This is a specific conversation about Dog crates — the right size and type — ask about yours and get one honest answer for your exact situation.
inparticular.ai
A Jack Russell chewing through a soft-sided crate is genuinely one of the most common calls for help I get — those dogs are small but they're relentless. Soft fabric crates just aren't built for terriers with strong prey drive and boredom to burn. Before I point you toward something sturdier, a couple of quick questions: how long is your JRT typically left in the crate at a stretch, and is this purely for home use or does it need to travel with you too?
It's mostly at home — he's in there a few hours during the day while I work. We occasionally take it in the car but it doesn't need to be a travel crate specifically.
inparticular.ai
Perfect, that makes this straightforward. For a one-year-old Jack Russell you're looking at a 24-inch crate — that gives enough room to stand, turn, and lie down without being so spacious it loses that den feeling dogs actually find reassuring. What's his weight roughly, and does he settle fairly well once he's in, or is he actively trying to escape from anxiety rather than just opportunistic chewing?
He's about 7kg. Once he's in he does settle — he just destroyed the soft crate in the first week before we got into a proper routine. Now he's actually pretty calm in there, just needs something he can't unpick.
inparticular.ai
That's reassuring — a dog who settles well is a completely different problem to solve than one who's crate-anxious. Since he's calm once inside and the destruction was early-stage opportunism rather than ongoing panic, you don't need anything heavy-duty or security-rated. What you do need is steel wire instead of fabric, and a door latch he can't nose or paw open. My clear recommendation is the MidWest Homes for Pets iCrate in the 24-inch size. It's a folding double-door wire crate, the latches are secure enough that a terrier can't work them open, and the wire gauge is solid — no soft panels to chew through anywhere. It folds flat for the car when you need it, which covers your occasional travel too. The divider panel it comes with is a bonus if you ever crate a puppy in future, but for your JRT you'd just remove it and use the full space. Widely available on Amazon UK, typically around £35–45, and it's the crate I'd put almost any small-to-medium dog in as a first proper wire option.
That sounds exactly right. Is wire uncomfortable for them to lie on — should I be putting a specific kind of bed in there?
inparticular.ai
Good question. The wire floor is fine short-term but most dogs are more settled with something underneath them. For a chewer, avoid anything with stuffing he can pull out through the wire — a flat, washable vet bed or a rubber-backed fleece mat is the safest option. They're chew-resistant enough for most dogs and easy to wash. Just hold off on anything thick and plush until you've confirmed he's past the destruction phase, which it sounds like he mostly is.
Makes sense. I'll go with the MidWest iCrate then. Thanks — really helpful.
inparticular.ai
You're all set. The 24-inch MidWest iCrate will see a Jack Russell through his whole life without any drama. Given he's already settled into a routine, the transition from the soft crate should be smooth — just put it in the same spot with the same bedding so it smells familiar. Good luck with him.
