In need of a sturdy, durable crate for you pit? In this article we’ll cover the best crates for pitbulls, what to look for, and what to avoid.
Safety First! A lot of these crates have doors on the roof of the crate. This is to make it easy for you to access. We recommend sealing this off with zip ties or similar. Too many dogs have died, even in the heavy duty models, by breaking the roof latch and trying but failing to escape. This isn’t a slight on any specific model. Just something to be aware of.
As always, crate training is mandatory for all dogs. Do it for their safety! It’s when they try to escape that they get hurt.
We have some training articles here.
Note: If you click some of the links in this article we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Top Pick – Best Heavy Duty Crate on Wheels
- Top Pick – Best Heavy Duty Crate on Wheels
- Best Budget Option
- Best Heavy Duty Folding Crate for Travel
- Best Soft Folding Crate for Travel
- Best End Table Design
- FAQ
- What Size Crate Should I Get For A Pitbull?
- Can A Dog Crate Be Too Big?
- Are Metal Or Plastic Dog Crates Better?
- Is It Cruel To Crate A Dog At Night?
- Is It Cruel To Crate A Dog While At Work?
- Should I Completely Cover My Dog’s Crate?
- Can I Crate My Dog For 12 Hours?
- Should I Leave Water In Dog Crate At Night?
- Should I Sleep Next To My Puppy’s Crate?
What We Like
- Sturdy
- Big dogs can’t squeeze through and break latches
- Wheels for easy movement around the house
- Safe – smooth bars don’t have sharp ends like some wire crates
- Great for separation anxiety (with training) – strong, sturdy crate helps dogs feel more at ease
- Plenty of room for large pit bulls
What We Don’t Like
- Top latch is an escape prone area – keep this tightly tied down.
- Paint can chip from excessive chewing or gnawing
Best Budget Option
What We Like
- Over 30,000 reviews and counting – this thing sells!
- durable
- easy to setup and collapse
- resists dents and marks from puppies chewing on it
- travels fast and light
- Some models include a divider – make a smaller internal space for smaller dogs
- Smaller sizes fit easily in the backseat of a car – 22″ size or less
What We Don’t Like
- Latch is straight instead of having a hook end – (smart puppies can escape)
- Ends of some wires are not filed down – cut hazard
- A little flimsy for larger dogs that try to escape often
Best Heavy Duty Folding Crate for Travel
What We Like
- Easily folds up for RV or car camping
- Heavy duty aluminum walls give you a heavy duty crate option on the go
- Easy to clean
- Super sturdy even for home use – resists gnawing and escape attempts
- More cave-like – can be useful if paired with separation anxiety training
What We Don’t Like
- More expensive than soft folding crates (up next in review below)
- More difficult to assemble than other models
- Heavy
Best Soft Folding Crate for Travel
What We Like
- Light
- Easy to pack up
- Roomy
What We Don’t Like
- Motivated dogs will easily tear out of this – dog must be crate trained
Best End Table Design
What We Like
- Gorgeous design – looks like furniture
- Easy to put together
- Doesn’t have sharp edges and ends like some wire crates
- Stylish and functional
What We Don’t Like
- Scratches easily and won’t stand up to escape artists dog – don’t buy this unless your dog is crate trained (or you don’t mind the scratches and damage)
FAQ
What Size Crate Should I Get For A Pitbull?
The American Pit Bull Terrier is an average of 18 to 21 inches high and 35 up to 65 pounds in weight. For a dog of that height you should invest in a crate that is at least 32, 36, or 42 inches high. For 18″ high pits at 35 lbs go with the smaller 32″ high crate. For the larger 65 lb pit bulls the 42 inch high crate will suite them better.
Can A Dog Crate Be Too Big?
Yes and no. A larger crate will be heavier to move around and difficult to collapse and travel with. Larger crates do well for crate training though as you can create separate spaces for the bed, food/water, and potty areas.
On the contrary, big crates might give potty trained dogs the idea that they can poop/pee on one side and still sit on the other clean side.
In general you should get a crate that is at least 12-14 inches higher than the height of your dog so they can fully stand. Plus when standing their nose and tail shouldn’t be touching the ends.
For an 18″ high pit bull, a 32″ high crate would be fine.
Are Metal Or Plastic Dog Crates Better?
Both can work depending on your needs. Since there are both high end metal vs low end metal and plastic, we have to go a bit into the weeds to answer the question.
Metal heavy duty or plastic heavy duty crates are better for dogs that chew or try to escape.
Light metal and soft plastic dog crates are better for crate trained dogs. They are cheaper and lighter but separation anxiety training is needed so your dog doesn’t escape, or worse, injure itself while escaping.
Some metal wire dog crates can have sharp edges that can put dog paws and noses. Dive deep in the reviews to avoid these or check the edges and tape them up. Again, this isn’t an issue with crate trained dogs as they won’t try to escape and hurt themselves.
Is It Cruel To Crate A Dog At Night?
Yes and no.
Yes if your dog isn’t crate trained and they cry all night, try to escape, and either succeed at escaping or hurt themselves and the crate while trying to escape.
No it isn’t a problem if the dog is crate trained and they consider their crate a safe, warm cave. If that’s the case you can likely leave the door open and they will go in on their own.
Is It Cruel To Crate A Dog While At Work?
Yes and no.
Yes if your dog has separation anxiety and haven’t been crate trained. They could injure themselves or the crate by trying to escape. Some dogs have even died while trying to escape.
No if your dog is properly crate trained. In that case you can easily leave them in a crate while you are away. They’ll just sleep and drink water till you return.
It’s still cruel to leave your dog in a crate longer than 6 hours or so. Dogs need to use the bathroom.
Should I Completely Cover My Dog’s Crate?
This can help with separation anxiety though it’s not needed. See our article here on full separation anxiety training.
For warmth and to cut down drafts, yes, cover the crate. Simple blankets work fine. You can even get form fitted crate blankets that zip up around the edges.
Can I Crate My Dog For 12 Hours?
Yes you can crate your dog for 12 hours if the crate is setup with a pee pad area. No, you should not crate your dog that long if it has no where to go to the bathroom.
Should I Leave Water In Dog Crate At Night?
If you close the door then yes, leave both water and a pee pad area for your dog at night.
Should I Sleep Next To My Puppy’s Crate?
No, this does not teach them to feel comfortable on their own. See our article on proper separation anxiety training. The goal is to make your dog feel secure and that they have agency and control.
