Crate or a pen?
Updated 16 September 2026
A crate is a small enclosed space a dog sleeps and settles in. A pen is a larger area with no roof, for a puppy to move around in while you get on with something.
Plenty of households keep a dog crate in the corner for sleeping and a pen for the hours when a puppy needs space to play. They do different jobs, and owners often buy both in the first week.
If you are choosing one to start with, the crate is the one that carries the night and the car. The pen is the one that frees up your afternoons.
Side by side
Crate
This is an enclosed den, sized so a dog can stand, turn and lie flat.
Suits
- Night-time and settling
- House training, where a small space helps
- Car travel and staying away from home
Ones we like
Cardys
Dog Crate, medium, dual access
This folding wire crate is built from solid steel, with dual access doors and a slide out tray.
A good choice if the crate lives in a bedroom, since the steel frame keeps things quiet at night.
MidWest
New World Double Door Crate Kit, 76cm
This two door wire crate arrives with a matching bed and cover in one box.
Measure your dog standing and lying down before you choose the size, because the bed and cover are matched to the crate.
DogCrates+
Folding Crate, medium, two doors
This folding wire crate has two doors and a removable non-chew tray, sized for medium dogs.
It folds flat in about a minute, so it travels easily at holiday time.
HugglePets
Foldable Fabric Pet Crate, small
This soft fabric crate sits on a steel frame, with mesh panels and a sheepskin style mat.
A dog that already settles in a crate will take to this one, and the two storage pockets hold a lead and a folded towel.
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Pen
This is a larger folding enclosure with no roof, for daytime use.
Suits
- Puppies pottering while you work
- Gardens, caravans and visits to family
- Small dogs, where a pen is easy to step over
Ones we like
Yaheetech
Heavy Duty Dog Pen, 6 panels, 60cm
This six panel metal pen works indoors or pegged into the lawn for a puppy.
At 60 centimetres high it suits puppies and small dogs, and taller panels are sold in the same range for a dog that jumps.
Romantic Bear
This soft sided folding pen packs into a carry bag for trips and gardens.
It suits a settled dog, and a damp cloth is all it takes to wipe the oxford cloth clean.
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Common questions
How long can a dog stay in a crate?
A few hours at a time suits an adult dog, and far less suits a puppy. A common rule of thumb is roughly one hour per month of age, up to about five hours, with a walk and a break either side.
Will a pen hold a determined puppy?
A soft pen is built for containment, and it holds a puppy that is happy to stay put. A climber or a keen chewer does better in a crate or a taller metal pen, which is why many owners keep both.
Where should a dog crate go in the house?
Put it somewhere the family is, out of a draught and away from a radiator. A crate in the middle of things is the one a dog chooses, so a kitchen corner or a quiet end of the living room works well.