Best crate for Great Dane puppy at 11 weeks

A Great Dane at 11 weeks — you're at such a brilliant stage, and honestly the crate decision you make right now is one of the most important ones you'll face. Giant breeds grow at a pace that catches a lot of people off guard, and getting the wrong crate size early on creates real problems: either the pup outgrows it within weeks and you're buying again, or you get something enormous that gives too much space and undermines the whole den-instinct that makes crate training work. The first few months set the patterns for life — the right tools make training easier and less stressful for both of you, and the wrong ones create habits that are genuinely hard to undo. So before I point you anywhere: how old is your Dane exactly, what's the rough size of the parents if you know it, and what are you mainly trying to get sorted right now — nights, alone time, general settling?

Right, with a dad over 80kg she's going to be a seriously large adult — probably 65–75kg herself, maybe more. That medium crate is already wrong and it'll only get more wrong fast. Here's the thing with crate training giant breeds: the crate needs to feel like a snug den, not a warehouse, but it also needs to be big enough that she can stand up, turn around, and lie flat comfortably as an adult. The way you square that circle is a crate that comes with a divider panel — you start with a smaller section and expand it as she grows. Can I ask: do you have a space in mind for the crate, and are you set on a wire crate or open to a heavy-duty plastic travel-style one?

Perfect — then the one I'd go for is the Midwest iCrate XXL, the 54-inch folding wire crate. It's the largest size in their range, it comes with a divider panel so you can section it down to a sensible size for her right now and open it up as she grows, and it folds flat which is genuinely useful in a kitchen. The wire gauge is sturdy enough for a Dane, the door latches are solid, and crucially it's a size she won't outgrow — 54 inches gives you around 137cm of floor length, which is what a big female Dane needs to stretch out comfortably. It's well-reviewed by giant breed owners specifically, and it's a one-time buy. I'd pair it with a washable crate mat rather than a thick bed at this stage — pups this age can chew through expensive bedding and you just don't need that stress while you're still in the toilet-training phase.

Start smaller than you think you need to. The rule of thumb is: just enough room to stand up, turn around, and lie down — nothing more. If there's enough space for her to toilet in one corner and sleep in another, the crate training won't work, because she'll use it as a bathroom. Move the divider forward in stages as she grows and as her bladder control improves — usually every two to three weeks at this age. You'll know it's time when she's consistently clean overnight and she's visibly running out of stretch room. The divider in the Midwest crate slides into different positions easily, so it's not a faff to adjust.

Feed every meal in there with the door open for the first few days — don't even close it yet, just let her associate it with good things. Then start closing the door briefly while she eats, and build up from there. A Kong stuffed with something she loves and frozen is your best tool for the first alone-time sessions — it gives her a job to do and the cold rubber is also good for teething. Cover three sides of the wire crate with a blanket to make it feel more enclosed and den-like. And honestly — don't rush it. Giant breeds can be slow to settle but once they're crate-trained they're usually very reliable. You've got a great setup coming, and at 11 weeks you're starting at exactly the right time.