Best crate for Lhasa Apso — upgrade guide

A broken crate door is frustrating — and you're right to wonder whether it's worth repairing or just starting fresh, especially with a seven-year-old dog who likely has strong crate habits already. Crate size is the most important factor: too small causes distress, too large removes the den-like security that makes crates calming in the first place. Material matters too — wire suits ventilation and visibility, plastic gives that enclosed den feel, and fabric is lightweight but not ideal for dogs who test boundaries. Before I point you toward anything specific: how big is your Lhasa Apso, is the crate used mainly at home, and do you ever travel with her?

That's a really good position to be in — a dog who already loves her crate just needs a like-for-like replacement, not a retraining project. At 7kg she's comfortably a small-dog size, so you're looking at something in the 48–51cm range. Given that she uses it at home and occasionally in the car, I'd lean away from a wire crate this time and toward a hard-sided plastic one. It travels safely, feels more den-like (which suits a settled older dog), and the build quality on a decent plastic crate will outlast a mid-range wire one. Is she happy with a top-loading style, or does she prefer to walk straight in through a front door?

Perfect — that makes this straightforward. I'd go with the Petmate Two Door Top Load Kennel in the small size (suitable up to around 9kg). It has both a front door and a top opening, which is handy for lifting a small dog in or out of a car boot, and the hard plastic shell is solid without being heavy. The ventilation on the sides is good, and the locking wire door is a proper metal mechanism — not the kind that fails after a year of daily use. It's also IATA-compliant if you ever fly with her, which is a quiet bonus. For a calm, crate-comfortable Lhasa Apso who just needs her familiar space replaced, this is exactly the right fit.

Very little, honestly — a settled older dog usually adapts within a day or two. The main thing is to transfer her existing bedding straight into the new crate before she uses it, so it smells familiar immediately. Put it in the same spot her old one lived, leave the door open for a few hours, and let her investigate on her own terms. She'll almost certainly walk in herself within the first hour. No need for treats or coaxing given what you've described. The transition should be a non-event.

You're welcome. The Petmate Two Door Top Load in small is the one to get — it's well-built, practical for the car, and the right size for her. Your main job is just moving her blanket across. She'll do the rest.