The Recommended Crate Size for an English Bulldog

If your English bulldog can’t do the hokey pokey -- that is, turn himself around -- the inside of his crate is far too small. Humane Society guidelines note that dogs should have just enough room to fully stand and easily turn around inside their crates. Grown bulldogs stand at about 12 to 15 inches tall, according to Animal Planet's dog breed guide, so make sure your crate is tall enough to comfortably accommodate an upright pooch. The Association of Pet Dog Trainers suggests a crate length of about 42 inches and a width of about 30 inches to 36 inches for English bulldogs to rest in at home.

There is such a thing as too much space when it comes to buying a crate, especially if you are planning to crate train your furry friend. Dogs do not like to eliminate waste near their sleeping arrangements, but a too-large crate may allow your bulldog to use the potty at one end and still lounge at the other. If you are raising a bulldog puppy who needs room to grow, get a crate that will meet his estimated full-grown size, but use partitions to block off extra space at either end. Many crates offer dividing panels for this very reason.

If your bulldog can breathe easy, chances are you will, too. Wire crates, which allow plenty of air circulation, are the only way to go with English Bulldogs. Enclosed plastic crates might prove too stuffy for your pup at home. In warm weather, it’s also a good idea to place your bulldog’s crate in the shade. According to the American Kennel Club, bulldogs are predisposed to overheating due to short noses. Most bulldogs range in heft from 40 to 50 pounds, with full-grown female dogs tending to fall in the lower part of this range and male dogs toward the higher end. There are some outliers, too, that will weigh quite a bit above this range. Select a crate that can house your bulldog’s specific weight.

If you’ve ever attempted to fly the friendly skies with a pet, you may be unconvinced they are anything even approaching friendly. Air travel with an English bulldog can be particularly challenging because of the breed’s notoriously fragile respiratory system, according to pet travel specialist Rachel Farris. The stress of air travel combined with unpredictable temperature extremes can make flying uncomfortable or even dangerous for a bulldog, and many airline restrictions reflect this fact. When air travel is unavoidable, Farris recommends using a travel crate a size larger than what your bulldog technically needs. In addition to making sure your travel crate meets the unique specifications of the airline, Farris also advocates for a well-ventilated kennel.