Heavy-Duty Crate for Destructive Doberman

Two destroyed crates in six months tells me you're dealing with a strong, determined dog — and that standard plastic airline-style crates were never going to cut it. For a dog that actively works at escaping or chewing through, you need welded heavy-gauge steel with secure double-door latches, not push-tab clips. Before I point you to a specific crate, a couple of quick questions: how big is your Doberman right now — rough weight and height at the shoulder? And when he's in the crate, is he generally anxious and trying to escape, or is it more that he gets bored and starts testing boundaries?

That's really helpful — and important. A dog destroying crates out of separation anxiety is a different problem from a bored dog testing things, because no crate alone will fix the anxiety. I want to flag that clearly: a stronger crate will keep him safe while you work on the underlying issue, but you'll also want to look at separation anxiety training alongside it. That said, you absolutely still need a crate that won't give way. At 38kg and 70cm he'll need an XXL — roughly 122cm long. What size were the plastic crates you were using?

Yes, that will have made the anxiety worse. A dog that size needs room to stand fully, turn around, and lie stretched out — 106cm is too short for a large male Doberman. Being cramped increases stress, which increases the drive to escape. So you need both the right size and the right material. My clear recommendation for your situation is the Midwest Homes for Pets Ginormous Single Door Dog Crate — the 54-inch (137cm) model. It's built from heavy 9-gauge steel wire, the door has a two-point locking system that's genuinely hard to defeat, and the whole frame is bolted rather than just clipped together. It's the crate that regularly comes up in discussions about large anxious dogs precisely because it doesn't flex or rattle, which itself can reduce anxiety. It's available on Amazon UK and typically around £120–£140. Pair it with a good-quality chew-proof bed like a Kuranda or similar raised platform, and make sure you're actively working on alone-time desensitisation — short departures, building duration slowly.

Yes — don't just swap one crate for the other and leave him in it. Start the new crate as an open, accessible space with the door removed or propped open. Feed his meals inside it, drop treats in throughout the day, let him choose to go in without any pressure. The goal is breaking the conditioned association between 'crate door closes' and 'panic begins.' Once he's going in voluntarily and relaxed, start closing the door for just a few seconds while you're in the room, then build from there. It's slow, but it's the only way to actually resolve the anxiety rather than just contain it.

Good plan. The crate will hold — that part you can stop worrying about. The work now is all about helping him feel safe inside it, and that takes consistency more than anything else. If the anxiety is severe, a vet or certified clinical animal behaviourist referral is worth considering too; some dogs benefit from short-term medication support while the training takes hold. Good luck with him.