Choosing a Crate for a Rat Terrier: Sizes and Types
How to measure for a crate, which sizes most Rat Terriers need, and wire versus plastic versus soft crates.
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Choose a crate your Rat Terrier can stand up in, turn around in and lie stretched out in, and no bigger. For most Rat Terriers that means a 24 or 30 inch crate, but the breed’s size range is wide, so measure your own dog and check the maker’s chart before you order.
We have not tested individual products. This guide covers sizing and types, with links to current options.
Key points
- Measure nose to base of tail and floor to top of head, then add a few inches to each.
- For a puppy, buy the adult size with a divider panel.
- Wire for home, hard-sided plastic for travel, soft crates only for calm, crate-trained dogs.
- Check latches. Rat Terriers are known escape artists.
- A crate is a bedroom, never a punishment.
How to size a crate
- Length: measure from the nose to the base of the tail while the dog stands, and add 2 to 4 inches.
- Height: measure from the floor to the top of the head or ears while the dog sits, and add 2 to 4 inches.
- Compare both numbers with the interior dimensions on the size chart, not just the nominal length.
| Nominal size | Often suits | Check |
|---|---|---|
| 24 inch | Miniatures and smaller standards | Head height when sitting |
| 30 inch | Taller or longer standards | That it is not so large a puppy toilets at one end |
These are starting points only. The Gear Size Visualizer gives an estimate from your dog’s measurements.
Crate types compared
| Type | Best use | Advantages | Limitations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wire, folding | Everyday use at home | Airflow, visibility, divider panels, folds flat | Noisy; needs a cover to feel den-like |
| Hard-sided plastic | Car and air travel, dogs that like a den | Enclosed and sturdy; easy to secure in a vehicle | Bulky; less ventilation in heat |
| Soft-sided fabric | Trips with a calm, crate-trained adult | Light and portable | Easily chewed or clawed open; not for puppies |
| Furniture-style | Living spaces | Looks like an end table | Heavy; wood can be chewed |
Folding wire crate with divider
Best for: House training and daily use
Advantages
- Divider adjusts as a puppy grows
- Removable tray for cleaning
- Folds for storage
Limitations
- Rattles if not set on a mat
- Some latches can be nosed open
Look for two latches per door, or add a clip, if your dog works at the door.
Features to look for
- Secure latches that slide and drop into place.
- A removable, leak-proof tray.
- Smooth edges with no gaps a paw or collar tag could catch in.
- Two doors for flexible placement.
Take the collar off, or use a breakaway one, when your dog is crated, so tags cannot snag on the bars.
Making the crate a good place
Feed meals inside, toss treats in, and leave the door open at first so the dog chooses to go in. Build up closed-door time gradually. PetMD recommends starting crate training early for this breed. Puppies should not be crated for more hours than they can comfortably hold on, and no dog should spend most of its day in one.
For travel, see our travel gear guide. For the first weeks at home, see the first 30 days.
