Best crate for a Samoyed puppy

A double-coated breed like a Samoyed needs much more airflow than the average puppy crate provides — ventilation genuinely matters here, not just size. Crate size is still the most important starting point though: too small causes distress, too large removes the den-like feeling that makes crates work for puppies. Wire crates are almost always the right call for heavy-coated breeds because they allow air to circulate on all four sides. To point you to the right model and divider setup, could you tell me roughly how big your Samoyed is right now, whether this is primarily for home use or travel too, and are you starting crate training from scratch?

Perfect, that's really helpful. At 7kg he's already a solid puppy, and Samoyeds typically reach around 55–60cm at the shoulder as adults, so you're looking at a large dog. What size are you thinking about — have you seen any crate sizes mentioned online, or are you starting from scratch on that too?

That tells you everything you need to know about material choice. A plastic or fabric crate is out — both trap heat badly, and a Samoyed puppy in a poorly ventilated crate can overheat surprisingly quickly. You want a heavy-gauge wire crate with panels on all sides, including the top. For size: buy for his adult dimensions now, not his puppy size. A 48-inch (122cm) crate will comfortably fit a 25–30kg Samoyed adult. Critically, get one that comes with a divider panel — you slide it in to make the space smaller while he's young, then move it back as he grows. That way you get the den feeling for training without buying two crates. My recommendation is the MidWest Homes for Pets iCrate, 48-inch double-door model. It has two doors for flexible placement, a full wire construction that ventilates from every angle, a removable divider, and a slide-out plastic tray for cleaning. It's well-built, widely available on Amazon UK, and it's the crate I'd point any large-breed puppy owner toward — Samoyed owners in particular.

A cooling mat is a genuinely good idea for a Samoyed, yes. A gel-based cooling mat placed flat on the crate tray gives him a cool surface to lie on without needing power or refrigeration. Just make sure it's a chew-resistant one — at 12 weeks he'll test everything. Avoid covering the crate with a blanket in warm weather; people do it thinking it creates a den, but it cuts off the airflow that's the whole point of the wire construction. A thin, breathable cover on just the top and back in winter is fine, but keep the sides open. With the MidWest iCrate and a cooling mat, you're set up well for a comfortable, calm crate training experience — even for a dog that runs warm.

Good choice — you'll get years of use out of it. Start with the divider positioned so he has just enough room to stand, turn around, and lie stretched out, then expand it gradually as he grows. Keep the crate somewhere with good natural airflow, not tucked into a corner or near a radiator. Good luck with him — Samoyeds are wonderful dogs and they do train well when the setup is right from the start.