Crate training a 6-month Harrier

Crate training works 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 six-month Harrier in full adolescent mode is a particular case: they're physically big enough to need a proper adult-sized crate, but mentally they're still very much a puppy with a hound's instinct to be on the move. Getting the crate right now can be the foundation for a calmer daily routine rather than a daily battle. Are you starting from scratch with the crate, or has your dog already formed a negative association with it? And is this primarily for home use, or do you need it to work for travel too?

That's a good position to be in — a clean slate means you can build the association properly from day one. For a Harrier at six months you're looking at a dog who will settle around 50–55cm at the shoulder, so you want a crate that gives her room to stand, turn, and stretch out fully without being so large that it loses the den feeling that helps dogs settle. What's her approximate weight at the moment, and do you have a sense of her adult size from the breeder? Harriers vary a bit — some stay closer to a medium Beagle build, others come up larger.

Perfect — at 22–25kg she'll be a solid medium-large dog and you want a 42-inch crate to give her the right amount of space without it feeling like a warehouse. My recommendation is the MidWest Homes for Pets iCrate in the 42-inch single-door configuration. It's a double-latching folding wire crate with a divider panel included, which is genuinely useful at this stage — you can use the divider now to keep the space cozier while she's still getting used to it, then open it up as she matures and learns to settle. The wire construction is good for a hound who runs hot and gets restless, because airflow is much better than fabric or plastic, which means she's less likely to get uncomfortable and start scratching. It sits flat-packed in seconds, the tray lifts out for cleaning, and it's been consistently well-reviewed for durability with strong adolescent dogs. For a restless six-month-old Harrier building a calm home routine, this is the most practical starting point I'd suggest.

At six months the general rule is no more than three to four hours at a stretch during the day — her bladder and her patience are both still developing. At night, once she's settled into a routine, most dogs this age can manage six to seven hours. For the covering question: yes, it often helps significantly with restless adolescent dogs. A crate cover reduces visual stimulation — she's less likely to fixate on movement in the room and more likely to settle into sleep mode. You don't need anything special; a fitted cover for the iCrate works well, or even a large blanket draped over three sides leaving the front open. The key is keeping one side open so she never feels trapped. Start with short, positive sessions — feed her meals in there with the door open, build up to closing it for five minutes, then gradually extend. The goal at this stage is association, not duration.

Good call — starting clean with the right size crate and a patient introduction will pay off quickly with a Harrier. They're intelligent dogs and they do respond well to routine once it clicks. The divider panel is worth using for the first few weeks even though she's not tiny — it just helps the space feel intentional rather than cavernous. Good luck with her.