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
An older dog who actively seeks out enclosed spaces is telling you something useful — they want that den feeling, and the right crate can give them exactly that. Crate size matters most here: too large and it loses that cosy, secure quality your Spaniel is clearly drawn to. Material choice follows from use case, since wire, plastic, and fabric all behave quite differently. To point you toward the right option: how heavy is your dog roughly, and is this crate mainly for a fixed spot at home, or does it need to move around at all?
She's about 10kg, and it's purely for home use. She already sleeps in a corner of the living room under a side table, so we just want to give her something more proper and comfortable.
inparticular.ai
That corner-under-the-table behaviour is classic — she's self-selecting the most enclosed spot available. That tells me she'd do best with a covered plastic or solid-sided crate rather than open wire. Wire crates, even with a cover thrown over them, never feel as enclosed because the structure itself is open. Is she generally settled and calm, or does she have any anxiety or restlessness — particularly at night?
She's very calm, no real anxiety. She just sleeps a lot these days, as you'd expect at her age. We want somewhere that feels safe and warm rather than anything to do with training.
inparticular.ai
Perfect — this is purely about comfort and security, not containment or training. For a calm 10kg Cocker Spaniel who wants a den-like retreat at home, I'd go with the Petmate Two Door Top Load Pet Kennel in the medium size (suitable up to around 11kg). It's a solid plastic carrier with proper ventilation but enclosed walls on all sides, a top-opening door which elderly dogs often find less confrontational to enter, and a low front threshold that's easy on older joints. It sits low to the ground, fits neatly against a wall, and genuinely replicates that under-furniture feeling she already loves. Line it with a fleece pad and she'll settle in it immediately.
That sounds ideal. Is the plastic easy to clean? She's not incontinent but at her age we like to keep on top of hygiene.
inparticular.ai
Very easy — the base tray lifts out completely and wipes clean in seconds. The whole shell can be hosed down if needed. It's one of the practical advantages plastic has over fabric at this life stage. The medium Petmate Two Door Top Load is widely available on Amazon UK and is straightforward to assemble. At her age and with her temperament, I don't think you'll need anything more complex than this.
Your situation is probably different. Get a specific answer for yours.
