Do you have a medium-sized dog who struggles with separation anxiety?
If so, you’re probably searching for a dependable and durable dog crate where you can leave your dog when you’ve got to go out.
Separation anxiety is a chronic canine disorder that can affect any dog irrespective of breed or mix.
Some of the symptoms include destructive chewing, clawing or scratching which can cause a lot of damage in your home.
You may find that crate training can help to alleviate some of the symptoms of your dog’s separation anxiety or at least keep your dog safe when you’re not at home.
In this article, we’re going to take a look at the best medium dog crates for separation anxiety.
So if you’ve got a medium-sized dog with separation anxiety, we’re going to highlight some of the best options for your pet.
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What Is Separation Anxiety?
Beagle relaxes in a dog crate (Photo: Adobe Stock)
Separation anxiety is a chronic disorder that can affect dogs of a nervous disposition when their owners leave the home without them.
In fact, symptoms of separation anxiety could even begin before the pet owners leave the home as dogs can notice signs of an imminent departure such as grabbing house keys, tying shoe laces or putting on certain clothes.
In my experience with my Alaskan Klee Kai, they start to exhibit signs of separation anxiety even when I change from sweatpants into jeans. They know that I’m likely to be leaving the house and start to get worked up.
Symptoms of separation anxiety include incessant barking, howling or whining, destructing chewing or digging, and in some extreme cases, defecating or urinating inside the home.
Some dogs may show more subtle signs of distress that you may not notice unless you closely monitor their behaviour before you leave or you use a device such as a pet camera to check in on your four-legged friend.
Dog crates can play a potential role as you look to tackle the issue of separation anxiety or at least ensure that your dog is safe and can’t injure themselves.
One expert explained to hellobark.com that dog crates offer a calm, safe space for your dog, minimize potentially harmful things they can get into when you aren’t able to watch them and provide less space they need to be concerned with.
I’ve found that crating my Alaskan Klee Kai helps to reduce the extent of the separation anxiety and prevents them from causing damage to themselves or to our home. They consider their dog crate a safe space and retreat to their den even when we’re home if they find a situation overwhelming.
If your dog has separation anxiety like my dog or you suspect your dog has separation anxiety, you should contact a professional dog behaviourist to get a greater understanding of the condition and start to take steps to alleviate your dog’s stress.
Best Medium Dog Crates For Separation Anxiety 2023
Now that we have a better understanding of separation anxiety, let’s examine in more detail the best dog crates for medium dogs with separation anxiety available to purchase right now.
1) Impact Dog’s High Anxiety Crate
Where To Buy: impactdogcrates.com
Impact Dog Crates (Photo: Impact)
Impact Dog have perhaps the best dog crate for dogs with separation anxiety available on the market right now. They’ve created an escape-proof dog crate called the High Anxiety Crate. It’s been designed and engineered to protect and outsmart pets who suffer from severe separation anxiety. Their website explains that the High Anxiety Crate has a welded structure, zinc-plated steel latch and four additional butterfly latches to provide ultimate security for your dog. The zinc-plated steel latch mechanism is designed to withstand extreme force. The High Anxiety crate has small circle ventilation holes that are made to prevent dogs from getting their teeth in and causing injury. It should also help to create a den-like feel to make your dog feel safe. Impact add that this particular crate is constructed with 62% thicker aluminum alloy to increase structural integrity. The High Anxiety Crate has an average 5-star rating based upon over 2,000 reviews on Impact’s website. They’ve got a range of sizes but the 34″ Length (34.5″L x 23″W x 28.87″H) would probably work for most medium-sized breeds. It’s priced at $875 which equates to a premium price for a premium product. Impact offer a 10-year Dog Damage Warranty!
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
Diggs Revol Collapsible Dog Crate (Photo: Diggs)
If you’re thinking about the High Anxiety crate but you’re unsure whether you want the massive outlay on their crate, you could consider Diggs Revol for your medium-sized dog. Diggs are another pet brand with a great reputation for manufacturing quality crates for dogs. It’s important to note that Diggs haven’t designed the Revol specifically for dogs with separation anxiety unlike the High Anxiety crate. However, if you’ve got a dog with mild symptoms and you want a dog crate that can protect them but is stylish, the Revol could be the answer. Their website explains that the Revol is inspired by baby industry quality standards, incorporates premium materials and ergonomic, easy-to-use doors. Diggs have prioritized the safety of dogs as the diamond-shaped mesh pattern and solid, single-piece frame helps prevent injury to jaws and paws. The Revol has lots of ventilation too. It’s easy to set up, transfer and store so you can take the crate on the road if you require it to house your dog during a road trip or hotel stay and you have to pop out for food or essentials. The Revol has an average score of 4.6 stars based upon nearly 4,000 reviews on their website. It comes in four sizes and the medium size (32″L x 20″W x 22″H) is priced at $475. This is almost half the price of the High Anxiety crate so a more affordable option but it hasn’t been engineered to specially cater to dogs with separation anxiety.
