Do you have a large dog suffering from separation anxiety?
Separation anxiety is a chronic canine condition that can affect any dog irrespective of breed, mix, age or size.
It can strike before or after a dog owner leaves the home and it can be distressing for both humans and pets.
If you’ve got a big dog who has separation anxiety, they can cause substantial damage should they chew furniture, claw at the door or dig when feeling anxious.
Dog crates can prove a useful tool for pet owners who want to keep their dog safe before departing the home.
In this article, we’re going to take a look at some of the best dog crates for large dogs with separation anxiety.
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What Is Separation Anxiety?
Dog claws at crate (Photo: Adobe Stock)
Separation anxiety is a canine condition that can affect dogs of all ages, breeds, mixes and sizes.
The anxiety will usually arise when a dog owner leaves their pet at home alone. For some dogs, their anxiety levels could start to spike even before their pet parent has departed.
Dogs can spot the tell-tell signs of an imminent departure, such as pet owners grabbing their keys, putting on their shoes, wearing a jacket, or switching on the television for background noise.
Some dogs will outwardly display their separation anxiety by continuously barking, howling or whining, destructively chewing or digging, or even defecating or urinating inside the home.
Other dogs may internalize the anxiety and display signs that are more subtle.
Both of my dogs struggle with separation anxiety. My male dog will bark and howl but my female dog will silently tremble. Every dog is different.
Best Large Dog Crates For Separation Anxiety
Now that we know a little bit more about separation anxiety, let’s take a look at the best dog crate for large dogs with separation anxiety available right now.
1) Impact Dog’s High Anxiety Crate
Where To Buy: impactdogcrates.com
German Shepherd in Impact’s High Anxiety Dog Crate (Photo: Impact Crates)
Impact Dog Crates are one of the leading suppliers of durable dog crates – and they’ve designed a crate specifically for dogs with separation anxiety. Aptly called the High Anxiety Crate, it’s described as being an escape-proof crate (two dog owners in San Diego went viral after putting it to the test). Impact write on their website that the High Anxiety Crate has been engineered to protect and outsmart pets who suffer from severe separation anxiety. It’s welded and riveted together to provide maximum strength, while using thicker aluminum alloy to ensure structural integrity. It has a zinc-plated steel paddle latch which provides a robust mechanism for added security against the toughest escape attempts along with four additional butterfly latches to provide extra peace of mind. Impact have designed their crate to have ventilation holes to create a safe den environment for dogs with destructive tendencies. However, these holes are sufficiently small that your dog won’t be able to sink their teeth in. My dogs love creating a den environment to feel extra security whether they’ve been left at home alone or just want some peace and quiet from my rambunctious toddler. They offer six different sizes but large dog owners will be looking at their 40 inch, 42 inch and 48 inch options. Their largest crate can house breeds such as Tibetan Mastiffs, Shiloh Shepherds, St Bernards and Newfoundlands. Impact’s High Anxiety Crate is highly portable so you can bring it on the road – it has military grade handles and if you’ve got multiple crates, they’re stackable. Impact provide one of a premium dog crate so they don’t come cheap. Prices start from $900 depending on the size of your crate but you do get a lifetime guarantee such is their confidence in their crate. We have a saving for our readers should you decide to go with an Impact Dog Crate.
You can get 15% off your Impact Dog Crates order when you use our exclusive discount HELLOBARK at the checkout. To get this 15% discount on your Impact Dog Crate, click here.
2) Diggs Revol Dog Crate
Where To Buy: diggs.pet
Weimaraner sits in Diggs Revolut dog crate (Photo: Diggs)
Diggs have garnered a lot of attention over the past few years thanks to their Revol dog crate. They’ve combined both style and substance. Unlike, Impact’s High Anxiety Crate, Revol hasn’t been designed specifically for dogs with separation anxiety but that doesn’t mean it won’t do a good job at making your pet feel secure. Diggs explain that the large Revol dog crate has an extra-sturdy aluminum frame made of non-toxic, premium materials. The Diggs write on their website that their crate is designed for large breeds up to 90lbs. Seeing as it has been designed with the needs of bigger dogs in mind, the large Revol features durable materials and a tough aluminum “air” base to withstand the power of big dogs. Diggs have created a unique diamond-shaped mesh pattern for the Revol crate. This extra-sturdy frame help prevent injury to jaws and paws. If you’re planning to get a crate for an escape artist, they’ve got an innovative dual-lock front door handle keeps clever pups from opening the door while inside. They go on to explain that it has been built for safety and comfort. You can bring the Diggs Revol crate on the road or take it to a hotel because it’s easy to set up, move, and store. While it’s a slightly cheaper option than Impact, it hasn’t been designed for dogs specifically with separation anxiety. The Revolut starts from $699 before you consider potential add-ons such as pad, bowl and training aid.
