The Top Three 54-Inch Heavy Duty Dog Crates (Pros and Cons)

There are a lot of good reasons to start crating your dog. Crates can suppress your dog’s anxiety, tone down its aggressiveness, and make it more suitable for indoor life.

In this article, we’ll run you through some of the best 54-inch dog crates for your dog, along with some essential factors to consider before making a purchase.

Let’s get started!

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What Is the Best 54-Inch Heavy Duty Dog Crate?

Here are the 3 best 54-inch dog crates we could find on the market.

Great Choice Double Door Dog Crate

Our first pick is Great Choice’s dog crate. This large kennel is a convenient option for the largest breeds out there. It has a front door and a side door, a durable drop-pin design, and slide-bolts that latch securely to keep your dog from leaving his crate.

Check price on Petsmart here.

We were disappointed with the quality of the material used for the crate. It seemed predominantly metal instead of steel, which is much less durable. Although our dog didn’t bend any of the wires, we were wary of how this crate would keep up after heavy usage.

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Overall, a fairly priced model with a secure locking mechanism and a black electro-coat finish on the ABS plastic pan. 

Pros

  • ABS plastic pan
  • Durable slide-bolts

Cons

  • Made from metal
  • Wire bends easily

MidWest Homes XXL Dog Crate

Next up, we have MidWest Homes’ XXL dog crate. It’s almost a replica of the previous product, with a few exceptions.

The first thing is how easy it is to assemble, the parts don’t come hooked together out of the box. This is a common problem with every dog crate, where you need to separate the entangled pieces, sometimes even using pliers to bend the hooks. 

This model comes with an optional cushioned bed to be placed over the plastic pan, which is a fantastic addition. The plastic pan itself felt hollow and easy to break, but the crate felt very durable, although still not made out of steel.

Overall, a solid alternative to our first pick that checks almost all the boxes.

Midwest Homes for Pets SL54DD Ginormus Double Door Dog Crate for XXL for the Largest Dogs Breeds, Great Dane, Mastiff, St. Bernard, Black
  • Giant double door metal dog crate measures 54L x 37W x 45H Inches and weighs 80.2 pounds. Ideal for extra-large dog breeds weighing over 90 pounds (Great Dane).Specific uses for product : Behaviour.
  • Dog Crate is double door configuration w/ sturdy drop-pin assembly. Includes easy to clean / removable tray and patent pending "L-Bar" safety feature
  • Durable metal dog crate design w/ 3 heavy duty secure slide-bolt latches per door. Please note this is an XXL dog crate and requires 2 people for assembly
  • Drop-pin construction ensures strong and secure dog crate assembly and patented "L" bar on top panel reinforces the dog crate side panels to prevent them bowing inward after assembly. Pan Stop Allows Pan To Be Removed With Doors Closed
  • Protective E-coProtective E-coat finish prevents rust for long lasting use and dog crate includes MidWest Guarentee 1-Year Manufacturer's Warranty at finish prevents rust for long lasting use and wire dog crate includes 1 Year Manufacturer's Warranty

Check price on Walmart here.

Pros

  • Assembles in seconds
  • Durable steel
  • 1-year manufacturer’s warranty

Cons

  •  Poor quality plastic pan

Frisco XX-Large Dog Crate

Lastly, Frisco’s dog crate comes cheaper than the first two models. For a cheaper model, the cage itself felt the most durable. The wires seemed impossible to bend, and the plastic pan was dense and hard to break, albeit a little bit on the heavier side.

You can still add an optional Frisco Crate Mat, which didn’t feel as soft as MidWest’s cushioned bed, but definitely enables your pet to take comfort in its new home. 

Our only problem with this crate was how the latches felt a little on the flimsy side, We don’t see it as a dealbreaker, but it’s a point worth mentioning if your large dog ever plots an escape.

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Check price on Chewy.com here.

Pros

  • Affordable
  • Extremely durable

Cons

  • Hard to assemble
  • Latches feel flimsy

Xtreme Giant Heavy Duty Dog Crate

These crates fall into the well-made/high-end category. You can’t get them on Amazon or Chewy. They are only available through Carry My Dog Website

The pros – well made, long-lasting, and they can build it specifically for your needs.

The cons – a bit expensive!

Why Choose Heavy Duty 54-Inch Dog Crates?

A common practice when buying a dog crate is to choose the size according to your dog’s breed.

This means that if you own a bulldog, you’d consider a 34-inch kennel, and if you own a Terrier, you’d consider a 48-inch kennel.

54-inch dog crates allow your dog to have significantly more freedom of movement. You don’t have to abide by the clearance rule of four inches at the side. If your dog can freely roam around its crate, you’ll find them more willing to enter them.

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Another reason to go with large, heavy-duty crates is that they’re more resistant to chewing and digging. Sometimes, dogs can chew through the plastic floor and, in other cases, even bend the wires!

A 54-inch crate will make an active dog less liable to try and force its way out. It’s also better built to withstand potentially aggressive dogs.

Should I Choose Wire or Plastic Crates?

This question was brought up when some dogs expressed discomfort with wire crates. Wire crates are the norm with large kennels, but if your dog prefers privacy in his den, it might pose a problem.

A good way to determine what your dog prefers is to pay attention to his habits. If it likes to sit near corners and snuggle on something comfy, a plastic crate might suit it better. If it likes to be actively present at all times, it might prefer to be aware of what’s happening around the house.

Other Things to Consider Before Buying

It’s important to mention that experts warn against crating your dogs with their collars on. This can cause the strap to get caught against the crate, potentially causing injuries.

Ease of Cleaning

A dirty crate can make your dog uncomfortable and nervous. The most important part to clean is the grated floor.

Since there’s always a tray covering the entire surface, you must keep it clean at all times.

Plastic trays are less durable than steel, but they’re lightweight and easier to remove. Steel trays, on the other hand, are heavier and more pricey, but they’ll never stain or break.

It becomes a matter of personal preference in the end. I personally prefer to have a plastic tray that I can quickly remove and hose down. It takes a few minutes and keeps the environment clean for the dog.

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Durability

Almost all heavy-duty dog crates are made from steel. They should be thick and strongly welded. 

If your crate has casters, make sure the wheels are made from aluminum and carbon steel to withstand the weight of your dog.

Finally, latches are what keep your dog secured inside his kennel. A dog crate with more than one latch and an L-shaped bolt is an attractive option.

In Conclusion

In conclusion, we have to choose Frisco’s XX-Large Dog Crate. It comes at a cheaper price tag, the same durable construction, and an optional mat. Even the flimsy latches still feel impossible to break.

In any case, you can’t go wrong with any of our top 3 picks for the best 54-inch heavy-duty dog crate.