Adult crate for Rhodesian Ridgeback

Crate training works best when the crate becomes a genuinely positive space — and the right size and type matters more than most people realise, as does how you introduce it. A dog that's outgrown their starter crate is actually in a good position: they likely already have a positive association with crating, you're just upgrading the hardware. To point you in the right direction: what breed and age is the dog, are you starting fresh with the new crate or carrying over a smooth routine, and is this for home use, travel, or both?

Good — a calm, crate-comfortable Ridgeback makes this straightforward. The main thing to get right here is size. A 40kg Ridgeback needs a 48-inch crate as a minimum; anything smaller and he'll be cramped when lying flat, which defeats the purpose. How tall is he at the shoulder, roughly? And does he tend to sprawl right out when he sleeps, or curl up?

That confirms it — you need a 48-inch crate, and for a full sprawler of that height, you want one with good internal headroom too. My clear recommendation is the MidWest Homes for Pets iCrate, 48-inch single-door model. It's one of the most consistently well-built wire crates available in the UK, the internal dimensions are genuinely generous at that size, and the fold-flat design means it stores or moves without hassle. The single-door version is tidier for a fixed home spot. It comes with a divider panel, which you won't need now but is worth keeping. It handles dogs well over 50kg without flexing, so it'll last him. The wire construction also means good airflow, which Ridgebacks appreciate — they don't love feeling enclosed and stuffy.

Most dogs transfer well when they already have a positive crate history, but it's worth a brief reset rather than just swapping and hoping. Put the new crate in the same spot as the old one if you can. Drop a few treats inside over the first day without closing the door, let him investigate on his own terms. Feed him his meals in it for three or four days before you start closing the door. Because he's already calm about crating, this should take less than a week — you're just letting him claim the new space as his. Don't rush the first full overnight in it; one or two shorter sessions closed first is enough.

Good choice. It'll give him proper room and it's built to last — a dog like that will use it for years. The brief reintroduction process really does make the difference between a smooth transition and a dog that's uncertain about the new crate for weeks. You're in a good position starting with a dog that already views the crate positively.