We have an exclusive saving for our readers. New customers can get 11% off their first Diggs order by clicking here.
3) SMONTER Heavy Duty Dog Crates
Where To Buy: amazon.com
SMONTER Heavy Duty Dog Crate (Photo: Amazon)
If you prefer to do your shopping on Amazon, you may want to consider the Smonter Heavy Duty Dog Crate. This dog crate has a number of features to cater to canines that may have a tendency to try and escape their crate. For instance, Smonter have used a Y-pattern design to make a bite-proof shape to prevent dogs from sticking their snout through the bars. They’ve got a double lock with safety buckles. Smonter used a sturdy metal frame and welded steel bars to create a heavy duty dog create. Their Amazon page adds that they have used non-toxic finishes. It has 360-degree wheels so it’s portable whether you want to place the crate in different areas of the house, in the yard or on the road. The larges size is 42 inches in length. The Smonter Heavy Duty Dog Crate has an average score of 4.5 stars based upon 5 stars on Amazon.
How We Choose The Best Large Dog Crates
There is no shortage of dog crates available on the market for pet owners.
So it can be overwhelming pouring over all the different options available online, especially if you’ve got a dog with separation anxiety.
When we committed to writing a feature on the best large dog crates for separation anxiety, we considered a number of important factors such as the materials used, the thoughtfulness of the design, the safety features and indestructibility of the crate.
We carefully researched online reviews, read expert opinions and checked out the latest options within the dog crate market.
The list above represents what we believe to be the best large dog crates for separation anxiety, and it’s updated often for accuracy and integrity. It was last updated February 2023.
Can Crates Help Dogs With Separation Anxiety?
German Shepherd in dog crate (Photo: Adobe Stock)
Some dogs love their crates and will feel less anxious when placed in a secure, enclosed space rather than being left alone in the home.
In my case, my dogs love their crate and it’s a safe place that they like to relax and sleep during various stages of the day whether we’re at home or not.
Using our pet cameras, we’ve had the chance to monitor their behaviour when left alone crated and left alone uncrated. They were far less anxious when in their crate together.
However, separation anxiety expert Malena DeMartini expressed her concerns that crating your dog can exacerbate the problem – especially if your dog isn’t a particularly fond of their crate.
I think crates are terrific management tools for many reasons. For example, it’s important to crate train your dog because at some stage they’ll have to go to the vet. If they were never exposed to a crate, it would be much more difficult for them to be crated in the vet environment. I don’t want people to think crates are bad.
Having said that, it’s really common that dogs with separation anxiety suffer from crate anxiety (or confinement anxiety). Having said that, some dogs love their crate. Often times I hear dog owners say things like: “he goes into his crate at night and he loves it” or “he goes in there on his own and likes it”. While these are positives, it doesn’t mean the crate is the ideal area or correct management tool during alone time for a separation anxiety dog. It’s really important to assess and determine what is the most comfortable situation for that particular dog.
It may be a good idea to speak to a dog behaviorist if you have a dog with separation anxiety and you’re unsure whether a dog crate will be a source of comfort or worsen the problem.
Anything Else To Consider?
If your dog suffers from separation anxiety, it’s a good idea to contact a dog behaviourist to learn more about this chronic canine condition.
They can likely talk you through some potential techniques to soothe your dog’s separation anxiety once they’ve carried out an assessment.
You can read our interview with a separation anxiety trainer here.
Wrapping Up – Our Final Thoughts
German Shepherd sit next to Impact’s High Anxiety Dog Crate (Photo: Impact Crates)
We’ve reached the end of our feature on the best crates for large dogs with separation anxiety.
Our top pick is Impact Dog Crates and their uniquely designed High Anxiety Crate.
It’s got an innovative design to create a den-like feel to the crate, with bite-proof holes.
Impact Dog Crates can cater to dogs of all sizes, including gigantic breeds like Great Danes and Saint Bernards.
For that reason, we believe Impact Dog Crates are the obvious choice if you’re looking for a dog crate to house your pet.
Having said that, you won’t go too far wrong with Diggs Revolut crate. They’ve got a stellar reputation within the pet industry.
If you’re on a budget and you don’t want to invest in a premium option, we have the Smonter Dog Crate that could do a decent job.
You can get 15% off your Impact Dog Crates order when you use our exclusive discount HELLOBARK at the checkout. To get this 15% discount on your Impact Dog Crate, click here.
