look for in a dog crate for a Great Dane.

1. Type Of Crates

There are several different types of crates to choose from, but not all are suitable for a Great Dane.

Wire Crates

Wire crates are generally the best for Great Danes. Wire crates come in a wide variety of sizes, and many include a crate divider that allows you to adjust the crate’s size to accommodate a puppy. This type of crate is also the style of choice for crate training a puppy.

Wire crates are also portable, collapsible, and versatile. This type of crate is also less expensive than other styles. Beware of buying cheap crates, as the materials used to build them are usually not strong enough to house a large dog, such as a Dane.

Plastic Crates

Plastic crates are used for transporting your dog, and some are approved for air travel. However, plastic crates are generally much too small for a Great Dane that needs a giant crate, being better suited to dogs of small and average sizes.

That said, if you want to travel by air with your Great Dane, you can commission custom-made airline kennels, although that will be quite pricey.

Soft-Sided Crates

Soft-sided crates are usually too flimsy to contain a large, heavy dog, even gentle giants like Great Danes. Even soft-sided crates that are reinforced with steel inserts are generally not strong enough to keep your Dane secure without collapsing under the dog’s weight.

Furniture Dog Crates

You can buy attractive crates that are built to double as pieces of furniture, such as end or side tables. These crates are usually made from wood or rattan and can provide an excellent solution for those who want to maximize the space that’s available in their home. Although you can often find the right size crate for a very large dog, these are not regarded as heavy-duty crates and can be vulnerable to puppies and adult dogs that chew.

That said, if you have your heart set on a furniture crate and you have a few basic woodworking skills, you can take the DIY route and make one yourself. A quick Google or a YouTube search will bring up plenty of plans and patterns, many of which you can download for free.

2. Security

Regardless of what you use your dog crate for, it’s essential that your Dane stays securely inside the crate. That’s essential if you’re taking a road trip, if you’ve left your pup home alone, or if you work for a company that allows pets in the workplace.

So, you need to check that the crate doors lock securely and have good quality, secure latches. If your Great Dane is a Harry Houdini hound, the best choice of a crate for you is one that has key locks. If you suspect that your dog might be able to push the crate doors open, it’s worth using carabiners to add an extra layer of security.

Beware of dog crates and cages that have very large latching systems. Many dogs are perfectly capable of working out how to open the latches on a crate door and making a break for it. If you own an escape artist Great Dane, you need a crate with doors that feature double latches or some kind of advanced locking system. 

3. Safety

Some cheap dog crates are made using sub-standard, cheap materials that are weak at welded spots where the wires meet or have sharp edges. It’s better to spend a bit more money on a good-quality dog crate than to try to smooth out rough spots. Also, a Great Dane is a very large breed that can easily use its weight to destroy a crate altogether, simply by leaning against the sides of the cage. If the crate fails, that could endanger your pet, especially if you happen to be traveling at the time.

4. Double Doors

Crates with single doors are fine for small dogs, but if you have a Great Dane, you really need a crate that has a double-door design. Double doors provide easier crate access for your pet, and that design offers much more flexibility when it comes to deciding where to place your crate.

For example, you could place your Dane’s crate against a wall if you want to without the risk of blocking the door.

5. Easy Cleanup

Even if your dog is toilet trained, accidents can happen. Also, a large dog can easily knock over a water bowl.

For that reason, you need to choose a crate that includes a removable plastic tray that’s easy and quick to clean if necessary. Some crates have a tray placed below the wire cage floor that enables you to slide the tray out and remove it while the dog stays securely inside the crate. However, many dogs don’t appreciate the feeling of the cage beneath their feet, and there is a danger that your Dane might get his nails caught in the wire, causing injury.

6. Portability

A dog crate that’s large enough to accommodate your Great Dane will be heavy and awkward to move around, which could be a problem for you if you like to relocate the crate from time to time.

So, ideally, you want a dog crate that has wheels or casters and a pull handle. That enables you to drag the crate around easily and also means that you don’t have to remove the dog from the crate.

7. Convenient Storage

If you want a crate that can be folded flat for portability or that can be put away when not in use without taking up too much space, you want a collapsible crate. As an added bonus, foldable crates are generally cheaper on shipping fees. However, do check that assembly is straightforward. Some large dog crates are awkward to fold or assemble single-handedly, and you might need additional tools, too.

However, we would advise against choosing plastic or soft-sided dog crates for your Great Dane. Although most of those crate designs are collapsible, they are not really strong enough to safely and securely contain a very large, heavy dog.

8. Puppy Dividers

Large dog crates can be an expensive purchase, so you ideally want a crate that will last your dog for his whole life without having to keep replacing the crate as your Great Dane puppy outgrows it. The ideal solution is to buy a crate that comes with or can accommodate divider panels. 

As the puppy grows, simply move the dividers to make the crate larger. Once the puppy is fully grown, you can dispense with the dividers altogether. Many dog owners use divider panels for toilet training puppies, too. The divider can be used to make the crate smaller so that the puppy doesn’t begin using one side of the crate as a toileting area.

9. Crate Accessories

Some crates come with a few useful accessories that provide excellent value for money.

For example, to make the crate cozy and comfy for your pet, you need a fleece bed or a mat. Also, your dog should have access to clean water 24/7, so you’ll need to provide him with a crate bottle or clip-on water bowl. Finally, if you want to use your crate outside on warm days, you’ll need a waterproof crate cover that also provides your dog with shade and protection from the sun’s harmful UV rays.

10. Thick Wire

Small and medium-sized dog crates are usually not strong or rigid enough to maintain their structural integrity if used for building a large crate. Also, although Danes are generally not especially rambunctious or aggressive, they do have strong jaws and teeth that could potentially damage a flimsy metal crate. 

For that reason, you want a dog crate that’s made from robust, thick wire mesh. 

11. Strong Hardware

Similarly, a large dog crate that’s suitable for a Great Dane needs stronger peripheral hardware than a smaller crate. 

Weak fixings, including latches, hinges, and corner connectors, risk collapsing when a large dog leans against them, especially during transport. So, you need to look for a crate with high-quality, strong fixings. 

In Conclusion

I hope you enjoyed our reviews and guide to the best dog crates on the market that would suit your Great Dane. Please go right ahead and share the article with other Great Dane owners if you found it useful.

Of the extra-large dog crates we reviewed, our crate of choice is the Midwest Homes for Pets “Ginormous” dog crate. This massive crate measures 54 inches in length, 37 inches wide, and 45 inches tall! So, this crate offers plenty of space for your giant pet.

The crate design includes special “L” bars to stop the metal wire crate sides from bowing out if your Dane leans on them. The crate has both front and side doors that both fasten securely with three heavy-duty latches to ensure that your dog stays safely contained. As you’d expect from a product of this quality, there’s a removable plastic pan for hassle-free cleanup. 

The main downside to this extra-large wire dog crate is that it’s virtually impossible to assemble and disassemble it single-handedly.

Which of these huge dog crates is your favorite crate why? Tell us in the comments box below.