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
A Dogo Argentino is a powerful, determined dog, and crate choice really matters here — standard wire crates often aren't built for that combination of muscle and drive. Crate size is the most important starting point: too small causes distress, but too large removes the den-like security that makes crates work at all. Material matters too, and for a strong breed like a Dogo, you're looking at reinforced steel rather than plastic or fabric. Can you tell me your dog's approximate weight and height, whether this is for home use, travel, or both, and are you crate training from scratch or does he already have some familiarity with a crate?
He's about 45kg and stands roughly 65cm at the shoulder. It's just for home use — I want somewhere secure he can settle overnight and when I'm out. He's used a crate before but not consistently.
inparticular.ai
Good — at 45kg and 65cm tall, you're looking at an XXL crate, something in the 54-inch range ideally. And since he's familiar with crates but not fully settled into a routine, you want something that feels enclosed and secure, not a flimsy cage he can push around or flex. For a Dogo specifically, I'd move straight past standard wire crates. What breed and weight does he come in at exactly?
Pure Dogo Argentino, the 45kg I mentioned. He's not destructive as such, but he is very strong and I want something that won't shift or buckle if he leans into it.
inparticular.ai
That's exactly the right instinct. For a dog like him, I'd recommend the ProSelect Empire Dog Cage in the large or extra-large size. It's constructed from 20-gauge reinforced steel tubes with a heavy-duty floor grid, rated for dogs up to around 90kg, and the door latches are dual-locking so there's no chance of him nosing them open. It sits on casters so you can move it around the house, but it's heavy enough that he won't be sliding it across the floor. It's not the cheapest option, but it's genuinely built for powerful breeds — Dogos, Presas, Cane Corsos — rather than just being a large version of a standard crate. The solid steel construction also gives it that enclosed, den-like feel which should help him settle rather than feeling exposed. I'd go for the large (48-inch) rather than the XL — it gives him room to stand and turn without being so spacious that it loses that secure feeling.
That sounds right. Is there anything I should add to it to make it more comfortable for overnight use?
inparticular.ai
Yes — a good chew-resistant mat or orthopaedic pad that fits the floor dimensions. The Empire's base is a steel grid so you want something that sits flat and doesn't bunch up. A heavy canvas or reinforced nylon mat works well. Avoid anything with stuffing he could pull out through the grid. A crate cover over the top and sides also helps with the den effect and keeps overnight light and noise down, which makes a real difference for settling. Those are the only two additions worth making — the crate itself does the structural work.
Perfect, that's really helpful. I'll go with the ProSelect Empire large.
inparticular.ai
Good choice. Given he has some crate history, you should find he takes to it reasonably quickly — just reintroduce it gradually over the first few days rather than jumping straight to overnight use, and keep the door open during the day so he can go in and out on his own terms first. That consistency is what makes it stick long-term.