Our picks for a new puppy's crate and pen
4 picks, updated 17 September 2026
A puppy crate is only half the setup. The crate is a bedroom for sleeping and for the moments you cannot watch. A pen is a safe patch of floor for the hours a puppy is awake and busy.
These four cover both jobs, from a crate kit that arrives ready to use to a panel pen that grows with the puppy as you add sections. Between them they take a puppy from the first night to the first birthday.
Our picks
- 1
Why we picked it
Setting up a crate usually means buying three things separately. This kit arrives in one box: a two door wire crate, a faux fur bolster bed sized to fit, and a breathable cover. MidWest give the crate as 76.2 by 48.3 by 53.3 centimetres, and the cover fastens with hook and loop tabs. The pan is leak proof and the bed is machine washable.
- Type
- Wire crate kit
- Best for
- Setting up for a new dog
- Price band
- ££
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- 2
Straame
Folding Crate, 24 inch
Why we picked it
Small crates earn their keep in the car, at the vet and in a puppy's first weeks at home. This one measures 60 by 40 by 50 centimetres, which suits a puppy or a small adult such as a Yorkshire Terrier. Straame list heavy-gauge steel with welded corners, sliding latches on both doors, and a moulded handle for carrying it folded.
- Type
- Wire crate
- Best for
- Puppies and small dogs
- Price band
- £
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- 3
Yaheetech
Heavy Duty Dog Pen, 6 panels, 60cm
Why we picked it
A puppy needs somewhere bigger than a crate for the hours it is awake, and a panel pen gives it that floor space. Six metal panels, each 60 centimetres wide and tall, join with drop in stakes and no tools. Shape it as a rectangle, a hexagon or a barrier across a room, and add panels as the puppy grows.
- Type
- Pen
- Best for
- Puppies and small dogs
- Price band
- ££
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- 4
HiCaptain
Crate Cover
Why we picked it
Covering a wire crate makes it read as a den rather than a cage, and it softens the early summer light for a dog that wakes at five. HiCaptain use 600D polyester treated for water and UV resistance, with breathable mesh windows so your dog can still see out. Two zipped panels on the front and side open to match the crate doors.
- Type
- Crate cover
- Best for
- Light sleepers and early risers
- Price band
- ££
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Side by side
| # | Pick | Type | Best for | Band |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MidWest New World Double Door Crate Kit, 76cm | Wire crate kit | Setting up for a new dog | ££ |
| 2 | Straame Folding Crate, 24 inch | Wire crate | Puppies and small dogs | £ |
| 3 | Yaheetech Heavy Duty Dog Pen, 6 panels, 60cm | Pen | Puppies and small dogs | ££ |
| 4 | HiCaptain Crate Cover | Crate cover | Light sleepers and early risers | ££ |
Questions people ask
Do I need a crate and a pen for a puppy?
They do different jobs, so many owners start with both. The crate is for sleep and short spells, and the pen is for longer stretches when a puppy needs room to play safely. The crate is the one that stays useful for life.
What size crate for a puppy?
Buy one big enough to stand in, turn round and lie flat, and no bigger for now. If you buy the adult size, use a divider or block off part of it so the puppy has a snug corner to sleep in.
Should I cover a puppy's crate?
Yes, many puppies settle faster with the crate covered on three sides, which makes it feel like a den. Leave the front open at first so the puppy can see you, then drop the panel once they are sleeping through.