Okay, so I got this new Golden Retriever puppy a few weeks ago, and let me tell you, it’s been a wild ride! One of the first things I started thinking about was what size kennel I needed to get for this little ball of fur. I mean, he’s tiny now, but Goldens grow up to be pretty big dogs, right?
So, I started my quest for the perfect kennel. First, I measured my pup. He was just a little guy, maybe 15 inches long at that point. I knew I needed something he could grow into, so I started looking at dimensions. I was like, “Okay, he needs to be able to stand up, turn around, and lie down comfortably.” I grabbed my tape measure and started checking out the sizes of different kennels I saw in local stores.

I talked to a few other Golden Retriever owners, and they all pretty much agreed on one thing: 42 inches is the magic number. That seemed gigantic at first, especially when I compared it to my tiny pup. But they assured me it would be the right size in the long run. They said their adult Goldens fit perfectly in a 42-inch kennel.
I also had to think about where I was going to put this thing. It’s not exactly a small piece of furniture! I figured I’d put it in the living room, so it had to be something that wouldn’t totally clash with my decor. I saw some folks online talking about different sizes, like 36 inches, but most agreed 42 was best for an adult.
Then there was the whole personality thing. My pup is pretty chill for the most part, but he does have his moments of zoomies. I figured a bigger kennel would give him a little more space to chill out if he got overwhelmed. Some people I talked to had smaller kennels, but I didn’t want to risk him feeling cramped.
After all that research and talking to people, I finally pulled the trigger and got a 42-inch kennel. When I first put it together, I was like, “Wow, this is huge!” I even put my pup in there and set up a divider to make it cozier for him while he was still small. I was worried it might be too big, but he seemed to like it.
Here’s a little breakdown of what I learned:
- Size: 42 inches long seems to be the sweet spot for most adult Golden Retrievers.
- Space: They need to be able to stand, turn, and lie down without feeling cramped.
- Placement: Think about where you’ll put it in your house.
- Personality: A bigger kennel can be good for anxious or energetic dogs.
It’s been a few weeks now, and my pup is already growing like a weed! I’m so glad I went with the 42-inch kennel. He’s got plenty of room to stretch out, and I know he’ll be comfortable in there even when he’s fully grown. It was definitely the right decision. He loves to sleep in there, and I have trained him to enter the kennel by himself. I am so proud of him. He is the best!