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Dog Crates · Updated July 2026
Best Dog Crates for New Dog Owners (2026)
We evaluated wire, plastic, and soft-sided crates across safety, ease of setup, and dog acceptance. Here's the full ranking.
5
Products compared
3
SmartPaws picks
2
Other alternatives
SCORING CRITERIA (each out of 10):
Ease of UseBuild QualityTech / AppValue for MoneyPet AcceptanceOverall = weighted editorial score · ✦ = SmartPaws pick
| # | PRODUCT & RATIONALE | OVERALL | |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Diggs Revol Dog Crate Diggs ✦ Premium Pick — Safest & Most Stylish | 9.2/10 | |
| #2 | MidWest Homes iCrate Fold & Carry MidWest Homes ✦ Best Value — Reliable & Affordable | 8.8/10 | |
| #3 | Petmate Vari Kennel Plastic Crate Petmate ✦ Airline Travel & Housetraining | 8.5/10 | |
| #4 | EliteField 3-Door Soft Dog Crate EliteField ⚠ Soft sides are not appropriate for puppies or dogs in crate training — easily chewed through. Best reserved for already-crate-trained, calm adult dogs only. | 6.8/10 | Not recommended |
| #5 | AmazonBasics Folding Metal Dog Crate Amazon Basics ⚠ Thin wire gauge bends under pressure from larger dogs. Latch mechanism reported to fail — escape risk for determined dogs. | 6.5/10 | Not recommended |
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Alternatives Considered
These products may still suit a specific household. Here is what kept each one from placing higher in this comparison.
Soft sides are not appropriate for puppies or dogs in crate training — easily chewed through. Best reserved for already-crate-trained, calm adult dogs only.
Thin wire gauge bends under pressure from larger dogs. Latch mechanism reported to fail — escape risk for determined dogs.