When researching the best dog crate for a Beagle we concluded that the AmazonBasics Metal Dog Crate, 36″ provided the best value, size and requirements for the breed.
This metal dog crate is both sturdy and reasonably priced. Available as a single or double door crate, it is easy to erect and collapse should you need to store it away.
There are optional dividers which let you adjust the size of the crate when your Beagle is a puppy and expand out when they are fully grown. There is a removable plastic crate at the bottom which can be easily cleaned. Each door is double slide bolted to stop any four-legged escape artists.
Charles Darwin’s ship, HMS Beagle, was named after the breed. Lyndon B Johnson and Barry Manilow owned them. In fiction, Captain Archer always returned to his quarters to find his beloved Porthos on Star Trek Enterprise.
The Beagle is one of the most recognisable and loved dog breeds around. They are scent hounds, and they love to sniff. So much so – you’ll often spot them at customs ports around the world.
Fans of Peanuts will be familiar with the sight of their favourite Beagle, Snoopy, on his outdoor kennel roof. Well, with Snoopy in mind we now move on to the indoor kennel, the dog crate.
In this article, we will review our seven best dog crates for Beagles. We will look at why crates are good for both adult and puppy Beagles, consider the sizings required and give general hints and tips on good crate training for your pup.
Contents
Best Dog Crates for Beagles – Out Top Seven
1. 🏆 AmazonBasics Double-Door Folding Metal Dog Crate
Strong, spacious and exceptional value for money – the AmazonBasic crate is certainly simple but functional.
Available as a double or single door crate, the metal design can be collapsed down with ease and stored away when needed.
There is a plastic pan at the bottom which can be removed and cleaned if required.
Available in all territories including UK, USA, Canada and Australia.
2. MidWest iCrate Starter Kit [USA and Canada]
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|---|---|---|---|
 | iCrate Dog Crate Starter Kit | 36-Inch Dog Crate Kit Ideal for Medium/Large Dogs (weighing 41-70... | Buy on Amazon |
We adore this crate starter kit from the hugely popular MidWest brand. Not only does it come with the sizeable 36-inch two door dog crate, but also includes a pet bed, crate cover and two dog bowls which can be affixed.
The crate is made from metal, the bed is a machine washable fleece and the cover is polyester.
3. Ellie-Bo Dog Crate [UK]
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 | Ellie-Bo Dog Crate Dog Cage from Small to Large, Foldable Puppy Dog Crates, Cage Furniture with... | Buy on Amazon |
This dog crate for beagles is a two-door design and available in black or silver. It is collapsible and can be folded down to be stored away.
The tray is non-chew and made of steel. It can be removed easily and cleaned when needed. Each door has two sliding latches at the top and the bottom – this prevents a Beagle puppy (or full-grown escape artists) from getting out.
4. Veehoo Folding Soft Dog Crate
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 | veehoo Folding Soft Dog Crate, 3-Door Pet Kennel for Crate-Training Dogs, 5 x Heavy-Weight Mesh... | Buy on Amazon |
Made from Cationic Oxford fabric and sturdy mesh material, this soft crate is lightweight, comfortable and robust.
Designed for dogs who are already crate trained, the inner layer comprises a solid steel frame. This frame is collapsible so the crate can be packed away if required.
The crate has mesh windows at five sides, three of which can be rolled up as doors using the zipper. It also includes a washable fleece pad and is available in a range of colours.
Veehoo has designed this with ventilation in mind, to be easy to carry (by hand or shoulder straps when collapsed) and resistant to tearing.
As with all soft crates, this will not be escape-proof. It really is for dogs who are already well crate trained as a naughty pup could chew their way out of the mesh dooring if they really wanted.
5. MidWest Homes for Pets Dog Crate [USA and Canada]
| Preview | Product | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | MidWest iCrate Double-Door Folding Metal Dog Crate, 36 Inches by 23 Inches by 25 Inches | Buy on Amazon |
The same exceptional crate as the iCrate starter kit without all the extras.
6. AmazonBasics Folding Soft Dog Crate, 36″
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|---|---|---|---|
 | Amazon Basics Folding Soft Dog Crate, 36" | Buy on Amazon |
Our second soft crate, again for Beagles who are already crate trained. This is slightly less fancy than the Veehoo but is still a good option.
This dog crate has two mesh doors at the top and front that close using a zipper. The lightweight frame is made of PVC with polyester fabrics covering it. It is also collapsible and can be folded away easily.
