Finding the Right Fit: My Corgi Crate Journey
Okay, so bringing home my Corgi puppy, Winston, was pure chaos and joy. One of the first things on my list was getting a crate. Seemed simple enough, right? Wrong.
I started looking online and, man, the options were overwhelming. Small, medium, large… what does that even mean for a dog shaped like a furry submarine? Corgis are kinda long but also have those short legs. I read a bunch of guides, asked some folks. Some said get a small one, others said medium. I was totally lost for a bit.
My first thought was, okay, he’s a puppy, so start small. I almost bought this tiny crate that looked like it was made for a Chihuahua. Luckily, I hesitated. Then I worried about him growing. Would I need to buy like, three different crates? That sounded expensive and wasteful.
So, I decided to wait until Winston was actually home. Seeing him trot around, flop down for naps, it gave me a much better idea. He wasn’t tall, but he definitely needed some length to stretch out. Standing up and turning around comfortably seemed key.
Here’s what I ended up focusing on:
- Could he stand up inside without hitting his head? (Even with those short legs, gotta check!)
- Could he turn around easily? Nobody wants to feel trapped.
- Could he lie down flat, fully stretched out? Corgis love a good sploot.
I realized the crate shouldn’t be massive, especially when he was still potty training. Too much space means they might use one end as a bathroom and sleep in the other. Not ideal.
Then I discovered crates with dividers. This was a game-changer! I decided to get a crate that would fit Winston when he was fully grown, but use the divider panel to make it smaller while he was a puppy. This way, he had just enough space to be comfy but not enough to have accidents.
I ended up going with what most brands call a “medium” size, typically around 30 inches long. I measured the space Winston needed to lie down comfortably and compared it to the crate dimensions. It seemed like the best bet.
The Process Went Something Like This:
- Brought Winston home. Observed his size and movement.
- Researched crate sizes specifically mentioning Corgis or similar breeds.
- Learned about divider panels – major lightbulb moment!
- Measured Winston roughly while he was relaxed (good luck measuring a wiggly puppy accurately!).
- Compared measurements to internal crate dimensions online.
- Chose a 30-inch crate with a divider.
- Set it up, put the divider in, making a cozy puppy-sized space.
- Introduced Winston to it slowly with lots of treats.
It worked out great. As Winston grew, I just moved the divider back bit by bit. Now he’s fully grown, the divider is out, and the 30-inch crate is perfect. He has enough room to stand, turn, and sleep comfortably without it being ridiculously big. It feels like his own little den.
So yeah, finding the right Corgi crate size wasn’t instant. It took some observation, a bit of research, and realizing that a crate with a divider was the most practical solution for us, saving money and hassle in the long run. Definitely recommend looking for one of those if you’re getting a pup!