We can offer helloBARK! readers 11% off their first Diggs order when you click this link.
We also have a limited time offer for our readers. You can get 15% off Charcoal and Grey Revol in sizes S and M with code EXTRA15. To avail of this offer, click this link.
3) SMONTER Heavy Duty Dog Crates
Where To Buy: amazon.com
SMONTER Heavy Duty Dog Crate (Photo: Amazon)
If I owned a medium-sized dog who struggles with separation anxiety, I’d go for either Impact’s High Anxiety crate or Diggs’ Revol dog crate. However, if you’re working with a severely limited budget, I’ve included a potential option on Amazon that could be a makeshift solution. Smonter offer a range of heavy dog crates on Amazon that could do a decent job of containing your dog until you can work with a professional dog behaviorist or purchase a better quality crate. The crate is constructed using heavy duty steel to withstand destructive chewers and diggers. There’s ample ventilation and the Y-shaped design prevents dogs from poking their snouts between the bars. At the time of writing, the SMONTER is priced at $239.
How We Choose The Best Medium Dog Crates
Terrier naps in dog crate (Photo: Adobe Stock)
We started our search for the best medium dog crates for separation anxiety by researching online to see what makes a good dog crate for dogs with this chronic canine condition.
Once we got an understanding of the chronic condition along with our experiences with dogs who struggle with separation anxiety, we began to research suitable products online.
We read through reviews of dogs crates to see which brands have developed a reputation for creating, designing and constructing dependable and reliable dog crates.
While we considered online reviews, we checked out what customers who have purchased the dog crates have to say about the products and their effectiveness.
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 April 2023.
Can Crates Help Dogs With Separation Anxiety?
Labrador in a dog crate (Photo: Adobe Stock)
While dog crates won’t fix a dog’s separation anxiety, they can be a useful tool in your journey with your dog as you try to resolve the issue.
As we’ve mentioned multiple times in this feature, dog crates are a vital tool for dog owners because they help to provide a safe space for dogs.
From a practicality point of view, they can make it easy to transport your dog whether you’ve got to take them to the vet or you’re going on a road trip.
However, it’s important to be aware that some dogs can struggle with confinement anxiety so crating these dogs could exacerbate their anxiety.
Dog separation anxiety trainer Malena De Martni explained in an interview with hellobark.com.
It’s really common that dogs with separation anxiety suffer from crate anxiety (or confinement anxiety). For example, if I leave my dog free in the house or outside of a crate environment, it might take one minute before he starts whining and two minutes before he starts howling. If I assess him in the crate and then walk out my door, within a millisecond he’s screaming.
In my experience with my Alaskan Klee Kai dogs, they do markedly better in a dog crate than left to roam the house if left alone.
They consider their dog crate to be their den and safe space so they’ll usually settle down inside the crate after 5 or 10 minutes.
So every dog is different – some dogs may feel more comfortable in their den while you’re away from the home but other dogs will struggle more if they’ve also got confinement anxiety.
Anything Else To Consider?
We urge dog owners to speak to a dog behaviorist if they’ve got a dog with separation anxiety.
It’s worth pointing out that Impact Dog Crates offer a 10-year Dog Damage Warranty.
If your dog damages a part of the crate causing a malfunction or compromising the safety of your dog and the crate, those parts will be replaced for free. Free replacement parts, or even crate replacement, is provided within this 10 year timespan.
It’s the only dog crate within their range that is protected by the Dog Damage Warranty.
Wrapping Up – Our Final Thoughts
Dog claws at crate (Photo: Adobe Stock)
We’ve reached the end of our feature on the best medium dog crates for dogs with separation anxiety.
Our top pick is Impact Dog’s High Anxiety Crate that is designed to cater to dogs with separation anxiety thanks to the durable structure, clever latch system and small circle ventilation holes.
The High Anxiety Crate carries a hefty price tag but their website hosts thousands of positive reviews from other dog owners who have reaped the benefits of paying the premium price.
Having said that, you won’t go wrong if you opt for the Diggs Revol 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.