7. New World Folding Metal Dog Crate [USA and Canada]
| Preview | Product | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | MidWest Homes for Pets Newly Enhanced Single and Double Door New World Dog Crate, Includes... | Buy on Amazon |
Another hugely popular option for US readers, the New World dog crate comes in a single or double door option. The tray at the bottom is plastic and the crate is collapsible for movement and storage.
What Makes a Good Beagle Dog Crate?
A crate should always be a friendly, comfortable, safe space for your Beagle. A place they can go to be alone, to play with their favourite toy or to sleep.
It should not be a place of punishment. A place they are only sent when they are naughty. Though this may make an owner feel less stressed in the short run. In the long run, it will cause your dog to reject their crate.
If you’re planning on using your crate for sleeping – it’s important that you pick something that suits the Beagle breed well.
Sleeping arrangements are often at the preference of the owner. Although the idea of your dog sleeping in your bed may seem cute at first – after several months of broken sleep, it may be a decision you regret. Alternatives include a dog bed either in your bedroom or another room or a dog crate. For a crate, you will need space.
Space is your first consideration. Choose something that isn’t so enormous it’s intimidating – but similarly nothing that’s too small. People often tend to make the mistake of buying smaller crates than they should which your dog will just grow to hate.
Types of Beagle Dog Crates Available
The most common crate type is a wire dog crate. These are made from metal though may vary in colour including silver, black, gold and even blue. They are designed to be both spacious and secure.
If you choose a wire crate, you’ll probably find they have a choice of door types. Single-Door crates means, just that, a single door – often at the side. Double-Door crates have two doors, one at the front and one at the back. This is usually to do with the space available in your home.
I’ve always found double-door crates worked best – as I have a choice of how open the crate can be when needed – but if the side is just going to hit a wall – it’s probably best just to stick with a single.
Wire dog crates are also often collapsable. They can be folded away flat and stored away if required. This is incredibly useful when moving a crate from one room to another as moving a fully built crate through a door can be a real challenge.
Doors of these crates are usually double-bolt slide locks. One at the top and another at the bottom. Though it may sound a little overkill – it is far better than a bolt in the middle where, with enough force, your dog could squeeze through the gap.
They’re also incredibly easy to clean – a real bonus if you have a puppy who is still in toilet training.
They tend to come with a plastic tray at the bottom – to stop the flooring beneath getting damaged. This can be removed and cleaned without having to dismantle the crate.
Obviously a wire crate in itself is not a great living environment – it’s a hard box with wire bars. You should invest in a dog bed, padding, blankets or cushions.
If your Beagle is an adult or already crate trained, you may also consider a soft fabric dog crate. These are not only very soft and lightweight. They can be used as an indoor home or a travel crate. We use one of these when going on holiday.
Not only can they be folded away packed in the car, but can be super handy when staying overnight at an Airbnb.
They are a great addition to the house, usually, the doors are made of a mesh netting that uses a zipper to open and close.
A travel crate is exactly that, a crate used for travelling. You may have seen these in veterinary surgeries – people transporting their dog or cat. You may also have seen them when people transport their pets in cars or planes.
Often made from plastic with some metal wire parts, travel crates are designed for short term habitation only. They’re often much smaller than a standard crate so don’t give as much room as a wire crate. They are, however, a lot easier to carry and move about.
Finally, we come to the car crate. These can be wire crates or can be special crates designed to fit the shape of the back of a car. If you are considering a crate for the car, you should research more of the safety aspects.
Heavy-duty dog crates are also available, but these are often reserved for larger breeds and dogs with behavioural problems.
What Size Crate for a Beagle?
Although some guides may suggest a size of 30″ is sufficient for a Beagle, our experience has shown that this can often be too cramped. We, therefore, recommend a crate of at least 36 inches for a Beagle.
You may be tempted to get a smaller dog crate for a Beagle puppy, however, you may consider that swapping them out once they grow means additional training – after all, you’re removing their favourite bedroom. To combat this problem, some crates have dividers.
Dividers allow you to reduce the size of the crate and extend it as your puppy grows.
You can measure your Beagle and compare it against the manufacturer’s guidelines. This may be handy if they use non-standard sizing or your dog is larger or smaller than normal. To do this:
- Whilst in the standing position – measure you Beagle from the top of the nose to the base of the tail. This is the length of your Beagle. A tape measure works best for this and you should note down your measurements in inches.
- Next, you want to establish the dog’s height. Place your dog in the upright sitting position. The length is the measurement in inches between the floor and the top of your dogs head.
- Add a few inches to the final total to give extra room for movement and stretching out.
If you find your measurements are between two sized crates, always go with the larger of the two. A dog can quite happily deal with a slightly larger crate. A crate that is too small, however, will not be a pleasant experience and you will no doubt have to get the larger one eventually.
