What Is a Good Cage Size for a Pit Bull?

Responsible, loving pit bull dog owners refer to the cage as a kennel or crate. It is used to contain their dogs at home -- kind of like a doggy den, to help house-train puppies, to control puppy exuberance and to transport their dogs in cars, planes or trains. A crate, kennel or cage should never be used to punish your pit bull, nor should a pit bull be left in his crate for long periods.

  1. What is a Pit Bull?

    • Pit bulls come in a variety of sizes, colors and markings.

      The term pit bull is an umbrella word used for the variety of dogs that includes the American Pit Bull terrier, the American Staffordshire terrier and any dog of mixed heritage, which has a blocky head, round eyes and broad chest. All three types of breeds come in different sizes, colors and markings, which can sometimes be confusing.

    How to Determine the Size of the Cage [Kennel]

    • The cage should be proportionate to your dog.

      The cage must be long enough for your dog to lie down and stretch out and high enough for him to sit or stand up straight with headroom. While your dog is standing, determine the correct size of kennel by measuring his height from his paws to the top of his head, and his length from his nose to his tail. The crate should be at least one and a half to two times the length of the adult dog.

    Sizes of Cages for American Staffordshire Terrier

    • American Staffordshire terriers are small to medium size.

      The American Staffordshire terrier, the shorter and stockier of the pit breeds, reaches heights between 14 and 18 inches and weights between 57 and 67 pounds. The correct size crate for the smaller dog needs to be 30 inches long by 19 inches wide by 21 inches high, or 30 inches long by 21 inches wide by 24 inches high for the larger, usually the male.

    Cage Sizes for American Pit Bull Terrier

    • An American Pit Bull terrier puppy needs a cage to grow into.

      The American Pit Bull terrier can grow to a height of between 14 and 22 inches and weigh anywhere from 22 to 110 pounds. Bitches are usually smaller. Taller and heavier pits are not the norm and require a bigger crate. The basic size cage required for the average adult pit would need to be 36 inches long by 23 inches wide by 25 inches high, and 36 inches long by 24 inches wide by 27 inches high for the larger.

    Kinds of Cages Available

    • Cages or crates come in either metal or plastic. The metal cages are preferred because they can be folded and stored when not in use. Also, they give the dog a 360-degree view of his environment. If the dog gets stressed by too much stimuli, you can put a cover over the cage. Plastic cages are usually preferred for shipping and for puppies.