These Stylish Dog Crates Double As Home Decor

What to look for when buying dog crate furniture

Consider the following factors when selecting the best dog crate furniture for your pup:

• Size: A tiny pup grows up, so choose a product that will fit his adult size. For puppy training purposes, the crate shouldn’t have extra space where the pup can potty in one side and sleep in the other. Adult dogs need enough room to stand up, turn around and sleep without crowding. While your dog is standing, measure his length from nose to base of tail (do not measure all the way to tip of tail or the crate will be too large). While your pup is sitting, measure his height from floor to top of head. Add another five inches to your dog’s length and height measurements to get general dimensions. His weight may also be a consideration.
• Material: Dog crate furniture implies sturdy construction, but that can include plastic, metal, wood or other material. Consider what fits your style.
• Safety: Remember that dogs may do the unexpected. Chewing not only damages dog crate furniture, but it can also hurt canine teeth (and if swallowed, could cause internal injuries). Upset dogs may destroy the bed padding, tip over the crate or destroy the catch tray trying to escape. There are dog treats on the market to help prevent chewing and calm your dog. Dog crate furniture should have good airflow and visibility for you and your dog to see each other, not wobble if your dog turns around and shouldn’t accidentally catch a paw or tail.
• Assembly: Smaller dog crate furniture may come fully assembled, but for large dogs, find out ahead of time what tools are required.
• Movability: Consider if you’ll need to move the crate once in place. Some collapse for convenient movement or storage. But since others are meant to function as furniture, they may not be as transportable.
• Clean-up: Also take note of cleaning access, especially if you must confine your dog for potty training or illness (be sure to stock up on puppy pads and diapers for these instances). Most dog crate furniture uses wood, which takes extra care to keep tidy from messes or water bowl spills. (Speaking of, you may want to check out one of these no-spill water bowls).
• Accessibility: Dog crate furniture with more than one entry—front and back, or front and sides, for instance—offers more flexibility for placement in the home, and for ventilation for the dog’s comfort. It also makes placing a comfy dog bed in the bottom easier.

How we found the best dog furniture

As shopping experts, our only job is to help you find a winning product. We start with the research and reporting basics—what products are made of, what they look like and how much they cost—to ensure that we’re only recommending the buys that are worth your time and money. Then, we research the features that speak to the product’s quality, taking advice from industry insiders and subject matter experts on what makes a product a smart value (or worthy of a splurge). Finally, we do the work of combing through user reviews to see how real people interact with the product, and if it stands up to the test.

FAQ

What room should a dog crate be in?

Dogs thrive when treated as part of the family. Place the crate beside your bed if that’s where the dog will sleep at night. Or, since dog crate furniture fits into your existing decor, place it in the family room where you spend most of your time.

Can you put things on top of a dog crate?

If designed to serve as dog crate furniture, the top usually can hold the same type of items as a side table or credenza. Check the specifications of the individual product first. Also, consider if having items you need to interact with (like a computer or media system) would disrupt your dog’s resting place. It’s your dog’s safe den and happy retreat, so choose wisely.