Another point to consider when buying a crate is the space available in your home. This is less of an issue if you have a large house with ample free space. However, if you live in a smaller dwelling – you should consider where a crate of this size would comfortably fit.
Remember, your dog will have to get in and out of their crate so more space than just the crate needs to be considered. Also, plan whether a single-door or double-door dog crate is most suited to the space available.
Beagle Crate Training Tips
In order for your Beagle to be happy, healthy and willing to use the crate, you will need to do some training. At first, it might seem like it’s a really long process, but with our quick guide, you should be prepared to start and make a lot of progress fairly quickly.
If your Beagle is a puppy, it should be an easy start, as the puppy will likely have no negative feelings towards the crate.
If your Beagle is an adult, there might be a few additional steps or a bit of extra time that you need to invest if they’re not too keen on the crate from the start.
The first thing you need to do is associate the crate with good things.
We wouldn’t recommend play and exciting toys, as you might end up with an unsettled dog being bored in the crate when you want them to be relaxed and content. Start by simply sitting in front of the crate and tossing a treat inside.
Your dog will likely follow the treat inside to eat it. If they don’t follow the treat, toss it near the crate, then a bit closer the next time, and so on until your dog follows the treat inside.
Once your dog is inside the crate don’t try closing them in, but simply let them come out if they wish to do so. Repeat this until you notice your dog starting to hover inside the crate, waiting for the next treat. If they start waiting inside the crate, you can reward them for that as well.
It would be best if you move to the side of the crate at this point, and push the treat through the bars to further reinforce the idea that staying inside the crate means more treats.
Play around with placing the treats through the bars. What you want to happen here is a dog lying down in the crate, waiting or gathering treats from the floor.
You might have to do a bit of luring to achieve that, which is fine, just don’t start demanding things from your dog, or closing the crate door just yet.
When your Beagle is happy to waltz inside the crate, lie down and wait for some treats, you should proceed to introduce movement.
From your position to the side of the crate, shuffle along an inch or two, then return to your position and treat. Repeat this and introduce other small movements.
If your pup exists the crate at any point due to excitement, don’t react to it, just use the previous steps to get them back in the crate and in the desired position. No forcing or pushing needs to be involved, if you don’t succeed, then stop the training for now and try again later.
Slowly increase your movements to involve things like getting up and even walking out of the room. You should aim to be able to walk out of the room for a couple of minutes without your pup feeling the need to follow you.
It will likely require a lot of repetitions of small movements to get to that stage. Be sure to vary the amount of movement and length of time to avoid predictability.
Finally, if your pup is happy to stay inside the crate when you walk out of the room, even though the crate door is open, you can go back to step 1 and repeat the training, but this time you can close the door once your dog is inside the crate. Make your way through the steps we’ve covered so far. It might seem repetitive, but practice makes perfect!
Don’t lock the doors just yet, if your pup shows any signs of discomfort or desire to come out, quickly open the crate door, and go back a step or two. Perhaps they need to practice the open door task a bit longer.
Finally, celebrate the little successes. If your pup makes more progress than you expected, reward with treat jackpot inside the crate. If they are happy to be inside, you can even serve dinner in there too. All these things will help your Beagle to see the crate as their safe and relaxing space.
Hints and Tips for Your Crate
- We’ve already mentioned this – but is the most important tip if you want a dog who is happy to use and sleep in their crate. Don’t use the crate as a place for punishment.
- Comfort is important. A crate itself is not a particularly comfortable experience and not one your dog will love sleeping in. Pad the crate out with a dog bed, pillows, blankets or padding.
- Like any child’s bedroom, toys are always a favourite. The same for your Beagle’s space. Leave their favoured toy or something they can play with like a Kong Cone in the crate.
- Dogs with separation anxiety may not do well once you leave the room. This will require more training.
- Your dog crate is not a babysitter. Never leave a dog locked up all day in their crate while you go to work.
- Puppies may not yet be fully toilet trained. Even if they are adults, dog’s cannot hold it in as long as humans can. Be mindful of this before you close the door at night.
Summary
We hope this article helped you in choosing the best dog crate for your Beagle. With proper training, a good dog crate can be a good alternative for sleeping, as well as a safe spot for your Beagle to get some privacy.
Remember the training and above all, be patient. Consider the size of the crate as well as the size of your home. Make sure there’s enough room not only for the dog crate but for the doors and ability for your dog to get in and out easily.
Check out our other dog crate guides and articles in our Crates section. Don’t forget to leave a comment in the section below or comment on our Facebook page.
