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
Two dogs at opposite ends of the size spectrum — that's a fun challenge. Crate size is the single most important factor to get right: too small causes distress, too large takes away the den-like feel that makes crates actually work. The right material depends on how you're using them. For your pair, I'll need a bit more to go on — how old is your Bullmastiff, roughly how much does he or she weigh, and is the Pomeranian fully grown? And are these crates mainly for home use, travel, or a mix of both?
The Bullmastiff is three years old, about 55kg, fully grown. The Pomeranian is two years old and weighs about 3.5kg. Both are home use only, no travel. The Bullmastiff is already crate trained but we moved house and he's unsettled. The Pomeranian has never been in a crate before.
inparticular.ai
Perfect, that really helps. For your Bullmastiff at 55kg, you need a 54-inch or 'XXL' crate — he should be able to stand without ducking, turn around easily, and lie stretched out. Because he's already crate trained, he just needs familiarity restored, so the priority is size and solidity rather than anything fancy. For the Pomeranian at 3.5kg and starting from scratch, you want something snug and den-like — a crate that's too large will actually slow the training down and can encourage toileting inside. Can I ask: does the Bullmastiff tend to push or lean against the crate sides? Some do, and it affects which model holds up long term.
Yes, he does lean on it quite a bit. The old crate got a bit bent out of shape over time. And for the Pomeranian, she's quite anxious generally — would a covered crate be better for her?
inparticular.ai
Good to know on both counts. For your Bullmastiff, I'd go with the MidWest Homes for Pets iCrate XXL — the 54-inch version. It has a reinforced double-door design, a robust slide-bolt latch system, and the gauge of wire holds up well to leaning dogs without warping the way cheaper models do. It also folds flat, which is handy even for home use. For your Pomeranian, the Ellie-Bo Small Dog Crate in 24 inches is a solid choice — it comes with a divider panel so you can start her in a smaller section and open it up as she settles, and you can drape a blanket over three sides easily to give her that covered, den feel without buying a separate cover. Both are available on Amazon UK and reasonably well-priced given the size difference.
That sounds exactly right. Should I put them in the same room or keep them separate while the Pomeranian is getting used to the crate?
inparticular.ai
Same room, if you can. Dogs generally settle faster in crates when they can see or smell another calm dog nearby — your Bullmastiff being already crate comfortable actually works in your favour here. Place them so the Pomeranian can see him in his crate, ideally when he's relaxed or resting in it voluntarily. Don't push her in; let her explore and reward her going near it for the first few days. The visual cue of a calm bigger dog using their crate as a normal, non-threatening space does a lot of the heavy lifting for anxious smaller dogs.
Really useful, thank you. I'll go with both of those.
inparticular.ai
Great. To summarise: MidWest iCrate 54-inch XXL for the Bullmastiff, Ellie-Bo 24-inch with divider for the Pomeranian. Start her with the divider in to keep the space snug, use a blanket over the sides, and let your Bullmastiff do some of the persuasion just by being calm in his. Good luck with the move — once they've both settled, the crates will make the whole house feel more structured for them.
